[Eledge-developers] Webapplication Frameworks decision

[Robert Z. <ro...@sc...>]

After considerable research, and various  integrations with smaller 
applications using various frameworks, I've decided that, rather than 
Struts, eledge will be moving in the "Tapestry" direction.
I realize that this means we may not be able to easily integrate the 
navigo project into eledge. Given the fact that navigo has now become 
part of a larger joint venture, I'm not sure that's the best idea for us 
now, anyway.
Granted, the fact that they are IMS compliant already is a nice bonus, 
but.... ;)  I honestly think we can do better. If you are interested in 
continuing eledge development, I urge you to go to 
http://jakarta.apache.org/tapestry and start looking over the documentation.

Bonuses to using tapestry over struts:

    Better localization support
    MUCH better code reuse. (This is a big one for me)
    Much LESS "overhead" code to use the framework
    Better/more integrated support for distributed computing.
    More secure than struts.
    Better form validation support.
    Much better support/integration for multiple forms on a page, and 
multiple submit buttons within a single form.
    A great templating system that allows for true and complete 
separation of model from controller from view.
  
    The tapestry learning curve is a bit steeper than struts. But, it is 
certainly worth it.

Additionally, after doing yet more research, I have decided that the 
"cayenne" framework is also going to be used by eledge as the O/R 
mapping framework.

As an example of the effectiveness of these two frameworks in tandem, I 
would point you to the national hockey league site, which typically 
receives in the ballpark of 7 million hits a day.
They are running  tapestry and cayenne.  They recently broke an NHL 
record with 11 million hits (3.6 Million unique users) in an 18 hour 
time span.

Before progressing further into the structural overhaul of eledge, I 
will be doing more research into the SCORMS and IMS standards.  If 
anybody has already done this and is able to give a brief
synopsis of important points for the standards, instead of me having to 
wade through however many scores of pages of material, that would be 
great. ;)

Robert