WithStyle: opening a new frontier on the Smalltalk user interface
By Rowan Bunning
SUMMARY: WithStyle is an XML user interface framework that offers exciting new user interface possibilities for VisualWorks Smalltalk. WithStyle aims to bridge the 'UI divide' between web applications and desktop software. In doing so, WithStyle provides the Smalltalk community with an opportunity to innovate on the client side and combine the best attributes from both desktop software and web applications.
Now in its fourth generation, WithStyle4 is progressing toward the goal of rendering 'hybrid' UIs. These combine VisualWorks Pollock widgets with XML and CSS to create highly flexible user interfaces that are 'skinnable' simply by defining alternate CSS. WithStyle4 adds form and window widgeting to WithStyle's existing content-focused rendering and WYSIWYG editing capabilities.
Architecturally, WithStyle can be broken up into four high-level components: Editing Services, Layout Services, XML Services and Network Services. Description of these components will assist in understanding the functionality that WithStyle provides.
There are many ways of packaging and deploying WithStyle applications in addition to embedding it as a widget within a desktop application. A WithStyle thin client can be used to render web applications with client-side Smalltalk scripting as well as delivery of 'hybrid' GUI applications. WithStyle UIs can be also be deployed via a browser plugin. The runtime flexibility of Smalltalk even allows such client software to load additional code during use. This presentation explores some possible characteristics of such software.
WithStyle technology is currently used in the BottomFeeder news aggregator and blog posting tool as well as forming the basis of the XML WithStyle WYSIWYG XML editor product and an XML editor used as part of a whole-of-government content management platform in Australia. These case studies will be reviewed during this presentation.
AUTHOR BIO: Rowan Bunning is co-founder of Software WithStyle ( http://www.softwarewithstyle.com ) and Product Manager of XML WithStyle - a WYSIWYG XML editor. His current focus on Smalltalk user interface technology builds on 8 years of experience in web development, content management, XML-centric systems development and R&D related to information management systems. Rowan is a Certified ScrumMaster with a strong interest in agility.