There are two interesting options for delivering rich
visual applications that can be deployed to multiple targets:
The first option consists in minimizing
the amount of code written. For example, because the interface is
primarily based on descriptive reusable content (such as Symbols,
CSS, XML, Dashboards), the task to finalize the application for a
given platform is reduced.
The second option consists in using
a model-driven architecture to automate the creation of user interfaces
directly from data models. This very systematic approach is particularly
suitable for diagrams and data-centric applications.
These techniques require a set of portable visual components
that can deliver graphical content on multiple platform targets, and
design tools that create reusable visual entities and the specifications
for displays driven by underlying data. The importance of design tools
goes beyond the need to reduce the coding part of an application,
and offers an opportunity to provide different tools for the different
roles in the development chain, and eventually create new ones. For
example, a graphics designer can provide attractive content for a
user interface without necessarily being involved in technical development.
Also, an application administrator can enrich the application without
modifying the core of the system.
JViews Diagrammer offers dedicated portable components
for diagrams, dashboards, and generic Human Machine Interfaces (HMI).
The design tools (Symbol Editor, Dashboard Editor and Designer) simplify
the development process and minimize the amount of code to write.
Development time is spent primarily on creating descriptive content,
and the coding part is limited to integration and data management.
At run time, different families of components, including Swing, Eclipse™
, and Web are used for integration.
For the Web side, there are dedicated JavaServer™
Faces
components that can reside on a Web server and generate an interface
for a browser. By mixing images and JavaScript™
/DHTML
code, the components deliver content for either traditional Web pages
or portals that implement the JSR 168 standard. They are also able
to deal with asynchronous requests that manage Ajax behavior and minimize
page refreshes.
For more information, please refer to the Building Web applications user documentation.
The following image is an example of a business process
diagram deployed as a rich client:
The following image shows the same business process diagram
deployed as a Web/Ajax interface:
By generalizing the usual software component approach
and systematically adding design tools and descriptive content, JViews Diagrammer addresses a large number of visual
requirements and deployment to multiple platforms. With more precise
roles in the development chain, applications can be enriched by creating
new content that is dynamically loaded without modifying the code
base. Another interesting aspect is the ability to reuse graphical
content, such as visual symbols or look and feel definitions, from
one application to another independently from code. In the end, developers
have more freedom to build and deliver interactive applications that
users will enjoy using.