For all developers who are interested in one of the first applications which leverages the new Cascades UI of BB10 we are providing a preview of the Open Data Space for Blackberry, developed by Ekkehard Gentz.
If you own a DevAlpha device, you can download the app in the AppWorld from here.
A short screencast of the user interface is available from here.
The source code (Apache v2) is forkable from here.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Open Data Space is comming...
In my last post I gave an introduction to the joint development of a filesharing platform for the enterprise powered by SSP Europe and GRAU DATA AG. Today I would like to announce that the core technology will be available under an open source license.
We will start with the mobile clients. The first client which will be available under the Apache License v2 is the brand new client for BB10, which is developed by Ekkehard Gentz. The repository at github was already created by RIM: opendataspace. Ekke will checkin some code soon. Please follow him on twitter.
The other clients for iOS and Android will follow under the same lincense (ASLv2). Developers will have the possibility to integrate parts of the Open Data Space (ODS) client into their software or improve the existing ones.
For the server side we made the decision that we will license a core version under the APGv3. This will allow open source and proprietary extensions to the core framework. The architecture of the ODS will look like:
The architecure will be modular and extensible on the backend and on the frontend through plugins. The sever side is written in Java, the clients are written in Objevtive-C (iOS), Java (Android) and QML/C++ (BB10).
You can follow the development on twitter or discuss your wishes and give some feedback in our Facebook group.
The JSON API for mobile devices is already fully documented. You can download the documentation in our Facebook group.
UPDATE: agorum joint the open data space project. We will get a lot of open source based functionality like:
We will start with the mobile clients. The first client which will be available under the Apache License v2 is the brand new client for BB10, which is developed by Ekkehard Gentz. The repository at github was already created by RIM: opendataspace. Ekke will checkin some code soon. Please follow him on twitter.
The other clients for iOS and Android will follow under the same lincense (ASLv2). Developers will have the possibility to integrate parts of the Open Data Space (ODS) client into their software or improve the existing ones.
For the server side we made the decision that we will license a core version under the APGv3. This will allow open source and proprietary extensions to the core framework. The architecture of the ODS will look like:
You can follow the development on twitter or discuss your wishes and give some feedback in our Facebook group.
The JSON API for mobile devices is already fully documented. You can download the documentation in our Facebook group.
UPDATE: agorum joint the open data space project. We will get a lot of open source based functionality like:
- versioning
- transactional database backends
- fulltext search
- CMIS (atom pub)
- WebDAV
- master/master replication
- JSON API for all backend functionality
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Secure Filesharing in the Cloud
Filesharing in the cloud is nothing new. Many people are already using DropBox or other services to synchronize their files between several devices or to share them with other people. On the other side big companies like IBM are banning these sevices because of security concerns (Technology Review).
So what to do if you are a small company or an individual who needs this kind of services? Fortunately, there are alternatives to DropBox and iCloud available, which can be installed on premise or at a secure place.
One of these is the a solution called DATA SPACE which has become a joint venture between SSP-Europe and GRAU DATA. These companies have joint forces to provide a Java based, enterprise class solution for sharing files inside larger organizations, partners and individuals.
Today the solution is already deployed at several customers, one of them is Orange Austria (Orange Data Space). GRAU DATA is offering the software as GRAU DATA SPACE for enterprise customers.
The DATA SPACE solutions offers a WebGUI and mobile native clients for Android, iPhones, iPads. A Blackberry version for OS7 and BB10 is under development. A DATA SPACE offers the possibility to define data rooms where users can share their files. Administrators can define sub rooms which can be assigned individually.
The files can also be accessed via WebDAV from any desktop operating system. Currently a CMIS interface is under development which is also used for the desktop sync clients for Windows, MacOSX and Ubuntu.
All files are stored on an encrypted file system. Optionally, all files can be encrypted individually during the upload by keys which are stored in a HSM (hardware security module). The solution will get a data privacy certifcation from the ULD.
So what to do if you are a small company or an individual who needs this kind of services? Fortunately, there are alternatives to DropBox and iCloud available, which can be installed on premise or at a secure place.
One of these is the a solution called DATA SPACE which has become a joint venture between SSP-Europe and GRAU DATA. These companies have joint forces to provide a Java based, enterprise class solution for sharing files inside larger organizations, partners and individuals.
