| <?php |
| /** |
| * Copyright (c) 2020 Eclipse Foundation. |
| * |
| * This program and the accompanying materials are made |
| * available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License 2.0 |
| * which is available at https://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-2.0/ |
| * |
| * Contributors: |
| * Eric Poirier (Eclipse Foundation) - Initial implementation |
| * |
| * SPDX-License-Identifier: EPL-2.0 |
| */ |
| // This file must be included |
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| exit(); |
| } |
| ?> |
| <h1 class="article-title"><?php echo $pageTitle; ?></h1> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| <a href="/community/eclipse_newsletter/2018/february/dirigible.php">Eclipse |
| Dirigible</a> is a leading open source cloud-based low-code and no-code development platform. |
| And it includes a number of high-productivity tools and user-friendly design features that aren’t |
| available in on-premises integrated development environments (IDEs) or other cloud-based IDEs. |
| </p> |
| <p dir="ltr">We’ve put such a strong focus on the development experience because we recognize |
| this is what’s needed to encourage developers to make the move from the on-premises IDEs |
| they’re so familiar with to cloud development tools.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">If we simply provided a general-purpose IDE in a browser, there would be little |
| incentive for developers to switch to a cloud-based development environment. Local IDEs would |
| always deliver higher performance and better integration with operating systems than the |
| browser-based version.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">As a result, we’ve spent a lot of time and effort ensuring Eclipse Dirigible |
| provides added value for developers with features and functionality that are a natural fit and |
| beneficial for cloud development.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">Before I describe the latest and greatest advances in Dirigible, here’s a look at |
| the foundational elements that make it the ideal platform for cloud-based development.</p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">Dirigible Is an All-In-One Web IDE and Runtime</h2> |
| <p>I’ll start by clearing up one of the biggest misconceptions about Eclipse Dirigible. |
| It’s not just another web IDE. Dirigible seamlessly combines a web IDE with an integrated |
| runtime, as shown in the platform illustration below.</p> |
| <p> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| <img src="images/2_1.png"/> |
| </p> |
| </p> |
| <p dir="ltr">The self-contained runtime environment runs in the cloud so there are no additional |
| downloads or installations. Integrated combinations of pre-selected engines ensure the two aspects |
| of Dirigible work together. You can execute your application code in the runtime through the web IDE, or you can use |
| the runtime on its own for production purposes.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">This integrated approach to application development and production is a significant |
| advantage if you’re used to working with standalone IDEs, whether they’re local or |
| cloud-based. It means you’re no longer forced to switch tools or simulate a local |
| environment when it’s time to produce the production-ready artifacts to be deployed. Using a |
| single system also avoids the unexpected behaviors and issues that can occur when you develop |
| locally and deploy in the cloud.</p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">Live System Development Delivers Immediate Results</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr">Like all cloud-based development environments, Eclipse Dirigible offers fast and easy |
| startup. You don’t need to spend half an hour installing an entire IDE. You can simply go to |
| the website and everything you need is already there — plugins, integrations, even data |
| integrations.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">Dirigible takes the convenience of web development one step further. With the unique |
| Dirigible system development model, you can develop on a live system. If you have a system already |
| running in the cloud, you can access it and start developing in it. You simply write code, click |
| save, and you can immediately see the results. This dramatically shortens development time.</p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">Features Focus on Business Application Development</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr">We’ve also implemented a number of features that are ideal for developing |
| business applications.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">Because business applications are used in real-world business processes, they must be |
| very dynamic. Business processes change constantly, and applications need to keep pace.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">To ensure developers can quickly adapt applications to align with changing business |
| processes, Dirigible enables easy application extensibility and fast database access. The |
| low-code/no-code approach we’ve taken also accelerates business application development.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">In addition, Dirigible supports a full-stack development process so you can create |
