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<div class="title">Developing The Appsuite User Interface</div>
<div class="title">UI Development for OX AppSuite</div>


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This portal contains articles about the inner workings of the web-based graphical user interface. It is aimed at software developers that want to improve on existing features, implement extensions or just gain a general understanding.
This page contains articles explaining the inner workings of the OX App Suite, web-based, graphical user interface. It is aimed at software developers who want to expand existing features, implement extensions or just gain a general understanding of how the UI works.  


IMPORTANT NOTE: If you only want specific users to be able to use your app / plugin, for example, after they purchased it, have a look at [[AppSuite:Capabilities]]


=== Tech Overview ===
=== Tech Overview ===
All technologies and frameworks used for developing the UI are listed and described in the following article:
All technologies and frameworks used for developing a new component for the App Suite UI are listed and described in the following article: [https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/00-getting-started/01-skills-needed.html Requirements to develop for the UI]
[[AppSuite:UI developer primer| Skills needed to develop the UI]]


In addition to those UI developing technologies you also need the environment for running (at least parts of) the appsuite locally. Therefore you can either copy the source from openxchange git repositories [[AppSuite:Apache Configuration | and host it locally using apache]] or run [[AppSuite:Appserver | Appserver]] (with local parts of the appsuite) automaticly getting the recent stable source packages from the appsuite servers.
==== Development Flow for the App Suite UI ====


=== Developing Style Guide ===
[[File:OX_AppSuite_UI_Development_Workflow.png]]
While developing code for OX products [[AppSuite:UI Development Style Guide | the UI Developement Style Guide]] helps you writing safe, clear and functional code.


Designing apps, plugins and widgets running with the right layout, colors, look and feel is a breeze following the guidelines described in [[AppSuite:UI Design Guide | the UI Design Guide]].
=== Development Guidelines ===
While developing code for OX products [https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/00-getting-started/02-styleguide.html the UI Development Style Guide] helps you write safe, clear and functional code.


Always keep in mind, that using OX products should be possible for everyone and therefor it's important to follow simple rules regarding [[AppSuite:Accessibility | accessibility]].
Designing apps, plugins and widgets, and getting them running with the right layout, colors, look and feel is a breeze if you follow the guidelines described in [[AppSuite:UI Design Guide | the UI Design Guide]].


Writing apps or plugins for appsuite will often include extending the existing user interface. Appsuite provides extension points offering you possibilties to add your own contents.
Always keep in mind that using OX products should be possible for everyone. Therefor it's important to follow simple rules regarding [[AppSuite:Accessibility | accessibility]].
Beginning to develop using extension points? Read this guide first having [[AppSuite:Extending the UI (Hands-on introduction) | a hands-on introduction]] for extending the OX user interface.


Get more information and a complete list of [[AppSuite:Extension points |extension points]] offered by OX products.
=== Using extension points ===


Writing apps or plugins for App Suite will often include extending the existing user interface. App Suite provides extension points for you to add your own content.
Beginning to develop using extension points? Read this guide first: [https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/extension-points/01-introduction.html a hands-on introduction] for extending the OX user interface. Here you  can get more information and a complete list of the [[AppSuite:Extension points |extension points]] offered by OX products.


=== How to get code ===
Using git as a version control system and getting the code for existing OX products is quite easy.
Simply clone the [[AppSuite:UI build system#Source | UI]] repository and start working with it. If you would like to develop for the server/backend (using the OSGI Framework) plugins, you should check out the [[AppSuite:Backend build system#Source | backend]].
=== What can I build? ===
If you want a simple introduction with easy to follow steps - from creating your workspace to actually integrating your source code within App Suite - please read our [[AppSuite:GettingStarted | GettingStarted guide]].
There are many options available for App Suite developers. For example:
*[https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/customize/portal-widget.html A portal plugin] is a widget, which can only be used in the 'portal'-section of App Suite. Please just check for the right [[AppSuite:Extension points |extension point]] when writing a plugin which extends and interacts with other parts of App Suite. Configuring portal plugins is described in [[AppSuite:Configuring portal plugins | this guide]].
*[https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/customize/extension.html A contacts plugin] let's you modify parts of App Suite's contact view.
*[[AppSuite:Using the Upsell widget | Upsell Widget]] is used to enable upsell in the App Suite so user can purchase additional features.
*[https://documentation.open-xchange.com/7.8.4/ui/customize/app/simple-application.html A real application/module] for App Suite apps which should be displayed full screen.
*[https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/customize/notifications.html A notification plugin] for App Suite
*[https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/customize/welcome-wizard.html A wizard] which can be used to show first time users important information or help with the initial configuration of settings for 3rd party applications.


