| [e4-dev] PMF - Presentation Modeling Framework |
|
Hi all, During last EclipseCon, Jim van Dam and I did separately
a presentation about UI modeling concept. With helps of ED and Kenn, we have decided
to launch a common project: PMF. I have attached the draft proposal in this
email. This project plans to use e4 Declarative UI/modeled
workbench as sample UI technology to test/valid the concepts. Everyone is
welcome to join this team or use it to integrate with other UI solutions. We have scheduled to get together evening during at ESE. The
date is not yet fixed. You are welcome to join this open discussion in detail
mainly focused on architecture/features. Best regards Yves YANG Soyatec - Eclipse OutSourcing & XAML for java Tel: +33 1 60 13 06 67 Mobile: +33 6 20 74 39 45 Fax: +33 9 58 07 06 67 |
PMF (Presentation Modeling Framework) is a proposed new open source project under Eclipse Modeling to provide a metamodel for UI modeling.
This component is in the Pre-Proposal Phase (as defined in the Eclipse Development Process) and this document is written to declare its intent and scope. This proposal is written to solicit additional participation and input from the Eclipse community. You are invited to comment on and/or join in the development of the component. Please send all feedback to the eclipse.modeling newsgroup.
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the visible part of the software. It really consists of the gate through which business features are made available and it reflects the application quality. Designing the visual composition and temporal behavior of GUI is an important part of software application programming. Its goal is to enhance the efficiency and ease of use for the underlying logical design. Typically, the user interacts with information by manipulating visual widgets that allow for interactions appropriate to the kind of data they hold. The widgets of a well-designed interface are selected to support the actions necessary to achieve the goals of the user.
Model-Driven Engineering is a modern, standard and industry software engineering. It refers to a range of development approaches that are based on the use of software modeling as a primary form of _expression_. Sometimes models are constructed to a certain level of detail, and then code is written by hand in a separate step. Sometimes complete models are built including executable actions. Model-driven architecture supports model-driven engineering of software systems. MDA provides a set of guidelines for structuring specifications expressed as models. The MDA approach defines system functionality using a platform-independent model (PIM) using an appropriate domain-specific language (DSL).
Obviously, MDE in GUI needs an appropriate framework to simplify the presentation generation. It is in fact a critical component in scalable enterprise data presentation applications such as ERP and BPMS in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Financials, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Human Resources, Warehouse Management and Decision Support System.
From users' perspective, the UI presentation modeling should be composed of following steps:
PMF focuses in fact on high level presentation modeling concepts on GUI by ignoring the displaying technology artifacts such as appearence, layouts and data binding support. It allows each technology to make its specific connection with this framework.
The purpose of this framework is to provide the basic functional concepts of user interaction in a PIM level UI modeling language. The language can be extended in two ways:
Each displaying technology such as XUL, e4, JSF, SWT, Swing, GWT, Ajax, Silverlight or others, can extend this framework to implement a specific generator for producing executable codes in Java or in declarative language.
Precisely, PMF provides following components:
This framework is not a specific UI framework for a displaying technology, neither a specific UI Markup language. It is a high level modeling framework to design the data presentation scenario/pattern and user interactions.
PMF will use the most Eclipse tools to archive the UI Presentation modeling and code generation. The most important tool is the modeling transformation engine. Several engines are used in diffferent Eclipse projects:
Obvious integrations between PMF and other Eclipse components (EcoreTools, UMLTools, M2T, EMF, EMFT, VE etc) will be explored as the component evolves.
e4 has planed to develop a Declarative UI framework and modelled workbench based EMF. They are the perfect concrete UI solutions for testing and demonstrating the concepts of PMF.
Thus far, interest in this component has been expressed by:
Attachment:
architect.png
Description: PNG image
