Joomla 3: A Paradigm Shift

Joomla 3 the latest version of Joomla is releasing in three months and the Joomla team has come out with official news for Joomla developers and Joomla programmers about the new version. Before Joomla developers upgraded from the older version to Joomla 3.0, it is advised for them to read about the update.

Joomla 3 Basics

Joomla programmers have been eagerly waiting for the release of Joomla 3 but the latest news from the Joomla developer’s side is that the programmers can continue working with Joomla 2.5 until 2013/2014. This is because of the fact that Joomla has been targeted for Joomla developers and early adopters of Joomla.

The Joomla developer’s team advised the Joomla programmers to stay with Joomla 2.5 as it will be definitely supported until 2013 or 2014 maximum. Joomla developers are excited as version 3.0 of Joomla has been developed predominantly for speeding up its adoptability with the mobile revolution that has been taking over the world.

The process of upgrading has also been simplified where the Joomla programmer can update from Joomla 2.5 to 3.0 from their site’s administrator end itself.  Joomla developers need not re-install by downloading the setup file again from the internet separately.

 Joomla Developers Called for Action

Joomla User Experience (JUX) team has started calling Joomla developers from all over the world for enhancing its already paved path for its visionary move to capture the mobile platform. The user experience for the mobile platform has to be tweaked to the optimal level so that users find it simple and sophisticated to navigate and use the Joomla program.

There are many modules and extensions present in the mobile module of the Joomla function and the Joomla User Interface thus the Joomla User Experience team has called upon all Joomla programmers and Joomla developers to come forward for testing the already built module, give feedback and provide better solutions for the augmentation of the modules.

This invitation from Joomla has been a welcome gesture for all Joomla developer from all over the world as this gives an opportunity for various Joomla programmers to come up with versatile issues faced by them during their experiences while using the Beta version of the mobile version of Joomla.

Expectations from Joomla Developers

The Joomla programmers volunteering for the Joomla User Experience Team’s call are expected to have certain ideas before they start working on the project for its development.

The admin and site templates of the platform have been entirely altered but the Joomla developers can still do usability testing and provide their feedback.  Joomla 3.0 is expected to consist of Bootsrap. Not just the Bootstrap the entire Joomla User Interface itself is not just an admin template or a frontend template. As Bootstrap has to be integrated in the function some core frontend and admin outputs, and some layouts may change more substantially. This is a process towards standardizing the template into a genuine frontend as well as a backend User Interface element which can be used for developments on both sides.

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Development Tools and their Functions of Adobe Flex

Adobe Flex development environment typically provides Flex developers similar tools and asset types that the Flex developers work with to create Flex applications. 

Files for Configuration

Flex developers should be familiar with the type of configuration they need for developing the environment they are planning to develop. Adobe Flex Software Development Kit (SDK) provides the files for the settings so that the Flex developer can use in XML format.

The default compiler options for the compiler are defined by the lex-config.xml file and this need not be separately done by the Flex programmer developing the environment.

The messaging and data management settings, Adobe Flash player settings, the heap size of JVM, and logging and cache settings too can be altered by the Flex programmers in addition to the alterable configurations of server and compiler.

Functionalities of Compilers 

A Flex programmer developing an environment is provided with both application compilers and component compilers by Adobe Flex. The application compiler can be used by Flex developers to compile SWF files from MXML and other source files. From the component files the Flex programmers can compile the SWC files using the component compiler. According to each Flex developer’s needs the SWC files can be used either as dynamic or static libraries with the Flex applications used by the Flex programmer.

Forms of Application Compiler

The application compiler is present in the below forms which the Flex developers can use:

• Adobe Flex builder project compiler. The Flex Builder Project compiler is opened for Flex programmers by Flex Builder for library projects in Flex.
• mxmlc command-line compiler. Flex developers can open the mxmlc command-line compiler from the command to create a SWF file that can be deployed to a website by the Flex programmers.
• Web-Tier Compiler. The Flex module for Apache and IIS compiler provides web-tier compilation of MXML files on Apache and IIS web servers for the Flex developers. This enables the Flex programmers to effortlessly and quickly compile, deploy and test your applications. Flex developers can simply refresh the MXML files in their browsers instead of compiling the MXML file into a SWF file and then deploying it and its wrapper files directly to the web servers.

Forms of Component Compilers

The component complier is also present in different forms from which the Flex programmers can choose and use:

• Flex Builder library project compiler. The Flex Builder component compiler is opened by Flex Builder for Flex library projects.
• compc command-line compiler. You open the compc compiler from the command line to create SWC files. You can use these SWC files as static component libraries, themes, or runtime shared libraries (RSLs).

Types of Debugger

Flex developers run the application SWF files in a web browser or the stand-alone Flash Player to test the application for bugs and/or errors. If a Flex developer finds errors in the application debugging tools can be used to set and manage breakpoints in the code written for the application.

