|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Development Framework
During the planning process for the Center's first year, we had several exciting projects on deck, even before CERL had taken its first breath of official air. We knew that once the operation was underway we would have a host of collaborations on our docket.
In the last decade, Rapid Application Development (RAD) has been one of the most coveted and debated development practices. Development will most likely never proceed fast enough to sate the stake-holders, but it is certainly possible to work in more efficient ways. After reviewing what our first twelve months held, it was apparent we would greatly benefit from creating as much re-usable code as possible. It was also apparent that we would be involved in great amounts of data-heavy, transactional sorts of delivery, so that an intelligent and lightweight development framework would be of immense benefit. We thus set out to create a highly portable and malleable framework to rest beneath our applications. Before we wrote a single line of code for a single collaborator, we designed and developed this application core with our first few projects in mind. Each subsequent project has brought enhancements to the tool.  Sample of the CERL framework in action To be clear, we are not professing to have invented this sort of methodology. It has been done many times and such solutions are widely available both for fee and for free. It is very possible that one of these may suit your institution's needs. We decided to build our own system that focused on our applications. The inclusion of this much less visible accomplishment in our project portfolio could be questioned, but we felt that the steel beams which help erect all CERL systems deserved a pat on the back. If you're ever in the WashU neighborhood and would like a tour, contact CERL's research technologist ( email ). |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Washington University / School of Law / Campus Box 1120 / St. Louis MO 63130 cerl@law.wustl.edu |
