Web Services Plug-In for PHPEclipse

[ed_mann]

The feature would generate the WSDL file, the server side php page containing the method signatures of the web service and also create a client side php page for testing the web service. It would also include an interface to capture details from the user on the method signatures and namespaces.

The major challenge here would be the handling the the parameter types and return types of the methods.

The designs are currently being worked out. If you are looking to assist, you can join this effort.

The intent is to create this plugin for the phpeclipse perspective. It would provide an option on the perspective to generate web services whereby the user would enter the basic parameters for the service including the method signatures, return types and parameter types.
This will then be used to create the wsdl, soap server file and soap client file

[bmanoo]

The workflow for the plugin is as follows:

1) User selects menu option to create web service.

2) Screen opens up and asks for Service Name, location, Base URL and all the Web Method Signatures. The method signatures would include the types thereby solving the problem parameter types and return types. Examples of method signatures would be:

int AddNums?(int num1, int num2, int num3)

String getFullName(String lastName, String firstName)

3) The user then creates the soap-server file which will contain structured comments of the above methods and the php methods without any implementation code.

4) The user can then work with this soap-server file to put in the implementation code for each of the method and then select the option to now 'build the web service. This step can be repeated any number of times.

5) When the web service is built the WSDL code and a test soap-client will be generated and stored in the working directory.

The service can then be consumed by client applications.

[bmanoo]

The Attachments are as follows:

wsTemp_c - This is a web service built on VS2005 using C#. It basically converts temperatures from celsius to degress and vice versa.

A similar service was build on WTP Eclipse using Java. It does the same thing and has the same method implementations.

There are two clients to consume These web Services. CSharpClient is written in C# on VS2005 and also a PHP Web Page.

Both clients are working well with both the web services, you can modify the code and switch from one or the other.

The problem is that I need to get a php Web Service similar to the C# web Service which can also be consumed by all the client involved. There seems to be a problem with php services being consumed by .NET. I am currently looking at various tools including WSDL Generator, WS gen, WS Helper and soon to get on with WSDL Generator from php classes.

Once a template can be found to create the WSDL, a client and a server file for the web service then it is just a matter of getting that working on the plugin. The plug in is about 60% done.

[ed_mann]

bmanoo,

How has this been coming along? Had much time to work on it? I have not seen you in the channel, so i take it you have become busy with other things.

If you need more help with the GUI refactoring let me know.

Thanks

[bmanoo]

Hi Ed

I have done some more work on it and I would like to take you up on the offer to refactor the GUI. I got the plug-in working now and the WSDL and Test Client are being generated - need to do some work on the client generation still.

I will upload the plug-in with in a few days together with some documentation on its usage. You are correct on the point that I am busy with other things but I should be back into it in a few days.

Look out for the upload here by next Wednesday. I will also try to get you on the channel at that time.

Take Care
Bobby

Replying to ed_mann:

bmanoo,

How has this been coming along? Had much time to work on it? I have not seen you in the channel, so i take it you have become busy with other things.

If you need more help with the GUI refactoring let me know.

Thanks

[bmanoo]

To: Ed_Mann

Hey Ed
Please find attached a number of files as follows:

1) Plug_in for PHPEclipse.
2) Zip File containing the project in NetBeans?.
3) User Documentation.
4) Technical Documentation

The plug-in works fine for primitive data types. The Web Service Test Page is being produced and working - even with .NET clients. Good Progress.

There are a number of limitations with the actual PlugIn? - It actually works fine as a standalone Java Application. The look and feel within the plug-in needs to be refined (including the icons). Also It would be good to have the following done in the plu-in.
1) Detect the active project directory on startup. Currently it detects the user.dir which is where the eclipse is installed.
2) Open the Service Implementation File after it has been generated. Have not had a chance to look into that as yet.
3) Launch the default browser when the PHP test file has been generated.
4) As you indicated, refactor the GUI to the SWT.

I have provided everything you need including documentation. I will resume work on this after next week. In the mean time you can have a look.

Regards
Bobby

[ed_mann]

bmanoo,

I apologize for not getting back to you on this. I did not know anything was being worked on. I have read over your messages, and will download the attachments and look at this more closely. Our Trac system now e-mails out so i am going to put myself on the CC list so i can get notified of changes.

I hope we can meet again in IRC and work on this. I will see what i can do and post back here if i need further assistance.

Thanks.

[bmanoo]

Thanks Ed

Please let me know what further information I can provide you with. I have completed the tool now to the point where the Web Service is being generated, the PHP Test Page is being generated and working properly. This phase is therefore completed. Some work still has to be done on it - mainly with regards to the plugin... (not as easy as I thought).

My next step is to get the Web Service working with object types. Currently all the primitive data types are working properly. Once the object data types are being soaped properly then it can be used in the commercial environment.

I think it may be worth getting your feedback prior to further work.

Looking forward to your response.

Bobby

Replying to ed_mann:

bmanoo,

I apologize for not getting back to you on this. I did not know anything was being worked on. I have read over your messages, and will download the attachments and look at this more closely. Our Trac system now e-mails out so i am going to put myself on the CC list so i can get notified of changes.

I hope we can meet again in IRC and work on this. I will see what i can do and post back here if i need further assistance.

Thanks.

[bmanoo]

Hi Ed

Hope you are well.

Just checking in to see if you have had a chance to do the reviews on the last bit of uploaded code? I will be resuming work shortly on getting the tool to pass object types as parameters to the Web Service. Would appreciate your feedback relating to previous discussions.

Thanks
Bobby

Replying to ed_mann:

bmanoo,

I apologize for not getting back to you on this. I did not know anything was being worked on. I have read over your messages, and will download the attachments and look at this more closely. Our Trac system now e-mails out so i am going to put myself on the CC list so i can get notified of changes.

I hope we can meet again in IRC and work on this. I will see what i can do and post back here if i need further assistance.

Thanks.

[ed_mann]

Replying to bmanoo:
Bobby,

I was talking with MBowie just the other day about this. We are actively working on getting 1.2.0 out the door, and other "management" tasks for the PHPEclipse project. I asked MBowie to assist with the refactoring of the UI to SWT. He said it should not be a problem. I will be importing the code into PHPEclipse and getting it to run. I want to get to that in the next 2 weeks, however with the way things are going i am not sure when i will get to it, but i will get to it.

Thanks.

Hi Ed

Hope you are well.

Just checking in to see if you have had a chance to do the reviews on the last bit of uploaded code? I will be resuming work shortly on getting the tool to pass object types as parameters to the Web Service. Would appreciate your feedback relating to previous discussions.

Thanks
Bobby

Replying to ed_mann:

bmanoo,

I apologize for not getting back to you on this. I did not know anything was being worked on. I have read over your messages, and will download the attachments and look at this more closely. Our Trac system now e-mails out so i am going to put myself on the CC list so i can get notified of changes.

I hope we can meet again in IRC and work on this. I will see what i can do and post back here if i need further assistance.

Thanks.

[bmanoo]

Replying to incastrix:

Hi

I see that this issue has been reassigned. Has there been any further developments based on the last set of correspondence from Ed Mann?

Thanks
Bobby