Titanium framework for chainable methods from Beauty in Design on Vimeo.

Here’s a brief overview of a framework I’m working on for Titanium. It’s a jQuery / Mootools-esque framework that allows you to chain the creation of UI elements together. Follow it or contribute on Github!

Talking with a few leads today got me thinking about maintaining a group of iPhone apps for several clients, specifically the design and layout.  Having to push out updates to the App Store just for a design change is so procedural.  Good news is there is a way around it!

Here’s some code to demonstrate the technique (note: the Ajax class used here is just a wrapper for Titanium’s XHR method.  It just makes it easier for me and the code a lot cleaner):

Remote JSON Source

Changing the search bar:

Easy right? You can even inject functions and call them from the app as well (Does this pose any security issues?):

Remote JSON Source

Source Code:

UPDATE: Since placing this post a few people have pointed out that the function in the JSON source above probably breaks Apple’s 2.8 guideline

Surprisingly, it took just a few minutes to port the Usability template, found on this site, over to 1.6.  The biggest caveats that I ran in to were the template params being renamed “fields” and “fieldset”s and the template overrides changing.  I didn’t dig in to the template overrides yet but a quick glance told me they are the biggest change.  Below is a video with my findings, enjoy! (don’t forget to turn on HD to watch it in it’s best quality!)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Check out Foxycart!

NOTE:  The Foxycart Joomla plugin has been discontinued

Here’s a quick-and-dirty video (hence some of the errors) on how it’s done…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Resources:

• Cornerstone – SVN for mere mortals
• SpringLoops – Hosted source-code management

Limited Coupon!

The guys that made Cornerstone were kind enough to offer a 20% off coupon for the first 10 people to use it from the site!  Just enter:  BEAUTYINDESIGN0409 on checkout to get the discount!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Missed the other lessons?

• Lesson One – What is Joomla!?
• Lesson Two – The Community
• Lesson Three – Installation
• Lesson Four – Admin Overview (current page)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Installing JOOMLA is a simple task.  Just make sure you have your MySQL username and password ready and preferably your FTP username and password ready.  If you have those two things you’re ready to go.

Missed the other lessons?

• Lesson One – What is Joomla!?
• Lesson Two – The Community
• Lesson Three – Installation (current page)
• Lesson Four – Admin Overview

Click here to view the embedded video.

Quick links from the video:

Joomla!’s homepage

J! Connect

The Forums

Extension Directory

The Documentation

The API

Missed the other lessons?

• Lesson One – What is Joomla!?
• Lesson Two – The Community (current)
• Lesson Three – Installation
• Lesson Four – Admin Overview

Click here to view the embedded video.

What is JOOMLA?

Joomla is an open-source cms that can be applied to almost anyone’s need

From a Business point of view:

• It allows you to manage your website and empower others within your company to contribute, administer, etc.
• It provides a platform that is open to almost any specific need

From a Development Point of View:

• JOOMLA! Shouldn’t be just viewed as a way to administer content.  It provides a framework from which to build any application you may need.

• Because of its flexible templating engine, a re-design of your site won’t constitute a complete re-do of the every web page.  Simply change the template and a few minor things and you will have a whole new look.

• Joomla’s framework includes many features such as built in security, user management, easy extendability…..thus enabling the dev of your site to stay focused on your specific needs / applications.

• Joomla has a well documented framework and a very active community

Joomla Features

The JOOMLA! CMS is no rookie in the market!  It has been deployed by companies such as Porche Brazil to provide their website backbone.  Joomla’s content publishing allows you to quickly create content for websites, control access to your documents, administer user created content, and more.

The modules in Joomla provide easy to move blocked of code.  Moving something on your site now doesn’t require you to change every page on your site.

The Joomla components allow you to install mini-applications in your site; thus allowing you to install applications such as e-commerce / shopping carts, photo galleries, form builders, forums, and more!

The user manager provides extendible control over registered and special users.  From simple, public access, to control over authors publishers, and administrators

Open Source

A lot of people think “second class” when they hear “open source”.  This is probably justifiable depending on what they have used.  However, JOOMLA! ranks within the premium products of the Open Source community; showcasing a world-class team of developers and a thriving community.

Building from scratch a system similar to Joomla would cost tens of thousands of dollars.  Thus by selecting Joomla as your CMS / Development, you eliminate large chunks of start-up costs and let your budget focus specifically on the immediate need of your site / application.

Joomla is the most popular GPL CMS in the world.  Its community can be found in almost every country, it’s system translated in many languages, and can be used to fit almost any need.

Want to see the other lessons?

• Lesson One – Introduction (current page)
  
• Lesson Two – The Community
• Lesson Three – Installation
• Lesson Four – Admin Overview

Click here to view the embedded video.

This video, of course, is just a quick clip of a Joomla conversion.  The related tutorial series that is coming will detail this out much better (as I spent no time trying to explain some things in this video).

The coming series will include things such as:  Dealing with template parameters, extending columns, Joomla specific styles, etc.

Oh yeah don’t forget:  These videos are in HD, so you can watch in full screen!