OSGi based OFBiz framework

[Jacques Le Roux]

Thanks Raj,

I had a 1st look at some demos, it's very impressive indeed...
The RAP <=> RCP aspect is interesting...

Jacques

From: "Raj Saini" <[hidden email]>

> Hi Jacques,
>
> These are few off the top of my head:
>
> Pros:
> 1. Rich and responsive UI similar to the desktop applications.
> 2. Programming model similar to the desktop application and no need to
> deal with request, response, URLs etc.
> 3. Single sourcing that is application written for web can run on
> desktop and vice-versa with minimal or no changes to the code.
> 4. Applications can come and go on they fly without restarting the
> server as RAP is also based on OSGi runtime.
> 5. Applications can be developed as small plug-ins. Plug-ins can be
> written by third parties who do not have access to the source code of
> current application.
>
> Cons:
> 1. Steep learning curve for those who are not familiar with SWT/JFace
> programming.
> 2. In contrast to other technology, scaling the RAP application will
> need more server side resources as most client side events are relayed
> to the server.
> 3. Comparatively new to the market. However, it is going to be integral
> part of the Eclipse 4 release and it may become more popular than other
> similar technologies.
>
> Regards,
>
> Raj
>
>
> On 18/04/10 03:31, Jacques Le Roux wrote:
>> Thanks Chris and Raj,
>>
>> I remember now, Raj, that you already spoke about RAP.
>> I think I will have a look, but have you alreay any opinion about pros
>> and cons?
>>
>> Jacques
>>
>> From: "Raj Saini" <[hidden email]>
>>> Hi Jacques,
>>>
>>> Yes it is Rich Ajax Platform (RAP). RAP enabled Eclipse based
>>> applications to run on web without or very minimal changes. This is
>>> called single sourcing that is write your applications once and run
>>> them either as web or desktop application. Programming model of RAP
>>> is same as Eclipse Plugin-ins.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Raj
>>>
>>> On 17/04/10 17:58, chris snow wrote:
>>>> Hi Jacques, I think for the client Raj is using RAP from eclipse - the
>>>> following link describes it in a few words: http://www.eclipse.org/rap
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Apr 17, 2010 at 12:09 PM, Jacques Le Roux<
>>>> [hidden email]>  wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Raj,
>>>>>
>>>>> Could you please explain more the client-side section? Did you use
>>>>> something GWT, or?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>
>>>>> Jacques
>>>>>
>>>>> From: "Raj Saini"<[hidden email]>
>>>>> To:<[hidden email]>
>>>>> Cc: "BJ Freeman"<[hidden email]>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 16, 2010 11:27 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: OSGi based OFBiz framework
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Hi BJ,
>>>>>> Purpose of the demo is to show how to:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Service side
>>>>>> -------------
>>>>>> 1. Run OFBiz inside a OFBiz container using OSGi based runtime
>>>>>> such as
>>>>>> Apache Felix and Eclipse Equinox and reap the benefits of OSGi.
>>>>>> You can find
>>>>>> about OSGi benefits at this URL http://www.osgi.org/About/WhyOSGi.
>>>>>> 2. Make OFBiz more modular that is separating the framework (entity
>>>>>> engine, service engine etc) from the applications.
>>>>>> 3. Provide remoting capabilities to OFBiz services using OSGi remote
>>>>>> services.
>>>>>> 4. Use other technologies such as JPA along with OGBiz entity engine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Client side
>>>>>> -----------
>>>>>> 1. Create Rich applications with the similar capabilities and ease
>>>>>> of use
>>>>>> of Desktop based applications.
>>>>>> 2. Run the single client application either on web or desktop with
>>>>>> minimal
>>>>>> or no changes to the code.
>>>>>> 3. Plug-in based development of application that is, to add new
>>>>>> functionality to the application, you do not need access to source
>>>>>> code. You
>>>>>> can simply create new bundles/plug-ins and they add to the existing
>>>>>> application, same as Eclipse Plug-ins.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> To get the feel of the application, try double clicking on the
>>>>>> examples in
>>>>>> the left pane. Try editing the example in the right pane. See how
>>>>>> changes
>>>>>> are populated from one pane to another even without saving the
>>>>>> application.
>>>>>> Try changing the column width, you will get the same feel as a
>>>>>> desktop
>>>>>> application. Try emptying the name field and see the validation
>>>>>> decoration
>>>>>> with a tool tip.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Raj
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 16/04/10 13:59, BJ Freeman wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> could you explain what I am looking at and what it shows that you
>>>>>>> consider important, relative to ofbiz?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> =========================
>>>>>>> BJ Freeman
>>>>>>> http://bjfreeman.elance.com
