Developing applications the OrangeScape way
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Applications, by construct, process data. Almost all applications process data into information according to a predictable set of logical rules. In other words, it performs either some or most of these activities: captures, transmits, stores, retrieves, manipulates and displays data. Based on the above definition of application, it is clear that developing an application would involve:
  1. Identifying and defining the data.
  2. Designing and creating the format/interface that will be used to present the data to the user.
  3. Defining the rules and establishing the process for processing the data.


Application development using OrangeScape

OrangeScape Studio facilitates rapid application development through the following perspectives – Design, Rules, Process, Forms, Actions, Reports, Run and HTML Forms. These perspectives cover all the aspects of the application i.e. data, systems, business rules, workflows, user interface and integration.

OrangeScape based application development centers around data model. The data model here is not a technical database design, but the modeling of the real world business entities and their interactions as seen in a physical world. The emphasis here is on identifying the data, organizing the data and providing a structure to the data. The intuitive visual modeling environment allows you to create data models and establish relationships between data models to implement enterprise class applications. 

Once the data modeling is completed, the next step is to identify, define and design the UI elements for presenting the data to the users. Form design perspective allows you to design your user interface that links directly to the data model and workflow state. A comprehensive set of configuration elements provide you the capability to define visibility, editability, authorization at granular field level for the forms depending on the workflow states, user and data model references. You can also apply the CSS styling to suit the aesthetics requirements.

Another important aspect, only secondary to data modeling, is the process analysis. This step helps determine the technique to process the data and associated workflows. Process design perspective allows you to create a workflow for your business entities that is seamlessly linked with your data model and user interfaces. You can use the advanced workflow features and perform branching, routing, association of various forms and users (statically or dynamically) to activities, and link the routing logic with the complex business rules. The familiar spreadsheet based modeler allows you to define the complex business rules in the most intuitive way possible.

Action design perspective allows you to build composite command chain that can be used for tasks such as mail notification, integration with external systems etc. Action design can also be visualized as typical procedural programming structure where you define methods which contain looping constructs and other predefined commands as well. It allows you to update entities, search for connected entities, send notifications, and allows for unlimited capability through custom commands definition.


  Test-as-you-go

OrangeScape studio enables a truly Agile development methodology through its seamless development-to-deploy life-cycle, and it even allows you to test your application as you go, without needing the deployment. The strength of spreadsheet paradigm has been leveraged for testing out the business rules and entity relationships in an intuitive and repeatable manner. You can write multiple test scenarios and test immediately within the studio environment without ever leaving the development process. The "Preview” option on forms allows for testing out the design before you even deploy the application. In addition, the Run perspective allows you to test the rules as well as workflows without deploying the application.

What's Next?


Now you must be familiar with the OrangeScape development environment and application development using OrangeScape.

Are you ready to deploy the template application on Google App Engine? Click next to proceed.