Re: Choice of Zimlet back-end development environment

[Robert Michael Thompson <ab5602@wayne.edu>]

Hi Steve,

We have not standardized on anything yet and have gone several routes.  I've found #3 to be the most productive.  Of course, we don't have too many Java coders here, so that comment is probably bias.  We've been successful in developing SOAP user/admin integration for Zimbra in:
 
 a) Java
 b) PHP
 c) Perl

I think the answer to your question lies in what languages your coders are most proficient and how important it is to be able to package the Zimlet.  If distribution is the focus, .JSP packaged Zimlets are the key. However, Java is not necessarily how most orgs code their existing libs, so it would be nice to have a comprehensive library out there with examples of how to interface to Zimbra SOAP in different languages.

-Rob

--
Rob Thompson, Systems Analyst
Enterprise Applications
Computing & Information Technology
Wayne State University
313-577-5645

Public Key: http://pgp.wayne.edu/rob.key

----- "Steve Hillman" <hillman@sfu.ca> wrote:

> For those of you doing Zimlet development, how have you chosen to
> develop the back-ends for those Zimlets that you want to interact with
> other systems, or manage their own databases of data?
> 
> It seems there are several options:
>  1. Write JSPs that run on the Zimbra servers (i.e the "standard"
> Zimlet development model)
>  2. Write in whatever existing Application Server Environment you
> have, leveraging existing code and database infrastructure, but making
> your Zimlets highly specialized
>  3. Write small applets in something like PHP, run them wherever you
> want, and rely on the Zimlet proxy to allow your Zimlets to
> communicate with the back-end
> 
> Anything I'm missing? 
> 
> We're currently going down the path of #2. This shortens development
> time even for rich applications, but makes our Zimlets very difficult
> to share. I'm just curious, for those who've pretty much standardized
> on one approach, what approach that's been
> 
> -- 
> Steve Hillman                                IT Architect
> hillman@sfu.ca                               IT Infrastructure
> 778-782-3960                                 Simon Fraser University