Server+client Fusion: An Architectural Proposal
The solution sounds easy. To obtain the benefits of both architectures why not combine them? While this is an easy statement to make it is not as easy to implement. To make the union work a lot of technologies need to be integrated. For example most people do not just start writing JavaScript at the client. Many use a snippet framework such as jQuery.
For a developer wanting to combine snippet frameworks such as jQuery and larger frameworks this can cause integration problems. Therefore it is best for one package to provide the Server+client Fusion architecture out of the box.
This is where Server+client Fusion steps up to the plate. The concept was first introduced by ZK 5, which is a Java-based Ajax framework. ZK's mantra is that it is "developer-centric" as it provides the developers the ability to create their applications quickly using Server-centric architecture then optimize them using client-side constructs. See Figure 3.
There are two advantages to this approach:
- Provides all the advantages of server-centric and client-centric approaches
- Provides none of the disadvantages
Server+client Fusion provides developers and architects with a choice of implementation. A good framework architecture is flexible empowering developers and architects to implement their applications in a smart and elegant manner.
Real-world Use
In most real-world situations you will want to build the initial application quickly and effectively using server-centric technology, and then introduce client-side optimizations. This is where Server+client Fusion architecture comes in to its own. For example, when implementing auto-completion functionality, you can preload data improving response time.
Normally productivity and optimization using client-side techniques do not go hand in hand due to Granularity issues. However, ZK has a base which takes care of server-centric granularity issues by applying a batch processing model to deal with emergent and deferrable requests. With Server+client Fusion, developers have a choice to further optimize the granularity based on an application's requirements.
Conclusion
Server+client Fusion will aid in the development of large scale web applications which are now coming to the fore due to the advent of cloud computing. Cloud computing is driving a trend for more innovation in web development with the goal to produce web applications in the quickest and most efficient manner possible.
For More Information
Staten, James, et al. Is Cloud Computing Ready For The Enterprise? March 7, 2008.
Linthicum, David. Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterprise: A Step-by-Step Guide . s.l. : Addison-Wesley Professional, 2009. 978-0136009221.
Chen, Henri and Cheng, Robbie. ZK: Ajax without the Javascript Framework. s.l. : Apress, 2007. 978-1590599013.
Cheng, Robbie. How to Choose an RIA Solution. Ajax World. [Online] December 30, 2008. http://ajax.sys-con.com/node/781133.
Gupta, Vipul. Accelerated GWT: Building Enterprise Google Web Toolkit Applications. s.l. : Apress, 2008. B001PBEW34.
Katz, Yehuda, Resig, John and Bear, Bibeault. jQuery in Action. s.l. : Manning Publications, 2008. 978-1933988351.