| everything you need within the Dirigible development environment.</p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">A Stable API Simplifies Development</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr">A stable API is essential when you’re frequently evolving business applications. |
| While there are numerous well-known stable APIs in very established technologies, such as Java, |
| that’s not the case in the cloud right now.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">To simplify development, Dirigible provides what we call Enterprise JavaScript, which |
| is a subset of stable Java APIs we’ve created to lower the barrier of entry to cloud |
| development. Here’s a brief example of a request/response API.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| <img src="images/2_2.png"/> |
| </p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">New Models Jumpstart Development</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr">Recently, we added two new models and approaches to Eclipse Dirigible to make it even |
| faster and easier for developers to generate complete business applications:</p> |
| <ul dir="ltr"> |
| <li>A domain model lets you start with business objects then generate the application.</li> |
| <li>A process model lets you start with business processes then apply them to business |
| objects. </li> |
| </ul> |
| <p dir="ltr">In just five or six minutes, you can model two or three entities for an application, |
| generate them, and immediately start entering data to see how they function and behave. The two |
| models can also be used together.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">Afterwards, you can write custom extensions that enhance the overall applications. You |
| can also embed custom views and third-party frameworks, such as Google Maps, for really |
| complex applications.</p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">Customization Capabilities Increase Flexibility</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr">Models are a great way to very quickly and easily develop 80 percent of a business |
| application. But, the other 20 percent of the application is also very important. Many developers |
| won’t use a development environment unless it provides the ability to tailor that final 20 |
| percent of the application.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">While many low-code/no-code development platforms limit the way you can customize the |
| application, we’ve taken the opposite approach. With Eclipse Dirigible, you have complete |
| flexibility to add new templates and generators, and to write and include your own custom code.</p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">Integration With Eclipse Che Brings Devops to a Kubernetes Environment</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| Finally, in an excellent example of the benefits of collaborating in and across Eclipse |
| communities, we’ve integrated Dirigible into<a href="/che/"> Eclipse |
| Che</a>. |
| </p> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| The integration with Che enables Dirigible to provide devops processes for application management |
| in a containerized Kubernetes environment. Dirigible is embedded in Che workspaces, similar to the |
| way<a href="https://theia-ide.org/"> Eclipse Theia</a> is embedded. |
| </p> |
| <p dir="ltr">Interestingly, we completed the integration over just two or three days while we were |
| all together during EclipseCon Europe in Ludwigsburg last October! It was an incredible |
| collaborative experience and a great opportunity to work together face-to-face with the broader |
| Eclipse Cloud Development (ECD) community.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr">Here’s a look at Eclipse Dirigible’s predefined application templates in |
| the integrated user interface.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| <img src="images/2_3.png"/> |
| </p> |
| <h2 dir="ltr">We’re Looking for Partners, Customers, and Developers</h2> |
| <p dir="ltr">Because Eclipse Dirigible is a mature project, we’re actively seeking university |
| and business partners, as well as customers, so we can collaborate with them and demonstrate |
| what’s possible with Eclipse Dirigible. Of course, we also welcome all developers who are |
| interested in joining the project.</p> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| We encourage everyone with an interest in cloud development to take a closer look at Eclipse |
| Dirigible. We have a<a href="https://www.dirigible.io/"> comprehensive website</a> with |
| documentation, links to helpful videos, and other information. |
| </p> |
| <p dir="ltr"> |
| While you’re on the site, be sure to click<a |
| href="http://trial-dirigible.ingress.aws.promart.shoot.canary.k8s-hana.ondemand.com/index.html" |
| > TRY IT OUT</a> so you can go directly to our trial package and start experimenting. |
| </p> |
| <p> |
| If you would like to join our mailing list, click<a |
| href="https://accounts.eclipse.org/mailing-list/dirigible-dev" |
| > here</a>. |
| </p> |
| <div class="bottomitem"> |
| <h3>About the Author</h3> |
| <div class="row"> |
| <div class="col-sm-12"> |
| <div class="row"> |
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| <img class="img-responsive" |
| src="/community/eclipse_newsletter/2020/march/images/nedelcho.png" alt="<?php print $pageAuthor; ?>" |
| /> |
| </div> |
| <div class="col-sm-16"> |
| <p class="author-name"><?php print $pageAuthor; ?></p> |
| </div> |
| </div> |
| </div> |
| </div> |
| </div> |