Today the solution is already deployed at several customers, one of them is Orange Austria (Orange Data Space). GRAU DATA is offering the software as GRAU DATA SPACE for enterprise customers.
The DATA SPACE solutions offers a WebGUI and mobile native clients for Android, iPhones, iPads. A Blackberry version for OS7 and BB10 is under development. A DATA SPACE offers the possibility to define data rooms where users can share their files. Administrators can define sub rooms which can be assigned individually.
The files can also be accessed via WebDAV from any desktop operating system. Currently a CMIS interface is under development which is also used for the desktop sync clients for Windows, MacOSX and Ubuntu.
All files are stored on an encrypted file system. Optionally, all files can be encrypted individually during the upload by keys which are stored in a HSM (hardware security module). The solution will get a data privacy certifcation from the ULD.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
FreeRDP becomes cloudy
As I mentioned in some of my former posts, the FreeRDP project makes progress in becomming a platform for cloud based desktop services.
Fritz Elfert started a project called FreeRDP WebConnect. The project provides a gateway which allows a JavaScript based browser client to connect to a RDP server. The connection between the client and the gateway is based on websockets.
The JavaScript client implements a virtual keyboard for the RIM playbook.
Click here, to connect your browser to a Windows 2008 server.
UPDATE: The FreeRDP project (powered by ThinStuff) published a Android and an iOS version in the app stores. Here you get the details.
Fritz Elfert started a project called FreeRDP WebConnect. The project provides a gateway which allows a JavaScript based browser client to connect to a RDP server. The connection between the client and the gateway is based on websockets.
The JavaScript client implements a virtual keyboard for the RIM playbook.
Click here, to connect your browser to a Windows 2008 server.
UPDATE: The FreeRDP project (powered by ThinStuff) published a Android and an iOS version in the app stores. Here you get the details.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
RIM is back and moving to Open Source
Last weekend I bought a RIM PlayBook at Mediamarkt for only 189,00€ to get some an impression of the new Blackberry OS. The kernel is bases on QNX a realtime, POSIX compliant operating system, which is based on a microkernel architecture (yes Microsoft, POSIX has won: Linux, MacOS, QNX, ...). QNX is very robust and used in a lot of different industrial realtime environments and CISCOs high availibility edition of IOS. QNX was aquired by RIM some in 2010, the source code is available, but not under an open source license (yet).
RIM obiously morphes to an open source friendly company. They started several projects on github and hired an open source veteran Eduardo Pelegi-Llopart. He was responsible for several open source projects at Sun like Glasfish and is member of the advisory board of CloudBees, the new company of Sacha Labourey. I hope to see him next week after visiting the OSBC 2012 (www.osbc.com) in SFO.
Back to the PlayBook impressions. I think the new RIM tablet os is an intersting alternative to Apple platform if you need a secure platform which is based on industrie standards. RIM supports Flash, Adobe AIR, HTML5, Qt and QML, JavaScript, and a new UI framework called Cascades (Video). The funny thing about that is, that RIMs leverages NOKIAs investments in Qt. Games like Angry Birds and Cut the Rope are alreay available, the Unity enginge will be supported soon. I hope to see official Mono support from my friends at Xamarin aswell.
RIM obiously morphes to an open source friendly company. They started several projects on github and hired an open source veteran Eduardo Pelegi-Llopart. He was responsible for several open source projects at Sun like Glasfish and is member of the advisory board of CloudBees, the new company of Sacha Labourey. I hope to see him next week after visiting the OSBC 2012 (www.osbc.com) in SFO.
Back to the PlayBook impressions. I think the new RIM tablet os is an intersting alternative to Apple platform if you need a secure platform which is based on industrie standards. RIM supports Flash, Adobe AIR, HTML5, Qt and QML, JavaScript, and a new UI framework called Cascades (Video). The funny thing about that is, that RIMs leverages NOKIAs investments in Qt. Games like Angry Birds and Cut the Rope are alreay available, the Unity enginge will be supported soon. I hope to see official Mono support from my friends at Xamarin aswell.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Android-x86 - the Linux Desktop for the Masses
Some moths ago I ordered the cheapest Asus EeePC, the X101. It has no LAN port and no hard disk. It came preinstalled with the dead Meego OS. I replaced it with Ubuntu successfully.
