What is CORE-Framework?

As the name implies, CORE-Framework is an application framework. Unlike a lot of existing Java based application frameworks, CORE-Framework provides a single java framework for all of your application code - everything from the UI to the DB.

Scales with your architecture CORE-Framework is architected in such a way that you can build your application in a local mode, and deploy the exact same business objects in an N-tiered application architecture. CORE-Framework emphasizes consolidating business logic on your BO's (just like how you were taught in those OO design classes) so they will behave the same in a single tier Swing application, or a 3 tiered distributed web app.

Business Object design doesn't change to make the framework work One of the most frustrating discoveries in developing OO applications is the fact that your well-architected business objects rarely remained the same once they met the challenges of incorporation into a production application. The Agent oriented CORE-Framework architecture keeps you from having to make these design compromises.

Plays nicely with other Frameworks There are some very good frameworks out there for specific areas of application development. Rather than re-invent these particular wheels, CORE-Framework incorporates other frameworks for specific usages. Leveraging other existing frameworks gives you the best options for your application environment from the screen to the DB.

How does it work?

In order to summarize what CORE-Framework does in a few short sentences, we're going to have to rely on some industry buzz-words. The overall architecture of CORE-Framework can be considered Aspect-Oriented. This means that most of the traditional application "plumbing" is located outside of business objects in specialized "Agents". Most of the features of the CORE-Framework are identified by and constructed using common Design Patterns. All of this work in the design of the framework translates into two rather simple (but enormously important) consequences of using CORE-Framework:

• Business Objects contain only business logic.
• UI code contains almost no business logic.

Why do I care?

Production Code looks like Design Code The CORE-Framework is built from the ground up keep real live production code actually looking like those design documents that you spent hours arguing and sweating over. In practical terms this means that your development and support costs go down because you go to one place to change the behavior of your business application.

Maintenance costs down Lower support costs is a concept that bears mentioning twice. The great unmentioned cost of application development is the cost of maintaining an application over time. Up to 70% of the real cost of an enterprise application is incurred after it is delivered to the customer. The number one reason why this maintenance cost is so high? Business logic is located in many different places in a typical application.

The concept of properly encapsulated business logic in business objects is nothing new, but is surprisingly rare in modern applications. In the course of moving an application from design to production business objects tend to become cluttered with "plumbing", and many times it is easier to put business code directly in the UI rather than keep it in the Business Object. Since CORE-Framework handles all of the plumbing for you, proper centralization of business logic is a reality rather than a pipe-dream.

Intrigued? Just dying to learn more? Click here for the CORE white paper.

Get CORE

As of this point there are no official releases of CORE. Once we begin beta-testing we will be building milestone builds on a regular basis. For the present time, you can access CORE via our CVS repository.

Tutorial

The CORE-Framework tutorial is still a work in progress, but continues to move along. You can start examining how CORE-Framework works here. Code examples of specific CORE features can also be found in the examples package in the CORE-Framework source code.

NEW! - Don't have the time to plow through the full tutorial? Not to worry - we now have a 10 minute tutorial that will show you what CORE can do before you can even finish a double latte. Try it out today and tell us what you think!

Meet The Development Team

Jonathan House - Jonathan is the lead architect and developer on the CORE project. He's been slinging code ever since he was 14 and thinks that he is getting pretty good at it. A former Principal at OOP, Jonathan has been working in mission critical frameworks for the past 8 years.

Phil Borlin - Phil is a lowly peon who thinks questioning every design decision will bring him fame and fortune. He's a UI guy who constantly fights to get business logic out of the presentation layer and is happy to be working on a project that will make that easier for developers to do.

Denis St Flour

Paul Jackson

See Who is Using CORE-Framework

Meridian Informatics - Meridian has supported the CORE-Framework project since it's first line of code. If you are ever in Sydney, AU be sure to stop by and give them a hard time about how their Rugby teams are doing.

Computer Marketing Corporation - CORE-Framework would not be where it is today without the support of Computer Marketing Corporation. Since 2003 CMC has been the primary financial supporter of the development of CORE-Framework.

Support

Most of the CORE support activity takes place in either our discussion forums, or on the CORE email lists. If you do start using CORE, take a minute to introduce yourself in the forums and on email - we'll do what we can to help you enjoy your "CORE-Framework experience".

Help Support the CORE Project

Continued work on the CORE-Framework project is supported by your donations. If you like what you see in CORE-Framework and want to see it continue to grow, please support our efforts with a donation . Thank you for your support!