By utilizing object-oriented programming, design patterns, and PEAR libraries it allows both small and large development teams to achieve their goals in a fast and efficient manner.
FastFrame serves as the foundation for several applications, such as Checkout, a program for reserving and loaning all sorts of items and Mayday!, a trouble ticket system that will allow organization departments to easily track and manage issues/problems.
But what is a framework? Think of it as being similar to the frame of a house. By itself it doesn’t do a whole lot – it needs other applications to actually make it useful. However, those applications can be rapidly developed because the framework provides all the basics (and many extras) needed to get a robust application up and running.
Furthermore, because all FastFrame applications are built on top of the same framework any fixes or new features applied to the framework will affect all of the applications as well.
Finally, the framework is able to tie all the different applications together so that they have a unified look, a menu system, and a way of talking to each other. But what are these great features the FastFrame framework provides?
NOTE: FastFrame is licensed and provided under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License.
Here are some key features of "FastFrame":
· Tested and dependable design patterns implemented, including: Model View Controller (MVC), singleton, and factory.
· A large number of tested and proven PEAR classes are used.
· An advanced and easy to use error handler. Errors can be captured and sent to a console window, email, log, or straight to the browser.
· Themeable. Several themes come packaged with FastFrame. All aspects of a site???s design can be changed by the theme. The html is HTML 4.0 and the look completely controlled via CSS (including a hier-archical menu system and help tooltips). Thus, all applications look great in new browsers and maintain functionality in older v. 4 browsers.
· Feature-rich list page that allows for searching, pagination, print preview.
· Secure authentication. There are several back-end authentication modules including the profile application, imap, and s ql, several of which can be used at the same time.
· Fast and advanced template system that allows for a completely custom look. Developers don???t need to write HTML because layout and business logic is completely separate.
· A registry object that manages all configuration settings.
· Support for multiple languages.
· Support for several types of menu systems including a hierarchical javascript menu system and a simpler HTML-based menu.
· Support for tooltips for links and quick help.
· The ability to rapidly develop forms (including multi-page forms) using QuickForm
What`s New in This Release: [ read full changelog ]
· The framework now supports AJAX goodness.
· PNG icons are no longer used so IE loads the pages faster.