Two weeks ago I decided to replace Ubuntu with the release candidate of Android-x86. It works out of the box on most Asus netbooks.
The performance of my Xoom tablet feels slower than Android-x86 on the X101. Android-x86 is based on Android 4 and comes with most of the standard Android apps (mail, calendar, music player).
Some further apps are easy to install from GooglePlay (the former Google market):
The overall impression of Android-x86 is a very good option for netbooks in my opinion. I think it will bring Linux finally to the masses!
Two weeks ago I decided to replace Ubuntu with the release candidate of Android-x86. It works out of the box on most Asus netbooks.
The performance of my Xoom tablet feels slower than Android-x86 on the X101. Android-x86 is based on Android 4 and comes with most of the standard Android apps (mail, calendar, music player).
Some further apps are easy to install from GooglePlay (the former Google market):
- DropBox
- Radio.de
- IM+ (commercial instant messenger)
- Google Reader
- Google Maps
- Tagesschau
- Audible
- Kindle reader
The overall impression of Android-x86 is a very good option for netbooks in my opinion. I think it will bring Linux finally to the masses!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Next generation SANs
If you are looking for an affordable SAN storage which allows you to get best performance and different fabric modules you should have a look at RisingTide Systems.
RTS offers SAN storage based in LIO (www.linux-iscsi.org). The target and most fabric modules are upstream in the Linux kernel now. There are modules for iSCSI, Fibre Channel, FCoE and Infiniband (SRP) available. The system is managed by a CLI tool called RTSadmin.
LIO offers support for different backends like block level devices, filesystems, RAM-disks or plain SCSI devices. If you have enough money you can also use a flash card from FusionIO to get a ultra high speed storage server. A prototype was demonstrated last year at Interop.
Future versions will fully integrate with DRBD and the new thin provisioning target for device mapper. With these features you will get many enterprise storage features.
RTS offers also an iSCSI initiator which allows multiple TCP connections within a iSCSI session. This allows an efficient multipathing and loadbalancing. The default initiator of Linux does not support multipathing on iSCSI level. The Windows iSCSI initiator supports this features too.
The latest version of the RTS target also support the VAAI extensions for VMware.
RTS offers SAN storage based in LIO (www.linux-iscsi.org). The target and most fabric modules are upstream in the Linux kernel now. There are modules for iSCSI, Fibre Channel, FCoE and Infiniband (SRP) available. The system is managed by a CLI tool called RTSadmin.
LIO offers support for different backends like block level devices, filesystems, RAM-disks or plain SCSI devices. If you have enough money you can also use a flash card from FusionIO to get a ultra high speed storage server. A prototype was demonstrated last year at Interop.
Future versions will fully integrate with DRBD and the new thin provisioning target for device mapper. With these features you will get many enterprise storage features.
RTS offers also an iSCSI initiator which allows multiple TCP connections within a iSCSI session. This allows an efficient multipathing and loadbalancing. The default initiator of Linux does not support multipathing on iSCSI level. The Windows iSCSI initiator supports this features too.
The latest version of the RTS target also support the VAAI extensions for VMware.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
JavaScript, the Lingua Franca of the Internet
The performance of JavaScript is getting better and better. I think this will help to get rid of traditional operating systems in the near future.
There are several demos available where you can see the power of JavaScript:
Fritz Elfert will try to develop a RemoteFX decoder in JavaScript for the Open Thin Client Alliance together with the FreeRDP project, sponsored by BaWue goes mobile. The goal is an Open Source RDP client, which implements as many features as possible in a browser.
UPDATE: Telefonica announced a new device which focuses totaly on HTML5, called OpenWebDevice. Qualcomm will deliver the silicon, Mozilla delivers the boot2gecko enginge. Is this the first real Andoid killer?
UPDATE: Scripting languages are getting nearly as fast as C++. A canadian company called Fabric Engine provides a ultrafast JavaScript and Python implementation. The engine can be licensed under AGPL and a commerical license. It supports multithreading an can be used for Python and JavaScript. Here are some benchmarks.
UPDATE: Here is the first screencast of a JavaScript webgateway for FreeRDP: http://goo.gl/hFaib. The source code will be released on LinuxTag 2012.
