Java Framework for Database-Centric Web Engineering

Presentation given at WebE 2001, 4th Workshop on Web Engineering (in conjunction with 10th International World Wide Web Conference), Hong Kong.

ABSTRACT: We present a database-centric approach to web site development in which both application and web content data are managed by a database. The development process is based on three main stages of information modelling, document content design and presentation specification. A Java framework based on the OMS object-oriented data management system has been developed to support the development life cycle from rapid prototyping through to operation. We describe how the framework supports access from heterogeneous clients and how it has been extended to include a web content manager.

Research paper: https://beatsigner.com/publications/signer_WebE2001.pdf

Transcript

1. Java Framework for Database- Centric Web Site Engineering Beat Signer, Michael Grossniklaus and Moira C. Norrie {signer, grossniklaus, norrie}@inf.ethz.ch Institute for Information Systems ETH Zurich
2. Outline • Motivation • OMS Database Development Suite • XML Server Component • Customised Applications • Content Management Server
3. Motivation • Current web interfaces to DB systems are ▪ Based on HTML and related technologies ▪ Optimised for large displays (> 640x480 pixels) • Trend to new types of devices with different browser capabilities ▪ WebPads, Handhelds (Palm, Handspring,... ), WAP- enabled mobile phones, NTT DoCoMo's I-Mode phones, Digital TV, ... ▪ Not suited for 1:1 rendering of most existing web sites
4. Motivation... • Generic database interface instead of developing a new interface from scratch for every device type ▪ Use a technology which allows the separation of content from its presentation (XML) ▪ Rendering (XSL) based on the user agent type requesting the data
5. OMS Database Development Suite Application Modelling OM Semantic Object Data Model Database & Application Design OMS Pro Rapid Prototyping System and Lightweight DBMS Implementation OMS Java Data Management System & Application Framework
6. DB-Centric Web Site Development Information Model Document Content Document DB with Generic Browsers DB with Defaut Templates DB with Customised Templates
7. XML Server Component OMS Java API OMS Java Workspace XML Servlet HTML Servlet WML Servlet Main Entry Servlet XML Server XML Browser HTML Browser WML Browser Delegation Builds XML based on JDOM XML + XSLT → Response
8. Example XML Response <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <oms> <instance id="1132" type="person" > <dressedWith type="person" /> <attribute name="forename" > <string>Beat</string> </attribute> … <attribute name="picture" > <photofile>/images/ETH/beat.jpg</photofile> </attribute> <method name="age" /> … <link idref="788" inv="false" name="Workplace" /> </instance> </oms> Attributes Types Methods Links
9. Application Development 1. Prototype the OM model in OMS Pro 2. Export to OMS Java • DDL (Data Definition Language), DML (Data Modification Language) 3. Installation of XML Server with default XSL stylesheets and servlets 4. Optional customisation of stylesheets and servlets
10. Community Agenda
11. Existing Solutions • Conventional content management systems • Document elements are stored in a DB • Databases brought to the web • Close relation between database type and page Document Based Approach Data Based Approach
12. Content Management Server Application Objects CMComponents CMTemplates CMWorkflows CMGatekeepers CMContents
13. Content Management Server...
14. CMPage CMContainer CMNavigation CMContainer Content Management Server... CMText CMPicture CMText CMText GlobisEvent CMMixed CMMixed CMPicture CMText CMText CMLink
15. Content Management Server...
16. Conclusion • Database-Centric Web Engineering ▪ Support entire development process ▪ Manage document content and application objects • OMS Java Framework ▪ High-Level Data Management ▪ XML Server ▪ Content Management