Robert, Just to position you right: AppFuse is frequently *missunderstood* as being a MetaFramework. But what AppFuse actually is a code-generator tool. What you need assess is your own experience in Software Archteture, in Design Patterns and in Java (eventually in FrameWorks).
But, some of your ideas are a kind of paradoxal (Maybe you'll need to rethink your decisions :o). So let's see in a point-base: 2010/12/15 Robert Hume <rhum...@gmail.com> Hi, > > I'm evaluating AppFuse as a platform for a new application I'm building. > I'm concerned it might not be right for my needs, mainly because I'm having > trouble integrating the sample project with Eclipse. Here's my details and > then a couple questions: > > DETAILS: > > I'm building a new web application with Java. The intention is it use > Eclipse 3.7 (Helios), JSF 2.0 and/or jQuery UI for the front end, > GlassFish3, Spring, Hibernate, and Oracle for the back end. > If you wanna use JSF: just forget AppFuse (or any other thing u may imagine) and go straight direct to (JBoss) *Seam *FrameWork(fullStack) -> there is also a good Scaffolding to it for Eclipse called: Seam Gen!!! If u wanna use GlassFish AS you outta/would better use *netBeans *(instead of Eclipse). Great idea adote Hibernate, but I think u should consider to use it via JPA2 (btw using Criteria API)!! ;-)) > I'm evaluating AppFuse and an application platform and I have some > questions -- I hope you can help! > > I did the Quickstart here: > http://appfuse.org/display/APF/AppFuse+QuickStart > > ... and everything went fine. I was pleasantly surprised when the demo web > app appeared with it's user crud functionality. > > Then I tried the steps to integrate with Eclipse and everything got a > little crazier: > > http://appfuse.org/display/APF/Eclipse > > These instructions appear to be for Eclipse 3.2 (Callisto) and I'm using > Eclipse 3.7 (Helios) -- I'm hoping that's not a problem. > > I'm at the point where I can see my project in Eclipse but there are many > "red Xs" that I can't seem to get rid of. Also, I can't seem to easily > launch the web app in my own web server (GlassFish) with Eclipse's WTP > tools. > > I notice there are instructions "Integration with Eclipse Web Tools Project > (WTP)", here: > http://appfuse.org/display/APF/Eclipse > > ... stupid question, and I really required to edit those files manually to > get things to work? > Oh yeah, this is the unique way it rocks/*works on* reasonably. > > QUESTIONS: > > It seems AppFuse is tightly integrated with Maven and that I won't be able > to use a regular Eclipse project to debug and run the application. Is this > the case? If I proceed with AppFuse + Eclipse + GlassFish, am I in for a > world of hurt? > A persion uses Maven usually to manage the dependences (JARs of the framworks and/or libraries) in a automatic fashion and/or to make the build process automatic. AppFuse is a such marvelours toll, but Unfortunetally it *isn't* resourse (featured) of Round-trip. So you can't generate your archetype in AppFuse, convert it to Eclipse (or your prefered IDE), made changes -> get back to AppFuse and alter the modeling -> when reconvert it to Eclipse: u problably will lose your prior changes (made via Eclipse). > Alternately, is there an alternate way to download and use AppFuse without > Maven? That is, create a Dynamic Web Project in Eclipse, add the AppFuse > jars, and proceed that way? > There *was* a tool (Eclipse PluggIn) called Candy(something else.. AppFuse.. I don't remember..), but it is depreacted: so you'll NOT be able to generate lastest versions of AppFuse's Archetypes. :-((( Anyway if you already have a DataBase (I envisoned it bcz you mentioned Oracle) you can use AppFuse Gen (AMP - a great reverse engeneering tool) so that get your DomainObjects(Business Entitys and ValueObjects) by a reverse from your DataBase and then *copy* them to your (Dynamic) Web Project genenated by your (Eclipse) IDE (so you get back to your *Batman cavern* and work the way you are used)!!! ;-))) > > In the end, I need to know if AppFuse is the right framework for me to > build my application on -- any help is greatly appreciated. > (Obs.: again I state: AppFuse is NOT a framework. It's a code-generator tool; even (the projects generated by) AppFuse has a *"little"* dependence of AppFuse.) It's really a such complex/subjective (abstract) thing. :/ IMHO AppFuse is recomended when you have consistent *endless* small Projects Demands with always highly critic schedule. I strongly recomend you try Full-Source AppFuse (for Academic porpose) so that know(get a big picture of) its internal Micro-Archteture. As I always say: AppFuse integrates the best FrameWorks using some of the best Design-Patterns. Actually you have assess in a project-base. Evaluate if AppFuse's Micro-Archteture is best suitable for a Project in mind. > Thanks for reading, > > rh > Expected I has helped, -- Derlon Follow me in my blog... Software Engeneering http://blig.ig.com.br/derlon/
