lindyFrame Version 4.0
Copyright 2013-2020
by Dana Proctor
http://dandymadeproductions.com
What is lindyFrame?
LindyFrame is a desktop application framework that eliminates the development
time needed to create software tools. The framework provides the ability to create
applications that support several languages and loading resources from network
sources. The core aspect of the tool is a plugin architecture that the developer
uses to build the desired functionality in the desktop application. Multiple plugins
can be created and loaded that will operate in their own individual threaded
environments. The framework has been brought into compliance with JRE 7 and supports
the rich JavaFX user interface API.
An organization that chooses to use lindyFrame for its application development
can leverage the ability to manage plugins from a central repository thereby
eliminating the need to upgrade individual desktops. Since lindyFrame is a Java
framework the concept of code once can also be exploited to eliminate the need to
compile numerous binaries for a work force that may use different operating system
platforms.
Dana M. Proctor
Project Manager
Features:
Requirements:
LindyFrame is a stand alone application. To get started download and unzip the release file to your local hard drive using a program such as WinZip, 7-Zip, Tar or similar compression/decompression program. Extract the lindyFrame files to the desired location on the hard disk. On a Windows system this may be any location, but on a Unix or Linux system it will be in the home directory of the user. If multiple users are to access the application then consult with the system administrator of your workstation. The likely location will be in the /usr/local or a public directory, which all users have access to for application execution.
Update Notes:
LindyFrame updates need no special attention. Just install the latest
release into your existing directory.
General Setup Instructions
The lindyFrame application is a Java based program and does require the
JRE, to be installed. The minimum runtime environment needs to be JRE-1.8. The app.
uses a configuration directory to house several files for various parameters.
In most cases it will not be necessary for any changes to made to these files. That
directory in Windows ® 98 will be 'C:Windows\.lindyFrame'. On Windows ® XP, Vista,
and Windows 7 the new directory will be in the user's home folder. On a Linux
system the new directory will be '/home/user/.lindyFrame'.
Adding a Shortcut
To add a lindyFrame icon to your desktop, right click the mouse pointer
on an unused area of your desktop to display the pop up menu and select
New | Shortcut. Choose Browse, find
and double click on lindyFrame.jar, then click on Next. Type in
"lindyFrame" for the name of the shortcut, then click Finish. To
run lindyFrame, either double click on the new lindyFrame icon or use the Start | Run
command.
On a Unix or Linux system a shortcut may be created in the KDE Desktop
environment by right clicking on the desktop and selecting Create New |
File | Link to Application. Give the application a name such as "lindyFrame"
in the General tab. Next select the Application tab and fill in the description
desired then browse to the location on the disk where lindyFrame was installed and
select the lindyFrame.jar file for the Command entry. The Command entry is still
not complete and must contain the Java command. Place before the quoted lindyFrame.jar
entry, "java -jar ". Do not place quotes of any kind around this command, the quotes
only contain the Jar file location. Example: java -jar '/home/~user/lindyFrame/lindyFrame.jar'.
Finally select the Work Path as the directory where installation took place.
The lindyFrame application may also be run directly from a command/console
window by typing in the command "java -jar lindyFrame.jar" while in the installation
directory. A Linux/Unix environment will require the file location to be specified by
"./lindyFrame.jar", remember this must be done with a console that is running within
a X Window environment like KDE or Gnome.
The lindyFrame framework comes with a default plugin that can be used by developers as an example in creating new plugins. The plugin is a basic HTML Viewer and will load automatically a tutorial on creating new plugins. One may also access the tutorial documentation in the docs directory of the lindyFrame installation. A sample plugin is also available as of v1.8 of lindyFrame that demostrates the JavaFX support in the framework. This plugin along with other plugins is loaded via an Internet connection and the plugin management tool.
Copyright Notice:
This program is licensed under the GNU GPL.
Credits: (in chronological order):
Version History:
Production (2013-07-31):
Version 1.3 | Initial Public Release. |
Version 1.4 | Documentation and Referencing Material Updates. |
Version 1.5 | Corrections to Address Issues With HTMLView URL Resource Loading & Tutorial Documentation. |
Version 1.6 | Inclusion of Data Source Classes for Database Connections, & Library for H2 Database. |
Version 1.9 | Updated to Bring Into Compliance With JRE 7 & The JavaFX Framework for Plugins. |
Version 2.0 | Finalization of JavaFX Plugin Requirement Aspects. |
Version 2.2 | Update to Plugin Management to Support File Repositories. |
Version 2.3 | Bug Fixes for Plugin Management for WinOS. Update to WebBrowserFX and JavaFX_ScatterPlot. |
Version 2.5 | Version 2.5 Code Review and Cleanup. Updated WebBrowserFX Plugin. |
Version 2.7 | FTP(S) Plugin Loading Feature. General Maintenance. Required for JRE 1.8. |
Version 2.9 | General Maintenance and Cleanup, Replacement of JavaFX_Scatter Plot Plugin. No Longer Including in Repository or Download JavaFX Plugins. Issues With JRE and Various OSs. |
Version 3.0 | Additional Preferences for Controlling Plugin Tabs and Exploration of Desktop View. Updates to Database Connection Code and Libraries. Added Categories for Plugin Management Display. |
Version 4.0 | Updated Included Databases Libraries. Fix for JRE lib/ext Exclusion for JAR Libraries, Added User Selection JDBC Library Directory Option as Needed for Creating Database Connections. General Maintenance of Code. |