Re: Great new Rich UI features in RBD 8 -- WEB400

Hi Peter!

Sorry I didn't answer this right away; it takes me a while to catch up after speaking at DevCon.

It's hard to pick a framework much less learn it. One of the real problems with a rich UI project is just pulling the trigger on which framework to use. In order to do that, you have to learn those various frameworks. And in order to do that you have to become pretty conversant with all the underlying technologies, from HTML to XML, from JavaScript to JSON.

Thin client is a bit easier - you tend to go JSF or Spring, and there's a ton of information out there comparing the two. But there are dozens of Rich frameworks, and many of the differences are pretty technical.

With EGL, you have fewer choices but all the plumbing is done for you. You end up with a great default framework of IBM's widgets and Dojo 1.5. That's more than enough to start a pretty solid application framework. As time goes on, IBM will probably add frameworks, but if you decide that you just can't live without some component, you can then bite the bullet, learn the JavaScript behind it, and write your own EGL wrapper. EGL is all about extension.

As to installing, it's a little difficult because RBD 8 isn't released yet. But as soon as it comes out I'll write an article on installation. Have you installed any Rational products yet? RDi or RDP? If so, I can give you the 20-second overview:

1. Download RDP version 8. Install into a new package group.
2. Download RBD version 8. Install into the same package group as number 1.

You're done!

Getting started is a little more involved. You could buy my book on EGL, which takes you end to end developing a multi-tier application with both thin and rich clients. Unfortunately, you just missed iSeries DevCon, where I usually have at least one session and one lab on EGL development for the i. The truth is once you get started, it's pretty simple. EGL is about as easy a language to use as you can find (put your data is in records, and pass those records from one place to another), and attaching to RPG on the back end is almost trivial.

Joe

Joe,
Thanks a bunch.
This could be the impetus we, as a small team (6), need to finally decide to adopt an industry strength UI framework.
My worry is that, without one, our more recent developers have been coding evermore complex (and perhaps unsupportable) code at both the client and server, to resolve issues that such a framework may now provide.
These days I sometimes feel taking the elevator makes more sense than proving how fast I can mount the stairs.

BTW, is there a document which illustrates that getting started/installing etc is equally as simple?

Cheers, Peter

-----Original Message-----
From: web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
Sent: Friday, 19 November 2010 10:51 a.m.
To: Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries; Websphere Development Studio Client for iSeries
Subject: [WEB400] Great new Rich UI features in RBD 8

If you're interested in Rich UI development, I've just written an
article for IBM Systems Magazine on the new Rich UI features in RBD 8.
RBD 8 will be available in a couple of weeks, so you might want to take
a look at the article and see if you want to make some time to look at
the new version. It's really pretty stunning.

Basically, IBM has taken everything they've learned with their thin
client WYSIWYG designer (which is one of the best inthe business, IMHO)
and applied it to their rich client technology. This is the sort of
thing that really puts EGL at the forefront when it comes to business
application development. There are lots of GUI tools out there, but
EGL's focus on removing the complexity (i.e., taking care of the
plumbing) allows green screen folks to concentrate on the business rules
without having to become an expert on the many underlying technologies.

The article is in two parts:

http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/ibmi/enewsletterexclusive/35233p1.aspx
http://www.ibmsystemsmag.com/ibmi/rbd8_part2/35144p1.aspx

Joe