How to access alfresco engine API and services

[roby71]

Hi,

I would like to develop a new web-application using alfresco "engine" and service API but I don't want use Web Services approch.

Further I would like to re-write a new web-client (using jsf and/or struts plus any other j2ee framworks as ajax…) to implement my custom GUI and functions.

So well, to do that I would like to build my web-app on top Alfresco repository and back-end services but I can't find any starting point example and
any detailed documents on this topic.

I already tryed to use Alfresco SDK but it seem to isn't what I want. I think that I get access directly to Alfresco Fundation API but how?

Anyone could tell me if this is possible and give me any hints and/or show me any starting points and write me few lines that describe the "best practice" approch to reach this result.

Thanks in advance,
Roby

[pmonks]

I'd encourage you to consider an out-of-process design for your UI ie. calling into the Alfresco server via one of the remote APIs (eg. Web Scripts - http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Web_Scripts).  While embedding Alfresco in your own web application is possible, that approach has constraints that might not be acceptable (dependencies on specific versions of 3rd party libraries, use of a specific JVM make and model, use of Spring, etc. etc.).

That said, if you wish to move forward with the embedded approach, the Foundation Services API (http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Alfresco_Content_Management_Java_API) is the API you'll be using.  The easiest way to get started with it is to look at the "SDK FirstFoundationClient example" project that's available from SVN.  Details on obtaining that code and setting up a build environment for it are at http://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/Alfresco_SVN_Development_Environment.

Cheers,
Peter

[jeanmonod]

Hi Roby,

I'm facing the same problem as you. I'm develloping a specific client using gwt with a servlet back-end. But then then I don't know which interface is the best to communication with alfresco from my servlet.

Can you tell me witch orientatioon did you take at the end? And why?

Thanks in advance

David