Just to contribute to this discussion, we are moving in the direction of using the ZK framework (potix.com). It has the same dual licensing framework as MySQL.
Note that this is a step beyond simply "using Ajax" inside a basically normally page-by-page framework. It creates a much more "desktop" model of development. The key reasons we are jumping to this kind of model are: 1. Avoids the mish-mash of technologies and syntax which most web projects have (JSP + JSTL + Struts + DHTML + Prototype) for example. One of the thins I most like about OFBiz (backend) is that to code entities and business logic, you can spend most of your time thinking about the data model, logic flow and understanding the problem domain. Actually coding the service is fairly straightforward, and doesnºt even require Java knowledge (although Java is always there if you need it). Unfortunately, after trying out the OFBiz frontend framework, we found it still rather a mish-mash, albeit better organized. Widgets, screens, forms, FTL, beanshell, scattered around various directories. In ZK, you basically code in a very consistent XML language, and beanshell. Optionally, you can define complex components in Java, there are many plugin points. So we can reuse our developer's existing Java knowledge. 2. Nicer to look at, and facilitates making more user-friendly UIs, which is one area where OFBiz still has a long way to go. 3. Facilitates reuse of components across your application (if you are careful about it). 4. MAY be more performant because there is less network traffic, and less needless reprocessing of most of the page (menus, headers etc), by both browser and server, every time you click a wee button. In technical terms, yes it requires installation of some servlets, listeners etc. in your webapp but this to me is reasonable. They are all standard J2EE components which I know how to configure and secure. There IS a case for centralizing some of these services across all OFBiz JVM, if you use ZK in multiple webapps, but then you could say that about the OFBiz control servlet as well. There is always some tradeoff between modularization and centralization. In terms of compatibility, it DOES depend on a more recent version of Beanshell but I do not believe this issue will be around too long (see: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/OFBIZ-528) The other very similar alternative to ZK, which we also investigated, is: http://www.openlaszlo.org/ A very similar architecture, and very well-documented. The big stumbling block was that it requires the browser to have Flash plugin, of a certain version, etc., whereas ZK is purely DHTML-based. Laszlo have been saying that DHTML support is coming "soon" but in fact they have been saying this for a while. All of the other frameworks (DOJO, prototype, rico, etc.) have the drawback that they do one or two things, and have their very own syntax and configuration peculiarities. ZK may not be best of breed in any of these areas, but it is no slacker, and has the advantage of a consistent approach to everything. Anyway, we are currently converting a 32bit client-server product to use ZK frontend + OFBiz backend, I will keep yous all informed of how it goes. cameron P.S. I am not in any way a representative of Potix Software, I am merely summarizing the outcomes of my findings so far, with the community ----- Original Message ---- From: Sayoke Shome <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 13 December, 2006 6:17:53 AM Subject: RE: Ofbiz featuring Google Ajax? I haven't worked much on DOJO (found it little confusing), but if Ofbiz community is looking for a tested and free framework for Ajax then Might I suggest DWR framework. The only disadvantage is, it comes with its own servlet. This has to be incorporated in Web.xml for web-app. But it would make Ajax implementation child's play. But after working on Ajax in Ofbiz for couple of months I feel we can make the most of it if we use naked Ajax code. It will then exploit the MVC architecture of Ofbiz to fullest and no third party servlet will be required. Thanks and regards, Sayoke Shome | eCommerce Framework Developer | ENSIA | BIPL, sector V, salt lake | mobile 0.99031.80520 | "Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful." -----Original Message----- From: Tim Ruppert [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:28 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: ofBiz featuring Google ajax? Walter, there's actually a lot of discussion on this topic going on on the dev list as we speak. There are competing "standards" out there and we're all trying to come to some consensus about what direction to take the project. We currently have demos in JSON, Google Web Toolkit and Dojo (and I know there are lots of other ones going on with other companies) - so I'm confident that we'll get to a good place. Cheers, Tim -- Tim Ruppert HotWax Media http://www.hotwaxmedia.com o:801.649.6594 f:801.649.6594 On Dec 12, 2006, at 6:39 PM, Walter Vaughan wrote: > I just read in that Google Ajax has been released under the Apache > 2.0 license. I know that Si and a few others are working on > integrating a few ajax features into the project, but it might be > cool to have a bulletpoint like "features the Google(r) Web Toolkit > (tm)"... > > http://code.google.com/webtoolkit/makinggwtbetter.html > > -- > Walter ============================================================================================================================ Tech Mahindra, formerly Mahindra-British Telecom. 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