> I agree with Dan that the process should be a single page with checkboxes or something instead of a separate page for > each option. Actually, I would like to see an 'expert mode' implementd in 1.1 that would eliminate the wizard and just > install the framework to a directory. After you have done this once or twice and know how things work, the wizard just > gets in the way. I would rather just set the datasource and mappings ahead of time and generate the code.
There seems to be concensus on both of these items, so we'll add them. > I also think you need to make some money to keep the high quality apps going. Some ideas, like PlumForums and > PlumCatalog/PlumCart could be packaged and sold as standalone apps by themselves, with an installer,etc., without the > Plum IDE/Generator being part of the deal. For just those folks who want a forums package, but don't want to develop > with Plum. I think you should charge for that. ($20 or $30 or something). That also seems to be the concensus. We were thinking something like $79.99 per domain for PlumForums and $79.99 per domain for the combination of PlumCatalog and PlumCart (one isn't much good without the other; in fact, we'll probably just call it PlumCart). How does that sound? > Then you could sell versions of Plum that had these apps built in so that you could include/develop them with the > projects and have a license to deploy, etc. So you could buy, as an example the Plum generator with Forums for $99 > instead of $79, or Plum with PlumCatalog/PlumCart for $99, or Plum 'Enterprise' that includes all of them for $129 or > something like that. I know it is chump change, but it will help a little. It would cost more to develop this than we would ever make on selling the modules, so we'll have to do something else. We might just put it all into Plum and have it generate a sales order or something like that -- I don't know yet. > I think something like the File manager/image uploader Dirk is talking about or a simple mail client, are really more > examples of a utility and won't have much functionality outside of a Plum app. It supports an app, but really isn't an > app, unlike PlumForums. You aren't going to want to install the whole Plum Framework to implement a file upload > manager. These types of things you should include as part of the Plum Generator (by the way, can you call it the Plum > CodeGen or Pluminator or something else a little more catchy ;)? Plum Generator just sounds 'heavy' and non-techie. > 'Hey Martha, I'm on Google right now, and did you know somebody invented a machine that generates plums?' Pluminator? Like a big purple Arnold with a machine gun? > Lastly, and this is a shameless request, because I do more intranet/extranet sites than the public-facing stuff, but I > think the killer app in this is an integrated report writer, especially with CFMX 7 out, and the ability to generate > pdf/flashpaper/excel output. I hope you guys decide to go forward on that (otherwise I will have too ;). What would be > even cooler is to make it ad hoc by using XSLT and the .plum project file (you have all the table, columns, relation > stuff in there, right?) There is only one product on the market for this (HotQuery) and it is really expensive and > outdated. PlumReporting is on schedule for V1.1. Remember this? http://www.productivityenhancement.com/images/PlumReporting.gif Also remember that advanced developers will be able to install their own transformers for projects, so your XSLT request will be covered. Respectfully, Adam Phillip Churvis Member of Team Macromedia http://www.ProductivityEnhancement.com Download Plum and other cool development tools, and get advanced intensive Master-level training: * C# & ASP.NET for ColdFusion Developers * ColdFusion MX Master Class * Advanced Development with CFMX and SQL Server 2000 ********************************************************************** You can subscribe to and unsubscribe from lists, and you can change your subscriptions between normal and digest modes here: http://www.productivityenhancement.com/support/DiscussionListsForm.cfm **********************************************************************
