|
Business Challenge
Our customer developed an IP PBX phone system running on Windows. Since Linux and
Mac OS X had increased in popularity as a desktop operating system, moving to a
multiplatform solution was considered critical to increase the market share. The
software needed an original interface and new functionality added at low cost. A
lack of in-house expertise caused our client to look for offshore Java development.
Software Solution
Axmor delivered Java desktop software that allows the
user to manage telephone extensions and incoming calls from their desktops. The
software was written in Java to meet the requirement of being multiplatform; additionally,
it can be easily extended with new functionality at low costs.
Axmor’s Java programmers solved the most critical project
problems:
- Customized application look and feel
A good-looking, distinctive and customizable interface was one of the key requirements
and the main challenge of the project, due to the restrictions of Java libraries
(SWING and SWT). The interface windows had to be originally shaped, have different
background pictures, be resizable, and have many other decorative elements. SWT
offers a choice of available graphic elements over SWING. The application must maintain
brand-identity over all platforms; however SWT adjusts the application’s look and
feel to each deployment platform making the application look different. To design
a brand name, skin-based interface with advanced graphics, our developers added
their own libraries to the basic SWT library.
- Communication protocol specification
The programmers responsible for the server part of the software had very little
experience in working with the IRC protocol that had been selected for server communication.
Axmor helped adapt this protocol to the software. The basic requirements of the
protocol, defined by our customer, were extended and implemented by Axmor’s Java
programmers and is now used by our client’s development team.
- Low-cost software extension
The current communication protocol implementation was designed to allow easy implementation
of new functionality. The code is generated automatically, based on XML schemas
of command structure. The ease of changing commands reduces development cost for
new application functionality.
- Advanced functionality with Eclipse RCP
Right after the launch of Eclipse RCP 3.1, Axmor’s Java consultants recommended
moving the development to this platform to solve the most critical project requirements
at low cost. The plug-in based structure of the application addresses the software
modularity problem. The auto-update function makes the application easy to maintain.
Additionally, Eclipse RCP provides OLE support to easily integrate the application
with MS Outlook, and has advanced branding features (incl. licensing).
Back >>
|