The InAct Developers Platform aims to empower developers to integrate applications related to project tracking and management into the InAct system. Developers can build modules, addons, plugins, or third-party tools that integrate with InAct via APIs. The APIs will allow access to InAct data and functionality using PHP or JavaScript. Preparation for the platform involves improving code quality, writing documentation, and promoting the platform to developers. Challenges include the need for more human resources across various roles and sufficient time for preparation.

1. InAct Developers Platform
Eris Ristemena

2. Vision
To empower developers to integrate their
application related to project
tracking/management into InAct

3. Benefits
• Promotion
http://www.basecamphq.com/extras
• Scaling
New features that we couldn’t foreseen
• Giving more options
User can choose to install only features they
need
• Efficiency
Fewer in house developer involved. We can
concentrate more on core system

4. Point of Integration
• Modules
Additional module inside our system
• Addons/Plugins
Smaller than module. Used to add new functionality into
the existing modules. Example: mp3/video player for
document library or notification by sms for document
routing, etc.
• Third party tools
Using InAct data/functionality outside the system by
using XML/JSON over HTTP (REST/SOAP).
Reference:
http://developer.37signals.com/basecamp/
Facebook Connect

5. API Model
• PHP API
– Mainly used for module or addon development where it is deeply integrated to InAct system
– User need to upload the code into our server. We can create web based installation to make
it easy for user. Reference: Wordpress plugins or themes.
– Example:
<?PHP
require_once “InAct.php”
$person = new Person();
$email = $person -> getEmail();
• Javascript API
– Mainly used for third party tools development
– Using JSON for data interchange format
– Includes our javascript library into third party application. Reference: Google MAP API
– Example:
<script type=“text/javascript” src=“http://dev.inactsoft.com/v1/inact.js?api=xxxyyzz”></script>
<script type=“text/javascript”>
var email = inact.person.getEmail();
</script>

6. Preparation
• Code improvement
• Documentation
• Promotion

7. Preparation
Code Improvement
• Clean up. Remove any “APD only” codes
• Separation between HTML and Javascript
(progressive enhancement)
• More Object Oriented Approach. Remove
any redundancy code. More reusable!
• Optimize in speed and response time.
More PHP and Javascript benchmarking.
• Testing suite (PHPUnit)
• Versioning System (SVN)

8. Preparation
Documentation
• Code Documentation (PHPDoc)
• API Documentation
• Developer Guide

9. Preparation
Promotion
• Website for developer (WIKI)
• Outsourcing modules/addons
development
• Create developer community, for starter
we can embrace some SV’s to develop
modules/addons for us

10. Challenge
• Human Resource (not again!)
– Technical writer
– Programmer: system developer, front end
engineer
– Network engineer
– Marketing (??)
• Time (see point 1)
• Core system maturity
• Infrastructure (web server, bandwidth)