Tim, I am not at all sure what you mean by "tight coupling with the HTML". As you never (or should never) write any HTML as part of the GWT code this makes no sense. Yes the GWT controls are mapped to HTML, but you can make your own controls quite easily, and integrate them into the GWT framework so you are not limited to what simple HTML widgets can do.
But I am merely a bystander when it comes to OfBiz, so it is for others to decide. What I was reacting to was the thought that getting Javascript expertise into OfBiz might be difficult, and so doing things in Java makes a lot of sense. Personally I find Javascript to be a problematic language, it is very powerful, almost too powerful - you can almost redefine the language as you go along - but being interpreted and not type safe in the way that Java is makes it a much more difficult language to use well. David On Tuesday 24 April 2007 14:39, Tim Ruppert wrote: > David, we did a number of pilots with GWT (and other frameworks) in > OFBiz and were much happier with the dojo toolkit. The GWT, while > having the bonus of being able to do everything in java, also > required a bit more of a tight coupling with the HTML - which in my > mind - made it less desirable. > > JSON is there in case you can show us all a better way of handling > it! Hope that helps. > > Cheers, > Tim > -- > Tim Ruppert > HotWax Media > http://www.hotwaxmedia.com > > o:801.649.6594 > f:801.649.6595 > > On Apr 24, 2007, at 7:06 AM, David Goodenough wrote: > > Jonathon, > > > > Probably the best approach would be to write an xslt script which > > would > > parse the OfBiz XML descriptors and generate skeleton code which could > > then be subclassed to put in specific processing (it may be > > possible to > > generate the whole thing, I have not looked closely enough). I am > > thinking > > of something like the juic system used by QtJambi - the new Java > > binding > > for Qt that Trolltech have currently in beta (juic was actually > > originally > > part of kdebindings but that is another story). > > > > It may sound odd, but actually it is best not to think about HTML and > > Javascript when coding GWT, it just complicates things. You can > > include > > explicit HTML or Javascript if necessary, but it is better to start > > from > > the position of doing it natively in GWT. It may be necessary (or > > desirable) > > to write some GWT code to emulate specific OfBiz widgets, I have > > not looked > > closely enough to find out. > > > > David > > > > On Tuesday 24 April 2007 13:22, Jonathon -- Improov wrote: > >> David, > >> > >> Seems to me the GWT will generate both the HTML (events) and the > >> Javascript > >> (event handlers). Is that correct? If so, I'd have to somehow > >> translate the > >> HTML output to OFBiz widgets. Still, GWT's support for coding in > >> Java is > >> cool. > >> > >> Yes, OFBiz supports JSON (via json-lib). I've been using it often > >> in Ajax > >> work with OFBiz. > >> > >> Jonathon > >> > >> David Goodenough wrote: > >>> You ask about whether there are Javascript experts around. Of > >>> course > >>> if you were to use GWT (Google Widget Toolkit), you do the > >>> programming > >>> in Java and it is translated into Javascript. That way you get > >>> all the > >>> strict typing of Java but the implementation on the browser without > >>> addons. GWT is of course now entirely open source and integrated > >>> into > >>> Eclipse quite easily. > >>> > >>> As I read it much of what is needed for using GWT is already > >>> present in > >>> Ofbiz, GWT can use JSON as its comms protocol and I think I am > >>> right in > >>> saying that JSON is supported by Ofbiz. You could use SOAP but > >>> JSON is > >>> lighter weight and as the execution environment is javascript is > >>> the more > >>> native protocol. GWT does have its own RPC protocol as well, in > >>> which > >>> case you would have to write the server end in its environment, > >>> but there > >>> is no requirement to use it, JSON (or even native HTTP) will do > >>> perfectly > >>> well. > >>> > >>> David > >>> > >>> On Tuesday 24 April 2007 04:33, Jonathon -- Improov wrote: > >>>> I was actually looking to pump in my enhancements to the Widget > >>>> module. > >>>> I've incorporated some Ajax-facilitating or Ajax-related features > >>>> directly into the Widget module, so I won't have to do HUGE .ftl > >>>> (s). > >>>> > >>>> Imagine being able to use and reuse a widget-screen for 2 (or more) > >>>> purposes: non-ajax operation and ajax operation (pulling down > >>>> various > >>>> sub-sub-parts of the screen). > >>>> > >>>> In general, I was able to make all listings screens (with the > >>>> Prev/Next > >>>> hrefs) load via Ajax. > >>>> > >>>> But be warned that this Ajax approach, if carried further, could > >>>> hark > >>>> back to those times when you programmed Java AWTs for rich UIs > >>>> (events > >>>> and concurrency). Except there's lots of javascript involved in > >>>> this > >>>> case, not Java, and bad news is there's no concurrency controls in > >>>> javascript. Which means, prepare to get wickedly good at > >>>> acrobatics in > >>>> javascript (obscure acquired taste, really), or deal with the > >>>> potential > >>>> mess and meltdown. Please let me know if there's any experts in > >>>> javascript OO and programming here. > >>>> > >>>> I'm willing to help with Ajax-ing OFBiz. Just let me know if the > >>>> "nice > >>>> addition" Andrew's talking about will go into Opentaps or OFBiz, > >>>> and > >>>> I'll follow. I only need to know if there's any anti-trust case > >>>> against > >>>> the body I'm contributing to. > >>>> > >>>> Jonathon > >>>> > >>>> Andrew Zeneski wrote: > >>>>> This sounds like it will be a nice addition to OFBiz, I can't > >>>>> wait to > >>>>> see the progress! > >>>>> > >>>>> Andrew > >>>>> > >>>>> On Apr 23, 2007, at 4:59 PM, Si Chen wrote: > >>>>>> If there are any developers interested in working on a CRM > >>>>>> system, > >>>>>> we're looking for more help here at Open Source Strategies. > >>>>>> We have > >>>>>> both full-time openings and part-time paid opportunities, and > >>>>>> you can > >>>>>> work from home and set your own hours. You'll have a chance > >>>>>> to work > >>>>>> with us on a combination of client projects, our open source > >>>>>> products, > >>>>>> and just cool stuff you're interested in. > >>>>>> We're especially looking for developers with strong > >>>>>> familiarity with > >>>>>> the following areas (though not necessarily just these): > >>>>>> > >>>>>> 1. Front end development and Ajax > >>>>>> 2. Integration with external devices, such as mobile phones, > >>>>>> handheld > >>>>>> devices, etc. > >>>>>> 3. Analytics and reporting > >>>>>> > >>>>>> If you're interested, please drop me a note off the list. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Scott A wrote: > >>>>>>> David, > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Like I said, I am a user plain and simple so I can’t get into > >>>>>>> all of > >>>>>>> the technical side of things. All I know is that I would like > >>>>>>> a CRM > >>>>>>> portion of > >>>>>>> ofbiz similar to how Sugar CRM works but with a good and > >>>>>>> solid email > >>>>>>> client > >>>>>>> built in. I guess it would take someone with the interest and > >>>>>>> technical ability to put the requirements together first. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> That said, I can only contribute with my wants and needs and > >>>>>>> some > >>>>>>> cash. I'd > >>>>>>> be willing to throw $1000 into the hat to get this type of > >>>>>>> functionality. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Where do I go from here? > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> David E. Jones-2 wrote: > >>>>>>>> On Apr 6, 2007, at 10:53 AM, Scott A wrote: > >>>>>>>>> I have some help from some service providers setting up the > >>>>>>>>> system > >>>>>>>>> and we've > >>>>>>>>> already started to work on the gui which includes Ajax for > >>>>>>>>> easier > >>>>>>>>> use. There > >>>>>>>>> are also many other options I'd like to have for my > >>>>>>>>> business and > >>>>>>>>> that hopefully I could give back to the ofbiz community too. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> Do you guys have any kind of bounty system or a wish list > >>>>>>>>> where > >>>>>>>>> likeminded > >>>>>>>>> people could collaborate and get things done at a quicker > >>>>>>>>> pace? > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> For example, I'd like to see a good CRM in the core of > >>>>>>>>> ofbiz with > >>>>>>>>> something > >>>>>>>>> like zimbra being used for the calendaring and email. If > >>>>>>>>> this were > >>>>>>>>> even > >>>>>>>>> feasible and there were likeminded people who would be > >>>>>>>>> interested, > >>>>>>>>> then we > >>>>>>>>> could pool our resources and time, etc. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> Any suggestions? > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> We don't have a bounty and bid system setup right now, but > >>>>>>>> hopefully soon or at some point some commercial entity in > >>>>>>>> the OFBiz > >>>>>>>> community will do just that. It is something we have talked > >>>>>>>> about, > >>>>>>>> and even using OFBiz to manage it, since about year 2 of the > >>>>>>>> project and I think it would be a really great thing for the > >>>>>>>> project, and for everyone who participates in both funding and > >>>>>>>> developing different things. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> Right now the best thing to do is send a message to this > >>>>>>>> list or > >>>>>>>> the dev list to see if anyone is interested in > >>>>>>>> collaborating on > >>>>>>>> this and has enough of a business requirement for it to at > >>>>>>>> least > >>>>>>>> help to fund involvement on their side. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> My guess for something this specific and yet large in scope > >>>>>>>> (ie in > >>>>>>>> terms of the amount of work required, probably a few weeks > >>>>>>>> worth) > >>>>>>>> no one will be able to participate for the "fun of it". > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> Who knows.... maybe someone will step up and agree with you > >>>>>>>> on how > >>>>>>>> cool it would be and start banging on it with you. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> -David
