"get started" resources for enterprise-type applications

[Phil Miesle]

Hello,

Bottom line: I am struggling to find resources/examples of an
enterprise-type data entry and reporting application. Not sexy to be
sure, but it is the problem I'm trying to solve.

I've been programming Java off and on since 1.0.2 (and actually even
on pre-release versions of Java) and programming more generally for >
25 years, with an expertise in Oracle databases.

I also volunteer with Diabetes Ireland, and am looking to rewrite
their database application (single-user PowerBuilder app with a custom
database written 15 years ago).

Here's my dilema: I could use Oracle tools and knock up a new
application (in about 2 days), or I could stretch and learn more about
Scala and Lift. While I've read up on various web development
frameworks, I've not actually written any of them. I am quite
comfortable in a service-oriented framework, understand XML, etc.

And I just LOVE Scala's paradigm...so I want to play with it!!!

So it seems I am *sort of* in the sweet spot for Lift/Scala: I don't
need a super-sexy application, but I need it to be able to adapt (in
an agile manner) as the user community learns what it wants. I also
don't have tons of time to devote to this (my real day job keeps me
plenty busy), and I want it to be written in a way that any developer
off the street could pick up where I leave off.

RoR certainly has a lot going for it in terms of literature and
examples, but frankly any time I delve into the "loose-typing" world I
go crazy. Ruby is just not the language for me.

So here's a rough idea of what the app needs to do to replace the
current functionality:
1. Two classes of users: admins (who can manage metadata like "reason
codes"), and staffers (who do data entry and run reports)
2. Able to create and edit contacts (be it members or members of the
public making enquiries)
3. Be able to log activity for each contact (such as when they pay
membership dues, or call asking a question)

It's not rocket science. BUT, it's also not "chat"...and I'm
struggling to find Lift examples of enterprise-type "data entry and
reporting" applications.

So...with that introduction to my problem...where are the resources
that I'm missing? I feel like there's a book in it...which I'm more
than happy to help write but I also have a self-imposed timeline of
getting a working replacement database app up and running in by
Halloween.

Thanks,
:-Phil

[David Pollak]

Phil,

We'd love to have more people doing more "normal" stuff with Lift.  It will likely help push Lift in the direction of normal apps.

Peter Brant is doing a nice normal CRUD app and has a batch of LiftScreen and Wizard enhancements that he's going to add to Lift soon.  And more broadly, LiftScreen and Wizard are likely to best ways to do CRUD apps.

With all that being said, if you've got a deadline, using the tools you know best is probably a win.  If your balance is more oriented towards learning something new and helping a community support your kinds of apps better, then we're here to learn from you and enhance Lift to hopefully meet your needs (including enhancing the documentation).

I hope others chime in as well.

Thanks,

David

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[Phil Miesle]

Well, my deadline is self-imposed...they will continue to limp along
until somebody (i.e. "me") donates them a working application :) I'm
not being paid, so that kinda takes off the pressure, you know?!?

The balance I'm trying to achieve is to learn Lift/Scala. I'm also
trying to more completely think though the kinks involved in
developing enterprise software using Agile. (My "day job" involves
writing enterprise software in the retail vertical).

LiftScreen and Wizard sounds promising/interesting, and with any luck
it will end up meaning that I "throw away" a bunch of code that I
learned on :)

As I get my feet, I'll definitely see about how to contribute back
into the community. For the time being, I'm going to attempt to track
this little adventure at agilephil.blogspot.com which will (with any
luck) allow me to document my struggles and triumphs.

Thanks for the quick reply!
:-Phil


On Sep 11, 9:49 pm, David Pollak <feeder.of.the.be...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Simply Lifthttp://simply.liftweb.net

[Jack Park]

Phil,

I am happy to see your quest; it's not unlike mine; a non-profit with
a huge "need". In my case, the requirements are similar, except that
data entry takes a conversational perspective in which the primary
game is a kind of research, sensemaking over really complex,
frequently wicked, global issues. The "database" in my case is a very
large topic map. I'd very much like to see and participate in
conversations here and elsewhere that deal with the kinds of
development issues that arise in building such platforms. Thus far,
one of the most interesting examples is the microblog ESME at
apache.org that appears to have grown out of David's earlier
demonstrations with Lift, Skitter. ESME, in fact, satisfies some of my
use cases.

Cheers
Jack

[Jeppe Nejsum Madsen]

Phil Miesle <*@philgra.org> writes:

> Hello,
>

[...]

> So here's a rough idea of what the app needs to do to replace the
> current functionality:
> 1. Two classes of users: admins (who can manage metadata like "reason
> codes"), and staffers (who do data entry and run reports)
> 2. Able to create and edit contacts (be it members or members of the
> public making enquiries)
> 3. Be able to log activity for each contact (such as when they pay
> membership dues, or call asking a question)
>
> It's not rocket science. BUT, it's also not "chat"...and I'm
> struggling to find Lift examples of enterprise-type "data entry and
> reporting" applications.
>
> So...with that introduction to my problem...where are the resources
> that I'm missing? I feel like there's a book in it...which I'm more
> than happy to help write but I also have a self-imposed timeline of
> getting a working replacement database app up and running in by
> Halloween.

We're doing the exact same thing (and has been for a few years now :-).

We started out by using the CRUDify trait to quickly get the data entry
up and running, coupled with some reporting using JQPlot

Starting out using Lift's Mapper ORM and the CRUDify trait should get
you the basics in a few hours :-)

We're gradually replacing the CRUDify screens with either custom forms
or LiftScreen forms (the latter is not quite up to what we need yet) and also
moving towards a more task based UI where CRUD is not really the best
option.

Currently doing advanced CRUD forms in Lift, while possible, is not as
efficient as it could be. Otoh, once done, it is easy to add more
advanced features, such as ajax controls, ajax validation etc....

/Jeppe