Flex developers can avail the following debugging tools from Flex:

• Flex Builder Debugger – This aspect of debugging from Flex provide the Flex programmers all the efficient tools expected from a robust and a competent development tool.
• The fdb command-line debugger – The fdb uses the technique of command-line debugging where the Flex developers and Flex programmers can step into the code, and analyze and debug the application.
• AIR Debug Launcher (ADL) - ADL is a command line debugger for Adobe® AIR™ applications that you can use outside of Flex Builder.
• These are tools should be analyzed and understood by all Flex programmers before they start developing any kind of environment using Flex.

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Efficient Features of Ruby on Rails

Open source web development framework, Ruby on Rails, has pragmatically revolutionized the methods of developing web applications and has turned many other technological developers in complete Ruby on Rails developers. Following are some reasons behind the growing enthusiasm towards Ruby on Rails.

Ruby on Rails makes it effortless, efficient and examinable for the Ruby on Rails programmers to develop sophisticated web applications by availing the Ruby on Rails developers with all tools and components required by them to build web based applications in an enhanced way.

Development at Optimal Pace

Developers developing a web based application for a client would prefer only to think and analyze the aspects of requirements from the client which would be the domain problem rather than concentrating more on setting up numerous files for configuration which is not even a part of the project development process but just an initialization of the platform.

When such obstacles keep piling on and on any Ruby on Rails developer or programmer might lose their vision towards which they have to build their project module for the client which would be setting up a website with specifications in sync with the client’s domain.

With conventional web developing techniques this might slow down the Ruby on Rails developer’s project development process to a very large extent.

Convention over Configuration

Ruby on Rails programmers utilize a concept called ‘Convention on Configuration’ which enables them to follow conventional steps while the process of coding is done because of which the Ruby on Rails developers do not have to consider too much about the configuration and settings. For example, if a Ruby on Rails developer created a model class called “Print” the following database will be called “prints” and the class which is the controller will be named “Printscontroller”. Further to this Ruby Rails developers are presented another feature called ‘Scaffolding’. Using this feature Ruby on Rails programmers can create prototypes for client evaluation in a very short span of time.

Database Interchangeability

Many Ruby on Rails developers face this issue of creating a fully functional, sophisticated website using a Database Management System and out of the blue the client decides to change their Database Management System. During such confusions most Ruby on Rails programmers find themselves in an irreparable situation.

With Ruby on Rails this problem can never rise. That is because Ruby on Rails developers develop web based applications without being dependent on a database. If the database has to be shifted by the Ruby on Rails programmer of an application developed to another then it could be easily done by making very simple changes in the configuration settings.

In addition to these features Ruby on Rails programmers can also avail a design pattern ActiveRecord which enables them to achieve Object Relational Mapping (ORM). This means that the classes in the code generated by the Ruby on Rails programmers can directly map to the tables in the database. Using this aspect a Ruby on Rail developer can assign relationships between objects and its classes.

Using these advanced features of Ruby on Rails the developers can develop their web based applications for their clients in an effortless and sophisticated way.

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Consistent and Efficient iPhone Applications Development

iPhone app developers are recommended to develop applications with standard components which are established amongst iPhone users and have functionalities which are already understood by Mac users. This article stresses on certain points which makes an application operationally consistent.

Operational Consistency

iPhone users understand the use of the Home Button, dragging icons, and tapping on the screen which are default actions required from the users by the smart phone, so iPhone app programmers must keep these actions in mind while developing an application to develop an operationally consistent application.

To maintain consistency is comparatively simpler for an iPhone application developer in a phone as it conveniently contains that behavior in its framework. Though maintaining consistency is an important aspect which each and every iPhone programmer must maintain it is not recommended that the iPhone app developers do not extend the interface especially when innovative applications and games are being trialed to be built.

Key Aspects to be remembered

It is advisable for iPhone app developers to develop applications which are easier to understand but these iPhone app developers must also be aware of their target audience. A general application for a general audience needs to be easily comprehendible where as a special application for expert users needs to be as sophisticated as it is required to be. The following points should be kept in mind by iPhone app programmers to develop an efficient application:

• The functionality of application built by an iPhone app programmer must be apparently evident and the end users must find it accessible.
• Cues are provided to users by the standard interface components itself.
•  iPhone app developers should not overestimate the amount of time the users are willing to spend on the application they have built.

With the change and advancement of technology the attitude of users also changes. Users nowadays have become more impatient towards new applications and to attract their attention more and more innovative techniques are being adopted.

Connecting the Application to the World

By connecting the application to the Web the iPhone app developer gives a more enhanced user experience as the user can avail real-time information from the internet. This also helps the iPhone app developer to just not rely on the limited storage capacity of the smart phone and have access to innumerous amounts of data in servers or offload the processing. Instead of the iPhone app developers saving all the necessary data in the device, which ultimately reduces the scope of information, they can rely on external servers.

Deploying the client-server architecture the iPhone app programmers can provide access to the client system to access a server and most servers accept such requests instantly. 

Utilizing Media available in the Device

iPhone app programmers can develop applications in such a way that the media files present in the phone can also be used. Mainly the camera is a utility available already in the smart phone which can be made use of in the application by taking a photo instantly or by selecting an already existing photo in the Gallery.

Many iPhone app developers are integrating audio and video playback in the iPhone application. These applications are designed by the iPhone app developer with specifications which add all the supported content in the phone and synchronize them in a library.

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