[jboss-dev-forums] [JBoss AS 7 Development] - Help needed: How to realize dynamic web app creation with JBoss AS 7

[Natalia Fernandez]

Natalia Fernandez [https://community.jboss.org/people/natalia_fernandez] created the discussion

"Help needed: How to realize dynamic web app creation with JBoss AS 7"

To view the discussion, visit: https://community.jboss.org/message/737604#737604

--------------------------------------------------------------
I'm new to JEE 6 web dev, and currently considering to take JBoss AS 7 (Tomcat 7) to realize a more-than-usual *dynamic* scenario (as I was told that JBoss AS 7 has abundant declarative as well as programmatic config power). Unfortunately, after reading 2 books on JBoss AS 7 and Tomcat 7, I still don't know how to realize this scenario:

A +JEE 6 with JSF2+ web app to create "mini websites" (pagesets of 2-5 pages published under new ServletContexts) for registered website owners. 
Please, let me explain first:

1. Website owners register under www.myservice.com/register.xhtml.
=> Obviously there is a main servlet context mapped on "/" (root context) and serving a JSF2 page 'register.xhtml'.


2. This RegServlet installs for each site owner a *new context* (owner sub-domain) with a owner-chosen name, and associates webspace to it, e.g.:
www.myservice.com/ownerX    with *document root * ".../webapps/ownerX/" or other appropriate fs path for *preserving* storage. 


3. The RegServlet copies(?)(*) a website editor for them to construct the pageset in their own context/webspace, accessible via: 
www.myservice.com/ownerX/admin/login.xhtml
www.myservice.com/ownerX/admin/editor.xhtml (**)
(*) alt.: RegServlet offers *1* shared editor for all owners under main RegServlet context, www.myservice.com/editor.xhtml, which should also be accesible via the owner's context -- see (**).

4. With the editor, the owner constructs the pageset in his context's document root by choosing from pre-defined +page types+ (e.g., static/dyn. html page, gallery page, ...) as well as templates and themes available for these page types. The editor stores all page defs, generated JSF pages, JSF beans, CSS, etc. in the owner's webspace. Result:
www.myservice.com/ownerX/index.xhtml, about.xhtml, mygallery.xhtml, myshop.xhtml, etc. 


5. Besides the editor, each owner will also have a +customer manager+ for customers "acquired" via their shop:
www.myservice.com/ownerX/admin/customer-manager.xhtml

Thus, each customerY of ownerX will have access to a pre-deployed customer reg page, which creates a customer account:
www.myservice.com/ownerX/customers/registration.xhtml 
www.myservice.com/ownerX/customers/login.xhtml 
www.myservice.com/ownerX/customers/customer-account-dashboard.xhtml


6. Security: The installer app context will have an own "security realm" with roles {SysAdmin, Visitors}. Each owner context will have its own realm with roles {Website(X)Admin, Website(X)Visitor, Website(X)Customer}. 

*Please note:* I know that for such kind of apps a CMS would be more suitable, but is such a system - with only basic functionality - also realizable in pure JEE 6 techs?


Now, my main question is:
* *How can I realize/configure such a dynamic scenario in JBoss AS 7?* 

Basically this boils down to:
1. How can I spawn +new contexts+ *programmatically* from within the 1st app (RegServlet)? 


2. Page defs/configs would be stored in backend db where JSF pages would be generated from. 
Where would I store these generation results for each owner, and how could I *programmatically (re-)deploy* new pages or page changes, so that these get served??? 


3. Would it be wise to run *2* AppServers, an *embedded* one (I read about Tomcat 7 Embedded) for the definition & testing phase, and a *standalone* one for the final site pubs? Is *embedded* possible for JBoss AS 7? 


4. If I finally wanted to replace "www.myservice.com" with the "ownerX" part (i.e. "www.ownerX.com"), +*virtual hosts*+ will be necessary. Is it possible to do this config *programmatically* from the 1st web app (RegServlet)?

At the moment, I'd be very thankful for any help or pointers to examples.
Thanks a million in advance, Natalia.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Reply to this message by going to Community
[https://community.jboss.org/message/737604#737604]

Start a new discussion in JBoss AS 7 Development at Community
[https://community.jboss.org/choose-container!input.jspa?contentType=1&containerType=14&container=2225]

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.jboss.org/pipermail/jboss-dev-forums/attachments/20120524/b24fd0a1/attachment.html