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With 4.2, Backbase delivers a complete Ajax solution for Java developers. First big news: all Java products are now available under the Community License. Other new features: 4.2 introduces a new Data Services module which provides easy data binding for all Java frameworks; the Struts Connector is improved; new documentation for using Backbase with Spring MVC is now included; and the new JSF Edition now seamlessly combines Backbase JSF Components with 3rd party JSF components and client-side Ajax Widgets. Read on for more news…
New Data Services
The new Data Services makes it easy to populate Ajax widgets with data from a Java server: it hooks seamlessly into the Databinding mechanism of the Backbase Client Framework. Client-side Ajax widgets consume XML or JSON data: the Data Services module connects to any supported data source on the server and handles the serialization and deserialization of data. It manipulates the data allowing for all CRUD operations but can also be extended to handle any data manipulation task.
The architecture of Data Services
New Enhanced Struts Connector
The Backbase Struts Connector has been updated based on customer feedback. It also works together with the new Data Services, to quickly populate Ajax Widgets with data from the server. We’ve documented how to use the Struts Connector with Struts 2.0, providing a working example that demonstrates the proper configuration. Also, it is now available under the Community License, so you can use it free of charge for up to 2 CPUs per company.
Redesigned Pet Store demo application
The Struts package includes a new sample application, the databound Pet Shop (dbjpetstore.war). The back-end is the same as the existing pet store appication, but the front-end has been significantly redesigned. See below for a screenshot.
Example for Spring MVC
Several customers are successfully using the Backbase Client Edition together with the Spring MVC framework. Based on these experiences we’ve created an example to help Spring users get started quickly with Backbase Ajax. Spring users can now leverage the new Data Services for data binding.
New in the JSF Edition
- New Community Edition License
- Seamless integration of 3rd party Widgets and Components
- Performance Enhancements
- Custom Namespaces
- New Improved Facelets Support
- Improved Documentation
- New JSF Components
- New Client Features
New Community License
The JSF Edition can now be used under the Backbase Community License, which means you can use it free of charge on up to 2 CPUs per company. For more than 2 CPUs we have affordable software subscriptions available, which includes support, maintenance and a commercial license.
Seamless integration of 3rd Party JSF Components and Ajax Widgets
Technically, the most important change took place in the overall architecture. It is now possible to mix Backbase JSF Components with other JSF Components and client-side Ajax Widgets (from Backbase or other Ajax frameworks) in various combinations. Therefore the JSF Edition can now be used for both new and existing JSF applications. In all situations the Backbase JSF Components are still tightly coupled, in other words: for the Backbase Ajax components we synchronize client and server state via delta communication (without page refreshes).
The revised architecture enables more flexible page composition. Backbase is a dual-DOM Ajax framework with the cross-browser XML space, and the HTML DOM Space. The JSF Edition 4.2 supports the following:
- XML space:
- Server-synced, managed Backbase JSF Components
- Client-side Backbase Widgets, Behaviors and Commands
- HTML space:
- 3rd party JSF Components
- Other Ajax Widgets
- DHTML fragments
Performance Enhancements
We’ve achieved several server-side performance improvements that speed up the server-side part of the application. In addition, client-side performance is improved because of performance improvements in the Client Framework (see What’s new page for the Client).
JSF Edition 4.2 allows for full management of include files: this applies to both client-side and server-side include files. The application developer can choose among various ways of loading resources: implementing client inclusion, server-side inclusion, utilizing the dynamic binding resolution or creating and utilizing binding packages. This flexibility allows for fine-grained performance fine tuning.
Custom namespaces
The support of custom namespaces for Behaviors, elements etc has been drastically extended. All the JSF Components may be configured to include bindings from various client namespaces with the use of a simple attribute (nsMap). This addresses issues reported on the Backbase forum: post 1, post 2.
New Improved Facelets Support
Most of our JSF projects now use Facelets, a powerful templating system that allows you to define JSF views using HTML-style templates. This significantly reduces the amount of code you need to write, making your code more concise and maintainable. We’ve improved our Facelets support and documented how to use it together with Backbase.
Improved documentation
Based on customer feedback we’ve restructured the documentation to make it more user friendly. We’ve included an explanation of new architecture, and descriptions of all new features.
New JSF Components
The JSF Edition 4.2 includes a new skinSettings component that allows developers to change the color settings of the Chameleon theme from the server-side. It also includes several databinding related components in Beta status, with the dataSource component the most important of them. The new editable dataTreeGrid (Beta) component is designed with a brand new architecture utilizing the new dataSource component and the new Backbase Data Services.
New Client Features
Several Client features are now also available in the JSF Edition. These include improved drag and drop and a redesigned Chameleon skin.