UPDATE: Here it comes: a audio and video SIP client written in JavaScript. I think the time of a classic Windows PC is finally over.
UPDATE: Here you find a UNIX shell written in JavaScript.
There are several demos available where you can see the power of JavaScript:
Fritz Elfert will try to develop a RemoteFX decoder in JavaScript for the Open Thin Client Alliance together with the FreeRDP project, sponsored by BaWue goes mobile. The goal is an Open Source RDP client, which implements as many features as possible in a browser.
UPDATE: Telefonica announced a new device which focuses totaly on HTML5, called OpenWebDevice. Qualcomm will deliver the silicon, Mozilla delivers the boot2gecko enginge. Is this the first real Andoid killer?
UPDATE: Scripting languages are getting nearly as fast as C++. A canadian company called Fabric Engine provides a ultrafast JavaScript and Python implementation. The engine can be licensed under AGPL and a commerical license. It supports multithreading an can be used for Python and JavaScript. Here are some benchmarks.
UPDATE: Here is the first screencast of a JavaScript webgateway for FreeRDP: http://goo.gl/hFaib. The source code will be released on LinuxTag 2012.
UPDATE: Here it comes: a audio and video SIP client written in JavaScript. I think the time of a classic Windows PC is finally over.
UPDATE: Here you find a UNIX shell written in JavaScript.
RIM and Open Source
Yes I am still using my Blackberry. I like to use a physical keyboard. The integration of twitter and the social feed app helps me to get all the news I need.
This week I read an interview with RIM on Open Source on h-online. Hopefully they will open their development platform soon. The latest Open Source news are available at the Open BB News.
RIM might be late, but I think they still have the possibility to get more software running on their platform if they adopt open standards and Open Source.
Especially the global movement to JavaScript might help them a lot. Here you can find some screenshots of a new framework called bbUI.js on github.
This week I read an interview with RIM on Open Source on h-online. Hopefully they will open their development platform soon. The latest Open Source news are available at the Open BB News.
RIM might be late, but I think they still have the possibility to get more software running on their platform if they adopt open standards and Open Source.
Especially the global movement to JavaScript might help them a lot. Here you can find some screenshots of a new framework called bbUI.js on github.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Cloud Desktop
Today I had a short chat with Michael Jumper. He is the developer behind Guacamole. Guacamole implements a simple HTTP based protocol to implement a remote desktop solution. The client is written in JavaScript, running in any modern browser. The server component works like a proxy/gateway. Currently it implements the VNC protocol only. SSH and RDP backends are under development.
Refering to my older post about cairo remoting. I would love to see a cairo backend for the Guacamole gateway. The window management should be implemented in the browser.
Refering to my older post about cairo remoting. I would love to see a cairo backend for the Guacamole gateway. The window management should be implemented in the browser.
Monday, November 14, 2011
SOAPGATE goes open source
QKOM, a small company which offers a generic SOAP gateway for Lotus Domino written in Lotus script, offers SOAPGATE under the AGPLv3 from now. The open source strategy of QKOM was motivated by a discussion around the programming contest Baden-Württemberg goes mobile. SOAPGATE provides a generic access to Domino NSF databases. It should be quite easy to define the Domino Web Services (DWS) now. DWS should become the equivalent to EWS (Exchange Web Services) for the Domino ecosystem.
UPDATE: "Join the Forces read the Sources!" SOAPGATE source
UPDATE: "Join the Forces read the Sources!" SOAPGATE source
Saturday, October 1, 2011
EWS as a Service (EWSaaS)
Damit könnte sich eine allgemeingültige SOAP Schnittstelle für Groupware-Daten etablieren lassen. Spannend wäre es auch, wenn jemand einen REST-Adapter für EWS Backends bauen würde.
Bleibt zu hoffen, dass sich viele Programmieren (Studenten, Freiberufler, Firmen) an dem Wettbewerb beteitligen.
Mit Evolution 3.4 wird es unter Linux einen vollwertigen EWS Client für Linux geben. Weitere Details findet man in einem Blog von Matthew Barnes (Coming Soon in Evolution 3.4).
UPDATE: Peter Hurley provides an Ubuntu PPA which contains an evolution-ews package. The EWS implementation supports mail, calendar and contacts (read/write). Thanks to David Woodhouse!
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