Backbase Ajax-based RSS Reader

One of the most visually appealing RSS readers I've come across has to be Backbase's AJAX (Asynchronous Javascript and XML) RSS Reader. Backbase uses it as an example of the RIA (Rich Internet Application) apps you can build with their AJAX IDE.

The Backbase Ajax RSS Reader uses a slightly different visual paradigm than most RSS readers, eschewing the typical 3-pane window for something completely different: one hideable pane per feed, as well as search pane and a item description pane.

There's only one problem - well three actually. Firstly, because the reader is still in development, it only runs on some web browsers. I tried it with IE 6, Mozilla 1.75, Firefox 1.5.0.1, Netscape 8.02, and Opera 8.52. Backbase doesn't support Opera, and IE 6 doesn't display the feed headlines.

Secondly, in the browsers that the reader does work, item headlines are doubled. I have no idea why this happens, but it has to be from their end because it happens in every browser.

Thirdly, I'm particularly hoping that they'll resolve the issue of having to download a 28 Mb "community edition" zip file of their Ajax IDE (Integrated Development Environment) just so that you can have an RSS reader.

I assume that Backbase will work these problems out. On the other hand, if your organization is considering building Rich Internet Applications, you may want to explore Backbase further. Their community edition license is free for non-commercial use, and reasonably priced for the professional edition for commercial use - depending on how many CPUs/ servers you'll be using it on.

I'm planning to use either Backbase and/ or TIBCO General Interface for building a number of web services applications for my webfeedmail.com domain. More details in the future.

>> Raj Kumar Dash, http://www.chameleonintegration.com/

Technorati Tags: rsscases, rss cases, ajax, RIA, rich clients, fat clients, internet applications, backbase

Hi!

I've stumbled upon your web site while querying Technorati for blogs that write about TIBCO.

I didn't really know that TIBCO had developed something like the General Interface, much less that it was free for certain uses.

Thank you very much for the tip!

Sincerely,
Ivan

Posted by: Ivan Stojic at March 23, 2006 7:08 PM

Ivan, I like TIBCO General Interface very much, but their biggest setback right now is that they only function on IE 6+. They're working on other browsers.

Backbase's AJAX IDE works well on most browsers, but their licensing agreement is different.

There's also Morfik.com's JST (Javascript Server Technology) IDE for AJAX apps. They're OpenSource. At least they were when I signed on as an early tester.

Posted by: raj at March 25, 2006 5:55 PM