This document proposes a new framework for specifying and reusing user interfaces (UIs) and their models. It discusses specifying UI layout, widgets, and presenters in a declarative way. Widgets can be initialized with sub-widgets and notify of precise changes via messages. The presenter handles UI behavior and links sub-widgets through event-based interaction. Widgets are intended to be generic, parametrizable, and reusable. The framework aims to allow dynamic layouts, additional layouts, better documentation, a UI builder, and potentially a test framework. It concludes that the framework supports precise updating, widget reuse, and will be included in Pharo 2.0.

1. Spec
A Framework for the Specification and Reuse of
UIs and their Models
Benjamin Van Ryseghem - INRIA
Stéphane Ducasse - INRIA
Johan Fabry - Universidad de Chile
Thursday, August 30, 2012

2. I - A new framework
II - Specification
III - Reuse
Thursday, August 30, 2012

3. Goals of a UI Builder
Managing events
Describe user interfaces
Reuse previously described widgets
(Have a UI for placing sub elements)
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4. Thursday, August 30, 2012

5. 

 


Thursday, August 30, 2012

6. I - A new framework
On top of Morphic/PolyMorph
(Pluggable on top of everything)
Thursday, August 30, 2012

7. II - Specification
UI Layout
Widgets
Presenter
Thursday, August 30, 2012

8. UI Layout
Declarative representation
Multiple representations possible
Simple layouts available
Thursday, August 30, 2012

9. Widgets
Declarative way to initialize sub widgets
Precise changed: messages
Thursday, August 30, 2012

10. Presenter
The behavior of the UI itself
A central point to link sub widgets
Event based interaction
Thursday, August 30, 2012

11. Widget interface
Look at ‘protocol*’ protocols
Explicitly documented API
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12. Thursday, August 30, 2012

13. III - Reuse
Widgets are generic
Widgets are parametrizable
Widgets can be reused
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14. Reuse in Pharo 2.0
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15. Next Steps
Dynamic layouts
More layouts
Better documentation
UI Builder
Test framework ?
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16. Conclusions
Managing events: precise update mechanism
Reuse previously described widgets
Included in Pharo 2.0 as standard
Thursday, August 30, 2012