>>>>>>> Strategic Power Office with Supplier Automation<
>>>>>>> http://www.businessesnetwork.com/automation/viewforum.php?f=93>
>>>>>>> Specialtymarket.com<http://www.specialtymarket.com/>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Systems Integrator-- Glad to Assist
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Chat  Y! messenger: bjfr33man
>>>>>>> Linkedin
>>>>>>> <
>>>>>>> http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=1237480&locale=en_US&trk=tab_pro 
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Raj Saini sent the following on 4/16/2010 12:37 AM:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Those who want to peek into running example without installing the
>>>>>>>> application, here is the link:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> http://www.viithiisys.com:9999/demo?startup=example
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Raj
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 16/04/10 01:51, Raj Saini wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have been working on OSGi and OFBiz integration for a while.
>>>>>>>>> I could
>>>>>>>>> successfully, run the OFBiz framework (entity engine and service
>>>>>>>>> engine) as OSGi services. With this integration it is possible
>>>>>>>>> to run
>>>>>>>>> Framework only OFBiz and use the OFBiz service engine for non form
>>>>>>>>> widget applications (e.g. GWT, JSF etc). This should be
>>>>>>>>> interesting
>>>>>>>>> for people wanting to use the service engine and entity engine.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> For my experiment I have  Eclipse RAP
>>>>>>>>> (http://www.eclipse.org/rap) for
>>>>>>>>> presentation layer and ported the part of Example application.
>>>>>>>>> My RAP
>>>>>>>>> example application is using OFBiz entity engine to fetch some
>>>>>>>>> of the
>>>>>>>>> data and service engine to create and update the examples.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have uploaded the installable bundle at SF and it is
>>>>>>>>> available at
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> https://sourceforge.net/projects/ofbiz-osgi/files/osgi-ofbiz.tar.bz2/download 
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Requirements:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Platform - Current distribution works only on Linux (x86_64)
>>>>>>>>> systems.
>>>>>>>>> This restriction is due to the executable including in the
>>>>>>>>> distribution. It should be possible to run it using java -jar
>>>>>>>>> command
>>>>>>>>> but it will need some configuration which is not ready yet.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Database - PostgreSQL DB server with database named 'ofbiz' and
>>>>>>>>> owned
>>>>>>>>> by user 'ofbiz' and password 'ofbiz'.  It is possible to use other
>>>>>>>>> databases but there are not JDBC driver bundles yet. Database
>>>>>>>>> server
>>>>>>>>> must be running on localhost. It is possible to use the server
>>>>>>>>> running
>>>>>>>>> on other hosts but it will need the change in entityengine.xml.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Demo data - OFBiz demo data loaded in the database as I am using
>>>>>>>>> example and other related entities in the demo application.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Install&   Run:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 1. Extract the tar achieve on your hard disk.
>>>>>>>>> 2. Change to osgi-ofbiz folder.
>>>>>>>>> 3. Execute ./ofbiz -console.
>>>>>>>>> 4. point your browser to
>>>>>>>>> http://localhost:8080/demo?startup=example
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Example application is written using Eclipse RAP. On application
>>>>>>>>> startup, you should see a table with existing examples in the left
>>>>>>>>> pane. Try changing the length of the columns.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Double clicking on a example should open it in the right pane
>>>>>>>>> editor.
>>>>>>>>> Changing a field value in the editor should show instantly in the
>>>>>>>>> right left panel (table view). Try emptying the name field in the
>>>>>>>>> editor and it should show you a validation decorator. Hovering
>>>>>>>>> mouse
>>>>>>>>> on decorator should show you the validation message. As soon as
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>> change any field, an asterisk (*) should appear next to the
>>>>>>>>> title on
>>>>>>>>> editor pane. Trying closing the editor and you should see a
>>>>>>>>> dialog box
>>>>>>>>> prompting to save before closing. Save the example by clicking
>>>>>>>>> on save
>>>>>>>>> button on toolbar.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 3. Try creating an new example. Save the example and you should
>>>>>>>>> see
>>>>>>>>> the newly added example in the left pane without browser refresh.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Should you need any further help, feel free to ask me. Look
>>>>>>>>> forward to
>>>>>>>>> your feedback.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Raj
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>