z2-Environment

h1. Z2-Environment version 3.0

Version 3.0 is in EXPERIMENTAL and not in development anymore. Feature will migrate to 2.x as fits.

It was developed here: [[z2env:wiki|org.z2env]].

The main goals for 3.0 is to provide features that simplify user adoption

h2. Move to org domain

* We will refactor all core code into *org.z2env*.

(DONE)

h2. Simplified and lighter setup

* Provide completely local installation via a root repository that features local FSCR addon repositories

* Provide a stripped-down base installation that is essentially only capable of running main programs.

* Split the base addon into individual addons for:

** dev tools (z2unit, eclipsoid)

** tomcat hookup

** worker support

** etc.

(DONE)

h2. Free Web Container Choice

It should be possible to use a Web Container of choice, as long as it is Jetty or Tomcat. Our tests indicate that it should be simple to programmatically control any pre-installed instance.

* Provide a web container resource that hooks up with a pre-configured web container OR a self-hosted web container

* This will require some creative business with the servlet/jsp and Web Container class path

(DONE for Tomcat)

h2. Provide consistent and complete system export

* Support binary or source-preserving export

* Provide clean component name escaping so we can also export mvn-provided artifacts if desired

* so we can offer a complete base distribution as binary download

* Running samples means to clone co-located Git Repos

* Make re-binding of repository locations simpler (e.g. a remote repo becomes a local FS repo after export)

* Support single-process mode (e.g. no Worker mode - move worker support into an add-on)

h2. Improvements

* Provide a z2 for dummies introduction that starts with simple, include-based web apps

* Seamless support of Maven repositories (see [[V23]], [[maven_repo_support]])

** Including install into repository from z2

* Use string revisions rather than longs (so that natural versions are better supported)

* Introduce "Java Templates", Java (and others) Component configuration made simpler (see [[smart_props]])

* Port add-ons and samples to maven repos for external artifacts

* Drop "I" interface notation

* Drop resource instance on every invalidation.

* Define component name escaping for the file system repo helper

* Introduce boot repository *at* Z2_HOME into ComponentsManager 

** Auto-discover other repos at Z2_HOME

** Default "." as dev repo workspace

** launch purely from "java -jar z.jar"

** Introduce moduleName property for "free-floating" components

** Introduce repository adapter type.

* Folders for operation

* Use /code instead of /java to be more agnostic to the language in use (postponed)

* Drop workunit expectation in (e.g.) SVNCR.

h2. Proposals

h3. Local Install Layout

Introducing an extended file system repo support and better split of resource and work dirs, the follwing _typical_ layout is suggested:

<pre>

+-<$CATALINA_HOME>

|

+-z2env

|  +-boot (boot repo)

|  +-roots

|    +- zding-essentials

|    +- zding-jetty

|    +- zding-devtools  

|    +- zding-tomcat  

|  +-z.jar

|

+-<armed module 1>

+-<armed module 2>

|

+-<git repo 1>

</pre>

(DONE)

h3. Repository Export

We will enhance the repository export so that given a number of repository component names (possibly including mvn repos), a complete export, in source or binary, will be put into a structure as outlined above. 

* Repository Component Names can be mapped

* We will introduce a component name escaping pattern to support maven originated components as well 

h3. Review of Software Component Responsibilities

+core+

* Component and Module Model

* Component Types:

** System State

** Java / Compiler

** "main" programs

** "any"