Surely that is what JSON is for. It is just a javascript based RPC mechanism. Having the UI code on the client rather than the server is a good thing, its a perfectly good of the MVC models, and it means that it can be very responsive to the user and feels like a normal PC application.
David On Tuesday 24 April 2007 18:52, BJ Freeman wrote: > I have a tool that creates SWT code. > the problem with JAVA based UI is that the application runs on the > client not the web server. So a interface has to be written to > communication with the ofbiz. > > Where I am going with this, is the Widgets xml is converted already in > ofbiz. So I would liked to see more functionality built into the > widgets, where possible, instead of having redundant functionality, in > some other form. > > For Java UI applications, I would like to see a standard interface > fleshed out for communication to Ofbiz. Then each developer can use > his/her favorite UI code to build on. > > David Goodenough sent the following on 4/24/2007 8:24 AM: > > I have not looked in detail, but given that OfBiz has an abstract > > definition of the UI and the processing it should be possible to > > have an xslt transform that generates a set of GWT java source that > > can be compiled and then used by the browser. Doing it dynamically > > would not seem sensible, but the code only needs to be regenerated > > when the UI definition changes. > > > > David > > > > On Tuesday 24 April 2007 16:11, Chris Howe wrote: > >> In that case, what would be the likelihood of being able to create a > >> renderer for it? > >> > >> --- David Goodenough <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>> 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 > >> > >> === message truncated ===
