[Mod-pubsub-developer] Interesting note about JS client work making cool web apps

[Asynch M. <asy...@ho...>]

http://www.windley.com/2004/04/06.html#a1154

"It would be impressive if CanyonBridge used Javascript to build a slick
Outlook replacement, but its how they did it that got me excited. First,
they have a technology for just sending snippets of pages back and forth
between the server and the browser so that the Web page doesn't have to be
refreshed. The Javascript modifies the display using the DOM in accordance
with instructions from the server
Second, they built a SOAP front-end for Exchange so that they can deal with
Exchange using SOAP calls rather than MAPI. Of course once that's done, you
could substitute something else for Exchange itself and that's just what
they've done. They've got a Linux/MySQL replacement for Exchange in Alpha
right now.

Thirdly, they build a server side orchestration language for controlling the
presentation and interacting with SOAP-based services so that the action of
the client is controlled using an XML-based business logic language.

Fourth, the Javascript that runs the Outlook replacement isn't custom
one-off code, but built using a framework. Consequently, you can program
things besides Outlook fairly easily.

To demonstrate the power of this, one of the demonstrations they showed me
was a Salesforce.com integration with their Outlook replacement. Not only
could you see all of your Exchange-based calendar, contact, and messaging in
the tool, you could also see all of your leads and appointments from
Salesforce.com. The calendar showed Exchange hosed appointments in an
integrated view with the Salesforce.com appointments. Very cool. What's
more, they built it in 3 days."