I've been directed to force.com as an alternative to creating an application using PHP and MySQL. My question is about deployment. What happens after I build the application on force.com. If the application is based on their API, will I be able to serve this application from my own domain if I wanted?
Simple answer is "no".
Your application is hosted on their servers, built in their own language (based on Java and Oracle DB but you'll never see them directly). You will create your application mostly with clicking through the setup (even for adding fields to tables there's GUI, no way to say ALTER TABLE ADD COLUMN), in some rare cases when you'll need complex logic you might resort to programming in Apex and Visualforce - but these languages won't work outside Salesforce.com platform.
Having said that - of course you can use your own domain name (to literally "serve this application from my own domain") and there are many integration possibilities so Salesforce app could interact with other application written in PHP for example... But there is no straightforward way to create your own "salesforce server" like you'd install an Apache or MySQL server.
You rely on their service for both hardware and software which will act as web server, execute your custom code etc.
Last thing - if you hope to build something reusable that might be helpful to other companies and you'd like to sell it in some sane way (not having to repeat all the clicking in each client's environment etc), have a look at appexchange. It's a place where you can find many pre-built Force.com apps (think about them like plugins to Wordpress, Joomla, osCommerce...).
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I want to start an information provider service. It works this way:
Some employees will find the information needed and fill a database manually.
Users will request data they need on their client side apps on their own platforms. Some of the project specifications is as follows: 1) Data that will go between database server and clients is really small(Suppose some ordinary images). 2) The client side apps don't need to be kept updated. Once the user of app clicks update button(for example) the app will request the server to send required information. 3)It's important to run client side apps on several platforms like: windows, windows phone, android, ios,... 4) Database doesn't need to be vary fast or vary big.
Note: And It's important to note that I'm not expert and I have some limitations. I know java and html, css, javascript. But I think those are enough for this project. (Am I right?)
So I decided to design this development architecture:
1)Using hibernate and provide a layer for server which stands above hibernate and is used to do database-specific tasks. This layer provides some protocols for client side apps to communicate with server. It enables me to change database later without changing client side apps. 2)Using PhoneGap which is a framework that uses html, css, javascript and produces apps for many platforms.
I really appreciate any suggestion, comment,... Thanks!
The fastest way in Java world would be spring boot. Basically you can configure whole application: datasource, orm, persistance layer and rest services just by adding proper annotations. There are many examples of how to do it. Basically with current implementation of spring jpa and web services you can bind mapped resources to rest services. Also current JPA can generate SQL for you using DAO method name. SO e.g. findPersonByName will generate proper sql for you (of course you need to map your db model in entities but this is also simply done with annotations).
Yes, this is a sufficient tech stack to accomplish your goal. You will have to decide how much logic to implement server-side vs app-side.
Pick a java framework for providing an API so that you can expose a restful API to your apps.
Here are a couple of comparisons from stack overflow:
Which is the best Java REST API?
Easiest frameworks to implement Java REST web services
no! for database you need server side scripting language, like php or perl, java-script is client side and will only work on browser. i recommend first learning mysql database, just the basics how to create Db, table, insert and fetch. then some PHP. i think these will set the ground for your project. '
for development environment : download XAAMP! it comes complete with Sql-database base and PHP.
I'm need to create an ipad app that has access to a relational database as well a lot of images (which should be hosted on the web). My boss suggested that I use Filemaker, as he has a license for one of the versions.
I searched the web for information on what is the best way to do this but I'm not 100% sure I got it right.
Is it possible to use Filemaker for the following?
Create a relational database
'Host' images
Run custom scripts (optional but not strictly required)
Publish all of the above to the web, to be accessed by an ios app (and later an web app) through an API.
I understand the the first three points can be done but couldn't find much on how to publish everything and then access it securely later.
Are there better alternatives?
Thank you in advance
FileMaker Server has a fairly good XML API that supports all operations, including FileMaker scripts. It can be used as is or through the official PHP client. There's also an unofficial Python client for it.
I am a newbie programmer and i dont yet have any idea of the WEB. I wish to start learning a technology that will allow me to build websites( database driven) i dont know which one to choose. I know some actionscript3 and flash.
Is it possible to create a database driven website using these alone? Or do i need to learn any other technology? If i do then what should i learn? I know j2se for the desktop and oracle SQL/MySQL
please show me a path. Also wanted to know if there is any technology like Wordpress for J2EE/flash
OK so i finally got the feeling that i need to learn PHP anyway along with css and javascript. So it is fine. Also another query. Which CMS should i consider? Wordpress or Joomla?
You can develop a database driven website using Flash, but only in the same sense that you can develop a database driven website using AJAX. That is, you can build the front-end using Flash/ActionScript but the back-end is built using other technologies. Just like working with JavaScript to develop a front-end, from ActionScript you would be communicating with Java or PHP or Python or something on the server using RESTful calls and then actually working with the database in the server-side scripts.
Honestly = this question is too broad and generic, and answers are easily found with some google searches.
That being said = of course you can build a data driven flash site. The one caveat here is that flash itself is fundamentally client-side technology, so we must rely on other remote tech to do the heavy data lifting. The options are profuse.
For example, a developer might create a front facing presentation in Flex, which is the streamlined, data-centric extension of pure flash. His database interactions are written in php, and these are constantly called upon to deliver content to the user.
So - what technologies to use? Whatever you know. And if you don't know, then learn the ones that are closest to what you know.
