Alfresco application automatic generation : a MDA approach

[jck]

BlueXML just released a free (gratis) version of its graphical editor to configure Alfresco, based on Eclipse. Go and download it at http://www.bluexml.com/en/product-download.html

This tool permits to generate automatically Alfresco applications from UML models.

UML diagrams are converted in the following way :
* class diagram => type and aspect definition, all template and configuration files are generated
* workflow diagram => advanced jBPM workflows generated
* security diagrams => access controls generated for each group according context

These automatic generations permits to be very, very, more productive than configuration file edition by hand for types, aspects, workflows, templates, …

Moreover, the use of UML permits to increase reuse and make evolution a lot easier.

Jean-Christophe Kermagoret
_________________
Ingénieur BlueXML
MDA Alfresco Générateur

[jck]

Hello,
after a few hours in meditating about pros and cons, we decide to go Open Source : BlueXML Developer Studio will be released under GPL v2.

We'll release formally the software next week, the time for us to clean the code a little bit. For the moment, you can download the software at http://www.bluexml.com/product/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=23

This free version will be replaced by the GPL one next week. Of course, models will be totally compliant. In fact, it will be almost the same version.

We'll follow the same business model as Alfresco : there will have a supported version too.

JC

[rdanner]

Hello,
after a few hours in meditating about pros and cons, we decide to go Open Source : BlueXML Developer Studio will be released under GPL v2.

We'll release formally the software next week, the time for us to clean the code a little bit. For the moment, you can download the software at http://www.bluexml.com/product/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=23

This free version will be replaced by the GPL one next week. Of course, models will be totally compliant. In fact, it will be almost the same version.

We'll follow the same business model as Alfresco : there will have a supported version too.

JC

Well played sir.  You may also want to open an Alfresco forge project – even if it just points back to your site. 

-R

[jbarmash]

Hello,

I created a page on the Alfresco Wiki pointing to your tool.   Feel free to edit / add information as you see fit. 
     http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/BlueXMLDeveloperStudio

Jean

[alexander]

Great product!

I noticed that generator places underscore in front of property names in some configuration files.

For example:

<show-property name="test:_TimeVersion_isLastVersion" />‍

instead of

<show-property name="test:TimeVersion_isLastVersion" />‍

Would be very easy to fix and I am happy to contribute fix back but I cant find sources.

[bch]

Hi,

The reason of this problem is your hierarchy of package. Your model must be organized like this :
- The root package represent the model. So the name of this package is the prefix of the alfresco model. If your root package has no name, the prefix is "test". I think, it's your case.
- Each package must have a name.

Can you send your model to verify it ?

[alexander]

Hi, thanks for fast reply

Here is a link to one of my study projects:
http://portal.one-point-consulting.com/alfresco/download/attach/workspace/SpacesStore/ef0a5c39-42aa-...

It includes model and also generated files.

If you look at web-client-config-custom.xml you will find that all properties have an underscore prefix, while associations and classes are fine.

Thanks
Alexander

[bch]

It is highly recommended to have a hierarchy of package. So you can add a sub-package of "psplex".

[alexander]

OK, I see

If anything from sub-package is generated properly.

Thanks for clarification.

BTW, whilst we are on the topic, what is the use of search types? Is there any way to disable their generation? It is easy to delete them from model and config but this mean manual deployment.

Thanks again
Alexander

[bch]

BTW, whilst we are on the topic, what is the use of search types?

Search types is used to configure an advanced search. We work actually on a feature that permits to execute a research from this type and to replay it more easily.

Is there any way to disable their generation? It is easy to delete them from model and config but this mean manual deployment.

Actually, it's not possible to disable it.