I'd like to propose that some of the code here in Wookie be moved over
to Apache Rave (Incubating). I feel that it is more likely to be
maintained and enhanced there. The code in question is present in Wookie
in order to make Wookie usable, but it is not (IMHO) part of the core
objective of Wookie.
If my proposal is accepted it will mean that Wookie would not carry any
UI code. Instead it would focus on providing a server for the management
of widget instances. This would not change the headline goal of Wookie
("Apache Wookie is a Java server application that allows you to upload
and deploy widgets for your applications").
The issue I'd like to discuss in this thread is just where the split
between Rave and Wookie lies. Since Rave is starting from a blank slate
it makes sense to do this here and then discuss our conclusions with the
Rave project.
Rationale
=========
Apache Rave (Incubating) [1] is developing an OpenSocial Gadget
potrtal-like framework. It is stated that it is intended to also support
W3C Widgets. Scott and myself are involved with both the Wookie and Rave
projects.
Wookie is focussed on providing a server based environment for the
hosting of Widgets and Gadgets. It provides the necessary infrastructure
for clients to request a widget/gadget instance (or a wgt package if
appropriate). It also provides a persistence layer so that
widgets/gadgets can store preference values. Wookie does not concern
itself with the rendering of those widgets/gadgets.
Rave is a server that focusses on the provision of user interfaces built
from widgets/gadgets. It provides UI features for end users to configure
their portal pages. It does not concern itself with how a widget/gadget
is hosted, instead it seeks to leverage OpenSocial for gadgets and,
potentially, Wookie for Widgets.
These two applications overlap at the point of the "widget/gadget
store". Wookie provides a basic UI for the administration of a store,
but also exposes an API to manage this store. Wookie also provides a
very basic interface (and functional API) for the creation of
widget/gadget instances.
Proposal
========
Wookie should deprecate all UI code and provide integration with Rave,
thereby allowing Rave to host W3C Widgets as well as OpenSocial gadgets.
Our UI will no longer be interactive. All administration activities will
be carried out via a command line application, interfacing with Wookie
via the REST API. We may choose to provide text based output from this
API, although I would suggest an XSL transformation of the XML responses
from the API would be most appropriate as this will allow data to be
retrieved in multiple formats (CSV, text, HTML etc.)
We should also focus on development of appropriate connectors so that
Wookie widgets/gadgets are presented as part of multiple hosting
environments. Our primary focus will be the Java connector which will be
used to provide full integration with Rave.
If the Rave team so desire they can adopt the API defined by our Java
Connector to allow swappable replacement of widget servers (OpenSocial
and Wookie being the obvious choices at this point).
We should offer all UI code in Wookie to Rave as a starting point for
their "Gadget Store". I imagine that the majority of this code will be
re-written by the Rave team to suit their local needs. However, I also
imagine that the work they do will greatly enhance the work we have done
here and, for those people who need a stand alone administration UI for
Wookie we can point them towards Rave.
Thoughts?
Ross
[1] http://incubator.apache.org/rave