Finally, although I am a die-hard fan of flash, this type of project (you didn't specify what you had in mind) could be done with many different technologies. So - maybe flash is the right answer, but maybe javascript (ajax) could manage the same thing and do it without the need of plugins.
Yes you can develop database driven site in flash/action script but you still need and back-end technology i recommend you to check WebORB you can develop the back-end using Java, PHP, or .NET In addition you can use Flash Remoting technology Flash/Flex to communicate with a back-end
Flash can't be directly connected to database. You must use another technique which would be "mediator". I have developed Flash game with MySql database and PHP and I recommend you to use this combination. Here is visually presented this kind of communication: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRi-oxjFfCU
yes, it is possible to crate database driven website with flash and action-script. You would get an XML file when you do action script in flash, so you can store nodes of that XML file into database(mysql). You can then create an Admin interface to manage your database contents, that would indirectly change your xml nodes. So basically you can edit the xml file and store it in the database.
So, yes, this is probably 1000th question on the subject. However, my question is somewhat different from others that were asked about this, so please bear with me:
I am looking to develop a single mobile-app that targets the three/four popular and/or growing mobile platforms (Iphone, Android, WinPhone7, RIM). This application is an extension of an existing SaaS system that my startup currently offers. This mobile-app would provide a quick-and-simple way to view up-to-date status & chart & report information for the data that SaaS application collects. Connection to the internet is required 100%. No data entry besides username/password. App is very simple with 5-6 "pages".
In phase 1, all that would need to be supported is for user to log in, get to see current status of his data stored in the cloud, get access to a few live reports
In phase 2, I'd like to be able to offer push-notification of certain key events from my servers in the cloud
My goals are:
1) The back-end processing that generates data for reports is already written in ASP.NET MVC2. I want to re-use it. It can be exposed as either a WCF service or published on a mobile-friendly website
2) I'd like to be able to deploy the patches faster than through the official app-stores/marketplaces.
3) I cannot afford to spend a lot of resources to target three-four proprietary platforms, for an app that is auxiliary to the vertical purpose of the business. I want to develop it once for all 3-4 platforms.
4) I do not have access, nor do I want to purchase a Macbook
5) I do want to deploy thru the vendor-specific application marketplaces
6) I'd like to stay way from proprietary languages/frameworks/lock-ins
Sounds like what I need is a shell around a mobile-friendly site that can be packaged as an app. Are there existing products that can make it REAL EASY for me to do so? Will doing so, preclude me from doing push notifications in phase 2?
Can anyone recommend a "shell" product that would make a wrapper around the website as well as Javascript library that would look the best across all 4 platforms. I've seen the names like Jqtouch, Jquery Mobile, etc... but not sure which ones are better for what I need.
Do I need PhoneGap? I am not 100% sure here. Can PhoneGap use online-only html/javascript pages to translate into native code or must html/javascript files be distributed with the application? I'd rather have the website itself drive the UI completely, as I can keep changing the website without various version approval processes from vendor market-stores.
Thank you for help
I don’t think you need Phonegap after reading about your project goals. You might consider a Web App instead of a native one if you 1) dont want to buy a mac (required for iOS even tho you can compile it in the cloud: https://build.phonegap.com/), and 2) want to apply and deploy updates anytime without going thru those platform independent marketplaces and approval processes.
jQuery Mobile would be an excellent choice, currently (at this very moment) in Alpha 3 but a very stable one and you can deploy your system on any of those platforms. Note that if you focus your efforts in a Web App you can’t target the second phase you mentioned: Push Notifications.
If you decide going Native, then Push Notifications services can be deployed into your Phonegap project once you setup the proper web services and certificates (take a look # http://easyapns.com);
..and one quick note, the idea of phonegap is that all resources (html, js, images. etc) have to be distributed locally within the app and then getting online data (like reports, etc) using JSON from another web service, and that’s another easy task to accomplish. Phonegap DOES NOT compile your HTML files into native code (ObjectiveC or Java), it just load your Web App into a UIWebKit component at run time (in the case of an iOS app)
Another alternative could be using Titanium - http://www.appcelerator.com but this approach is more javascript oriented and your final app looks much more native. (not HTMLs here so I think thats a drawback for you)
Hope it helps :)
When developing for the Zend Framework is it common for developers to have to build a custom backend admin area for each unique app? Or is there a popular 3rd party backend tool people are using to manipulate your app's database?
I'm thinking of learning ZF but what stands out is how do you keep an eye on what users are doing with your app?
You have two basic choices:
Create two modules: frontend and admin. All your controllers live within
Within each module have an admin controller within the module to adminstrate it
In either case, I use a Front Controller plugin to swap the layout to admin.phtml so I have a different look and feel for my administration system. This is of course, optional :)
I tend to create an 'AdminController' specific to the application if there are too many administrative functions, or an Admin Module if there are (or there is a real possibility for the number of administrative functions to increase).
Well, in general I consider it enough to manipulate my db with let's say phpmyadmin or directly in my IDE (Aptana).
For the tasks I want to allow certain administrators to perform online I write an admin controller. Such tasks are mostly so specific, complex, dynamic that some kind of generic generator system wouldn't probably help a lot.
Still, there is at least one so called 3rd party tool I know of which falls into the category you're mentioning in your question.
DataGrid for Zend Framework
ZendFramework is not a Toolkit to create specific Application with users and, lets say articles etc. So there can't be such a 3rd party tool. I would create a admin module, not a controller, because that means you have just 1 File for all admintasks.