In its first incarnation, i developed SVGObjects to be a framework for database driven image generation.

 

However, when i was writing my book ("WebObjects Developer's Guide", SAMS, 2002), in particular when i was preparing to write the final chapter then titled "Reports, Charts and New Interfaces", it became apparent to me that in comparison to other image formats, not only was SVG more 'programmable' because it was an XML, but it was also interactive. Hence SVG could be employed to generate not just images, but also interfaces to WebObjects applications. The result of that was the PopIdol application, inspired by the precursor to the now hugely successful American Idol reality TV show!

 

So we may conclude the next step for SVGObjects is...

 

SVGObjects 2.0: a framework for building Web 2.0 applications with WebObjects.

 

The image above is an SVG interface into a WebObjects application that presents a UI similar to an iPod.

 

In the next few blog posts we shall look at some of the following:

 

1. SVG as WYSIWYG for the Web

2. Javascript/AJAX

 

In Web 2.0 land, AJAX is the big buzzword. Well, with SVGObjects 2.0 one may be able to employ the same techniques employed in AJAX. However, one word of caution: AJAX, via JavaScript, is potentially open to a great many security vulnerabilities. If not anything else, this could become an increasingly larger threat to AJAX, certainly in the enterprise space.

 

3. sXBL

 

sXBL and XBL 2.0 offer itself as the 'CSS' of SVG. Though it may be awhile before browsers become sophisticated enough to employ it properly: much in the same way that CSS and XHTML took several years to proliferate.

 

4. DirectToWeb

 

If WebObjects is not rocket science, then certainly DirectToWeb is. DirectToWeb is the rules based application engine for WebObjects. Currently it is most notably employed at the iTunes Store. If you look carefully at the demo application shown above,you will notice that in fact it is a DirectToWeb application: in that it employs the rules based engine to describe the functionality of the app. I have used DirectToWeb to create an 'iPod look' SVG framework/template which is being used here to produce a SVGObjects/Web 2.0 application.

 

Conclusion:

 

I think we're beginning to scratch the surface of Web 2.0 applications that are possible with SVGObjects 2.0. It would appear that what we've seen so far is nothing more than a teaser.

 

Acknowledgments:

 

I would like to thank George Arriola for the SVG designs.