=== How to get code ===
*[[AppSuite:Creating a settings section in AppSuite settings | Settings plugin]] allows you to extend App Suite settings or create a new section.
 
*[[AppSuite:Embedding your settings into AppSuite settings | Settings plugin]] allows you to embed your own settings section in App Suite via iframes.
 
And if you get stuck somewhere? Then here are some hints to help you [https://documentation.open-xchange.com/latest/ui/miscellaneous/debugging.html debugging the UI].
 
=== How to get your code running ===
Written your first app/plugin? Using the [[AppSuite:UI build system | UI build system]] will help you to get fast, easy-to-distribute and error free builds running on your App Suite in no time. The article shows you how to package your code and copy from OX source code / directories.


=== What can i build? / Pro and con ===
Because the App Suite product consists of a server and a UI, you also need a working backend (App Suite application server) to communicate with.
This means you should run [[AppSuite:Appserver | Appserver]] using an existing OX App Suite server and  (with local parts of App Suite) automatically get the recent stable source packages from the App Suite servers. To use your namespace as a source for hosting your app, simply add the build-path of your app as an parameter while running appserver.


=== How to get it running? As UI dev/ as Backend Dev ===
=== What's next ===
No Idea what to do first? Read our [[AppSuite:GettingStarted | GettingStarted guide]] for a step-by-step introduction on how to install the SDK, use the Build System, write your first app and get it running.

Latest revision as of 10:01, 22 May 2017

UI Development for OX AppSuite

This page contains articles explaining the inner workings of the OX App Suite, web-based, graphical user interface. It is aimed at software developers who want to expand existing features, implement extensions or just gain a general understanding of how the UI works.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you only want specific users to be able to use your app / plugin, for example, after they purchased it, have a look at AppSuite:Capabilities

Tech Overview

All technologies and frameworks used for developing a new component for the App Suite UI are listed and described in the following article: Requirements to develop for the UI

Development Flow for the App Suite UI

OX AppSuite UI Development Workflow.png

Development Guidelines

While developing code for OX products the UI Development Style Guide helps you write safe, clear and functional code.

Designing apps, plugins and widgets, and getting them running with the right layout, colors, look and feel is a breeze if you follow the guidelines described in the UI Design Guide.

Always keep in mind that using OX products should be possible for everyone. Therefor it's important to follow simple rules regarding accessibility.

Using extension points

Writing apps or plugins for App Suite will often include extending the existing user interface. App Suite provides extension points for you to add your own content. Beginning to develop using extension points? Read this guide first: a hands-on introduction for extending the OX user interface. Here you can get more information and a complete list of the extension points offered by OX products.

How to get code

Using git as a version control system and getting the code for existing OX products is quite easy. Simply clone the UI repository and start working with it. If you would like to develop for the server/backend (using the OSGI Framework) plugins, you should check out the backend.

What can I build?

If you want a simple introduction with easy to follow steps - from creating your workspace to actually integrating your source code within App Suite - please read our GettingStarted guide.

There are many options available for App Suite developers. For example:

  • A portal plugin is a widget, which can only be used in the 'portal'-section of App Suite. Please just check for the right extension point when writing a plugin which extends and interacts with other parts of App Suite. Configuring portal plugins is described in this guide.
  • Upsell Widget is used to enable upsell in the App Suite so user can purchase additional features.
  • A wizard which can be used to show first time users important information or help with the initial configuration of settings for 3rd party applications.
  • Settings plugin allows you to extend App Suite settings or create a new section.
  • Settings plugin allows you to embed your own settings section in App Suite via iframes.

And if you get stuck somewhere? Then here are some hints to help you debugging the UI.

How to get your code running

Written your first app/plugin? Using the UI build system will help you to get fast, easy-to-distribute and error free builds running on your App Suite in no time. The article shows you how to package your code and copy from OX source code / directories.

Because the App Suite product consists of a server and a UI, you also need a working backend (App Suite application server) to communicate with. This means you should run Appserver using an existing OX App Suite server and (with local parts of App Suite) automatically get the recent stable source packages from the App Suite servers. To use your namespace as a source for hosting your app, simply add the build-path of your app as an parameter while running appserver.

What's next

No Idea what to do first? Read our GettingStarted guide for a step-by-step introduction on how to install the SDK, use the Build System, write your first app and get it running.

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