Developing Generalized Software Applications for Custom Needs

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Developing Generalized Software Applications for
Custom Needs

• Sindy Lee
• Lead Software Developer
• sindy_at_rescomp.stanford.edu
• June 30, 2002

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ResComp Software Development at Stanford

• RESOURCES
• Only one full-time developer (year-round)
• Student developers
• Academic Year up to 2 part-time (20 hours/week)
• Summer up to 2 full-time
• RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide support and services to core
  organizations
  
• Residential Computing
• Residential Education
• Academic Computing
• Also to non-core organizations (when possible)
• Overseas Studies Program
• Registrars Office

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Development Environment

• HTTP server
• Apache
• Kerberos Web authentication module
• Java Servlet Container
• Tomcat 3.2
• JDK 1.3
• Externalization of presentation
• Dynamic Templating Language (DTL) from HighWire
  Press
  
• Database
• Oracle 8i
• Programming
• Development server and database
• Unix environment compiling with javac
• Oracle database client for Windows

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Customized Solutions

• ADVANTAGE
• Exactly what
• the client wants

• DISADVANTAGE
• Wasted development resources

Generalized software applications that
build customized Web applications
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Why develop a Web application builder?

• TECHNICALLY
• Code re-use and sharing
• Modular applications with database back-ends
• ORGANIZATIONALLY
• One tool for many customers
• Easily expand service to new customers
• ResNet organizations as central place for
  software development
  

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Examples of Web application builders

• Online survey system
• Online application system
• Inventory database
• Trouble ticket/bug reporting system
• Email engine

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Evolution of the Online Survey System
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Online Survey System Key Features

• Availability
• Completely Web-based
• Available to anyone with valid SUNetID and
  password
  
• Supports various question types
• Multiple choice (radio buttons, checkboxes, drop
  down menus)
  
• Free form (text fields and text areas)
• Supports branching based on survey takers
  responses
  
• Provides real-time reporting and results
• HTML page
• PDF file
• Tab-delimited spreadsheet

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Online Survey System Structure
SURVEY
SECTION (each appears on a different page)
QUESTION
ANSWER ROW (uses a predefined answer list of acad
emic majors)
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Online Survey System Demo
Edit the survey
Take the Survey
View Results
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Online Selection System Old Way, New Way

• OLD WAY

• NEW WAY

• Generalized Java servlet classes

• Customized Perl scripts

• Supports process part types, not specific
  processes

• Supports only RA/CA and RCC selection processes

• Generalized look and feel

• Customized interface for each process

• Different places for different processes

• One location for all selection processes

• One personal profile for entire system

• Applicants must enter personal information for
  every process

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SunAppSys Structure and Features

• Three levels of privileges
• Process administrator (central staff)
• Administrator (Resident Fellows)
• Applicant (students)
• Each selection process is composed of process
  parts, such as
  
• Application forms
• Additional Materials
• Interview rounds
• Preferences lists

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Sample Selection Processes Overseas Studies
Program
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Sample Selection Processes RA/CA Selection
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Sample Selection Processes RCC Selection
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SunAppSys Demo
Create a selection process
Students apply
Review applications
Notification of Offers
Acceptance of Offers
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Generalized Software Applications

• Build it once, use it over and over again
• Add features as you go
• Develop different versions of your product
• Money, Money, Money

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Thanks!

• Questions? Comments? Want more technical
  details or documentation?
  
• Email sindy_at_rescomp.stanford.edu.