Last modified: 2015-08-05
Abstract
This paper presents a design model for the development of Web form generators. The proposed model is highly modular and tends to make use of generative programming techniques and the available Web components to enable code generation (both GUI and GPL code). The design model is presented from the user's angle (frontend) and the developer’s angle (backend). An UML class diagram of the design solution is presented for the better understanding of the model and its implementation. The design model was implemented and revised on a Java Web framework for the development of Web business applications (a set of Web forms). Two Form specific generators were successfully implemented with very little resource consumption. Both Form specific generators generate fully functional Web forms using only a database specification and a configuration (feature) specification, both in XML format. The implemented generators use code templates to avoid code duplication and to make generators easy to understand and maintain.