Someone needs to start from scratch – it just need not be you. At CoreObjects we have built up a library of re-useable components and frameworks so that you have a running start. Our wealth of knowledge and expertise allows us to quickly ramp up on new technologies and contribute recommendations. CoreLabs focuses on exploring and packaging these frameworks with code and knowledge banks to make them available for rapid deployment. We recommend commercial or Open Source Frameworks according to business need.
A quick side note on Open Source: Open Source frameworks are only free if you have actually deployed it in production at least once. Documentation is normally limited at best, so it is experience that counts. And with our multiple deployments, we bring that additional edge.
Our library extends across the entire framework stack from data storage to productivity tools.
Databases
Enterprise and Application data is the most valuable asset of any system. Stand-alone server applications without a data store backing are almost un-heard of and even most client applications attach to some data store or other.
While a majority of the products we have delivered are backed by commercial databases (Oracle, MS SQL Server, etc.) and Open Source databases (Firebird, PostgreSQL, mySQL), that does not mean that our expertise ends there. We have also deployed products on specialized databases (X-Hive – an XML database) as the business/system demands. We can help you make the right decision on your data storage infrastructure.
Database Persistence/Mapping
Optimizing the access to the data stores is critical. The caching Core Common component alleviates quite a bit of the load on the database, but there are a lot of other frameworks that we have had to use as the application demands.
Until quite recently, data persistence layers (e.g. Hibernate, JDO) were considered the forefront of technology, but we saw their value immediately. We have been working with them for quite some time now and now it is considered a standard layer along with database mapping technologies like XMLBeans, XSD Object Generator, etc.
Application Tier
The application tier is unique in that is where the business specific logic. It is the most customized part of a system where the technology selection and expertise can make or break the organization.
Through our numerous product development projects, we now understand the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of commercial Application Servers (BEA Weblogic, IBM Websphere, Oracle iAS, IIS) as well as open source servers like Apache Tomcat and JBoss. We also have extensive experience in Injection Frameworks like Spring.
Business needs are constantly changing and the flexibility that is required in today’s enterprise does not allow for constant code changes. We understand that business logic needs to be changed on the fly and we have augmented these applications with the implementation of Rules Engines like JESS and eRules.
Presentation Layer
Usability of a product is by end users determined by its User Interface. It is important to be able to create a look and feel that is targeted at the specific needs of the target audience. We understand the mechanics and the thought process that goes into creating enterprise applications and consumer applications.
We have built applications on commercial portal solutions like BEA Weblogic Portal server as well as Open Source solutions including Jetspeed, Liferay and others.
We have used presentation layer frameworks like Struts, Velocity, Tapestry, Tiles and JavaServer Faces as well as created rich interfaces using DreamFactory and AJAX while building some of the most exciting applications out there. We are also familiar with the creation of highly interactive clients on Windows and Mac platforms.
Our knowledge of the frameworks will allow us to assist you in creating extensible platforms and go beyond simply implementing thick and/or thin clients, but also to aid in the assessment of the same.
Integration Standards and Web Services
With loosely-coupled systems becoming the norm as organization try to take full advantage of their enterprise assets, we ensure that we keep abreast of Integration and Business Flow standards like BPEL and Web Services.
We can confidently claim to be keeping up with the Web Services standards and with working with some of the most cutting edge frameworks. We have real world experience in building applications on Apache Axis, Pocket SOAP and Apache SOAP.
We cannot only create and build a connected enterprise solution for you, but with our expertise in commercial and Open Source Business Process Management (BPM) packages like BEA Weblogic Integration (WLI) and Enhydra Shark, we can empower your organization with workflow and process orchestration – all with the latest technologies.
Core Common Components and 3rd Party Packages
An application platform provides a base, but a true framework comprises a lot of other small pieces to make it whole. While building applications, along with our Core Common Components , we have built up a treasure chest of 3rd party utilities that we have used for various projects.
They range from conversion utilities (iText, IDAutomation, ImageMagik, Ghostscript, SSDocConverter), graphical packages ( JFreechart, OpenGL, ChartFX, Sharp Zlib), expression evaluators (ANTLR), Codecs (Commons Codec, Windows Media Encoder) and cross platform translators (Java2COM bridges).
One of the most important goals of any system is the ability to make business decisions based on collected data. We can help create the infrastructure and tools to make this happen through the usage of a number of logging frameworks (log4net, log4j, commons logging) as well as report generation frameworks like Jasper Reports.
Deployment Frameworks
Software delivery is an essential phase in the Product Development Lifecycle. Deployment is part of any product and comes in many flavors depending on the product. If it is a service it could be a new service or an update. If it is shrink-wrapped product it could be a new product or an upgrade. All these use cases are unique and the deployment strategy has to fit all the business needs.
For software that is delivered in the ASP model, we can assist with secure transactional framework and digitally signed packages using powerful security packages from Verisign.
For shrink-wrapped products, as we have done with so many other clients, we can help build easily deployable kits using popular installer SDKs like Installshield and even assist with licensing mechanisms.
Test Frameworks
We understand that quality comes only from treating test frameworks as much a part of the development cycle as all the other frameworks. Our Common Unified Process (CUP) calls for unit test cases and regression and performance testing, so we have consolidated multiple frameworks.
Frameworks for generic unit testing (JUnit), web page unit testing (HttpUnit, Cactus) and for load/performance testing (Grinder, OpenSTA, NUnit) are all part of our repertoire.
Our extensive lab allows us to make sure that we use tools that fit your job – not the other way around. We can make recommendations from our toolkit and if none of them are suitable, we will go out to get the ones that do.
Development and Productivity Tools
One of our key differentiators is our Common Unified Process. We have invested in debugging and build frameworks to optimize the development process and allow the resources on your project to work efficiently.
Build frameworks like ANT, NANT, Maven, Cruise Control and JVCS are used through most of our projects as are debugging and profiling tools like XML Spy, MS Visio, IBM Rational Rose, Rapid SQL and ER-Studio.
What this means for you is that the product is built right, you are not paying for inefficiencies and that there is a repeatable process with an audit trail.