This article provides a summary description of the Novulo application development platform and the steps to be taken when developing and maintaining an application.
The following illustration provides an overview of the entire process of application development and maintenance in the Novulo development platform.
Novulo product overview
The Novulo Architect is used for modeling, storing, and retrieving models, and transforming models to application code. This code can be deployed online in a demo environment or stored in a code repository. Code stored in a repository can be manually changed if neccesary, and then deployed on a host running the Novulo Application Server.
The Novulo development platform can be divided into two distinct parts: the Novulo Architect, which provides the modeling interface, and the Novulo Application Server, which allows applications to be run on a Windows server. The following illustration demonstrates the position of the Novulo software in the designing and delivering of software.
Novulo: design and deliver
The Novulo Architect program offers a visual modeling environment that can transform an application model into code. In the code customization step, the generated .NET code can be adjusted or expanded as needed in Visual Studio. The Novulo Application server allows the (customized) code to be run on any Microsoft Windows server. Application development in Novulo can be described using the following steps.
The Novulo development platform has a graphical design interface called the Novulo Architect. The Architect can be started on any computer with the correct Java runtime installed. Open a new or existing model and simply start building by dragging components from the palette onto the design. With Novulo, you aren't limited to just building an interface. You can also build presentation, logic, functionality, and data models all at the same time, using the same pragmatic interface.
Certain model components can trigger a workflow. Workflows are modeled in the Architect's workflow editor, which uses the same smart drag-and-drop approach. This allows you to build processes in a clear and easy representation that allows the business user to easily validate them. Novulo contains preset logic, meaning that standard processes exist and are automatically added when needed. These standard processes can be altered in the same workflow editor, creating endless possibilities that give you precise modeling power to meet all of your specific development needs.
Using traditional development methods, a developer would have to be concerned with database design, weighing the implications of design choices against their effect on the data model. Novulo removes the need to be concerned with the database design; it is derived from the application model. The Architect has a view mode in which the tables and properties can be viewed (in a graphical representation, of course). Changes can be made to the data model from the Architect if desired, but this is not necessary; you can focus on application design and let Novulo take care of data handling.
Are you happy with your design or do you want to test a design choice? Simply select the build option and sit back as your model is directly transformed into a working application. Enter data and test your design within minutes. Choose to build the application using the Novulo Application Server or select the code generation option to have your application available in a code repository.
Run the application with full functionality and collect feedback. Are you unhappy with a design choice? Simply make the required adjustments to the model and build again. Using this innovative method of development, it is hardly possible to imagine a better way to collect end-user feedback early in the development process. Even your database will be updated with the latest changes, so testing can continue with the existing data if needed.
After generating to a code repository, all components marked custom in the Novulo Architect can be adjusted to include custom functionality. For instance, if you need functionality that could not be designed or want to manually integrate existing solutions, the Architect can easily handle these tasks. Novulo also lets you combine custom .NET coding with a model-driven solution, supporting the development process, but never limiting development.
After building a solution and storing code in a code repository, this code can then be deployed on any Windows server with the Novulo Application server. The Novulo Application server can be configured to use a database management system and webserver, allowing Novulo applications to added and used with minimal effort.
Novulo applications contain built-in functionality for advanced rights management, ensuring users have correct data access permissions based on their profile. Profile management can be accessed from inside the application, making user management very flexible. The built-in help pages system provides access to help information that can also be maintained from within the application, making sure help information can be added at any time and remains up-to-date.
Almost any application will (or should) be subject to change, due to changing requirements, increased understanding of business needs, or simple addition of functionality. Using the Novulo application development platform, these changes can be realized in a faster and safer way. Open the model, apply the required changes, build, test, and deploy.