AppliBuilder Overview

AppliBuilder is a drag-and-drop visual mashup builder to create data integration applications using Ajax widgets. AppliBuilder allows developers to quickly create useful web applications from a wide variety of visual components. With support for REST Web Services and SQL databases, AppliBuilder provides easy ways to collect and present data via web applications. This brings together the power of data integration and web components, and gives developers easy ways to create enterprise mashups.

AppliBuilder is targeted at developers, specifically the "casual" web developer who occasionally needs to put together a web application.  While knowledge of Javascript, SQL, CSS and related web technologies is needed to use all aspects of the tool, most developers should be able get a lot done with very limited knowledge of  these technologies.

AppliBuilder allows you to shift part of enterprise application development from complex server based applications, to more lightweight client-side applications. It enables you to move applications to the browser client, and much of it into reusable, visual Javascript components. It provides tools for securing the client from unauthorized access to data as required, while allowing developers to quickly script necessary functionality via client-side Javascript.  Once the server is setup, developers will be able to use the tool from anywhere with no further installation or deployment necessary for their new applications.

This is an effective new way to create and deliver new applications quickly. Though this may not be suitable for all applications, it will often be the right tool for rapid application delivery of data integration applications in the enterprise. Using the power and convenience of AJAX, web components, and distributed data, AppliBuilder allows rich client applications to be developed faster than ever.

Note:  The current release is a very early version of AppliBuilder with many loose ends and gaps to be filled.   A number of enhancements are in the works and issues will be corrected as soon as possible.  However, please use with some caution as this technology is still undergoing rapid development.

AppliBuilder Features

• Drag-and-drop visual builder for data integration applications
• Application assembly from visual Javascript widgets
• Script widgets on pages with standard Javascript
• Easy-to-use property forms for customizing components
• Extensible, reusable visual component model
• Growing Widget Library 
•  Growing Function Library to simplify scripting pages
• Well integrated with application databases
• All elements, functions and properties of builder page stored in the database.
• Runtime pages are generated as files.
  

AppliBuilder Goals

• Simplify rich web application development with visual application assembly
• Shift complexity to widgets/components supplied by Applibase and third-parties
• Access, script and present data with widely used SQL, Javascript and CSS
• Provide easy and secure access to SQL data across the network
• Reuse the growing pool of web components and APIs
• Provide extensive, easy-to-use function library to simplify development
  

AppliBuilder Applications

AppliBuilder is a component based visual builder, focused on web components and Javascript used with relational (SQL) data from the server. The goal is to make it easy to assemble applications from builder components, as well as other web components and APIs, combined with relational (SQL) data from application databases. This "mashup" approach to creating applications is useful in a number of areas, particularly when rapid turnaround is needed.

What types of applications are possible with AppliBuilder is still an open question. The following demo applications provides some examples, and will illustrate how to use the builder in your web applications.

• Stock Data Charts
• Amazon Book Catalog search
• Google Map Demo
  
• Slideshow Application
  
• Census Database Landmarks
• Task Manager
  
• Auction Application

DataMashups.com Service

The DataMashups.com service is offered by Applibase to demonstrate online development with AppliBuilder, and provide a permanent site for developers to use online development with AppliBuilder. Application developers can sign up and use the service, which will be offered in free and premium versions.  Only a demo version of the service is currently available.

Try the trial version of the service at datamashups.com.