THIS IS A TECHNICAL POST SO IT MAY SEEM A BIT TECHNICAL AND ESOTERIC TO MOST PEOPLE (but it’s really cool to techies like me)
When I was a C++ software developer, I became interested in the technique of Generative Programming where you create software code that generates other software code. Over the past few months, I have been working on a technique of using MindManager and XSLT to automatically generate software code. I started this work because in my role as solution architect at Mindjet, I have found that one of the greatest barriers to partners developing powerful solutions was the lack of solution-builder RAD (Rapid Application Development) applications for MindManager. Yes, you can write Macros in MindManager with basic dialogs, but they are limited. I have just posted a tutorial that describes how to use MindManager for Generative Programming.
Generative Programming with MindManager and XSLT
The generator in the tutorial uses MindManager to create XSL transformations that are used in the MindManager Research Accelerator. The generated transforms access REST-based web services like those provided by Yahoo, Technorati, and evidently Craigs List. In the tutorial, I outline how the genetator works, how to build configuration maps, and how the sample, Upcoming.org Event Search, works. Attached to the central topic is an installer that adds the Service Builder components to MindManager Pro 6 and the Upcoming.org Event Search service to the Research Accelerator. The sample even shows how to integrate AJAX-based interactivity into the form displayed in the Research Accelerator, so there’s a little bit for everyone.
Have a happy new year!