Apple WebObjects 5 - Manual (Page 11)

WebObjects is Apple’s incredibly powerful “Internet engine” for addressing the custom
development, enterprise integration, and web publishing needs of educators, creative
professionals, and other major Apple customers. It leverages the power of Java, XML, and
open source code to enable the rapid creation of database-driven, cross-platform solutions
for e-learning, multimedia workflows, and e-commerce. It’s even more powerful when it’s
run on the UNIX-derived Mac OS X platform. Together, WebObjects, Mac OS X Server, and
QuickTime Streaming Server provide a complete Apple solution for the delivery of rich,
interactive content over the Internet.
Education
WebObjects is a key part of Apple’s strategy for education. In K–12 schools, WebObjects will
be used as part of Apple’s next generation of the PowerSchool school management system.
PowerSchool enables students, teachers, administrators, and parents to access comprehensive
student and school information online.
In higher education, WebObjects is used by universities (often with the help of Apple iServices)
to create portals, labs, and administrative solutions, such as the new student information site at
the University of Michigan. Many universities are looking to use WebObjects as the basis of their
web development courses, allowing students (or continuing education professionals) to create
complete web applications in a single semester.
Publishing
WebObjects is the lifeblood of some of the most important publishing solutions for creative
markets. Most notable is Adobe’s InScope software for publishing workflows, which is built
entirely around WebObjects. Other products for this market that are based on WebObjects
include
• ReportMill, for the dynamic generation of PDF, QuickTime, and Flash output in web or
video applications
• MAMBO from WebWare, for web-based asset and brand management
• SiteGenesis from Cassini Division, for comprehensive site management (used, for example,
by the BBC)
• CreativeStandard, which enables web designers to create complete e-commerce solutions
without becoming programmers
In addition, hundreds of other components and services have grown up around WebObjects
during the years it’s been on the market. Many of these can be integrated into your project
easily due to the robust object-oriented structure of WebObjects.
Positioning and Target Customers
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