Accelerated Development

Your software projects are completed in less time, with our powerful full-stack Java development platform and technology-enabled rapid development methodologies.

Quality Results

Continuous process improvement is our mantra. Excellence is our commitment. We view each project as an opportunity to apply, measure, and refine every process in the development cycle, resulting in exceptional quality deliverables for our customers.

Exceptional Talent

Our experienced software engineering staff are equipped to meet the toughest development challenges head-on, with well-honed skills and a passion for success.

Foundation Suite

Foundation Suite is a full-stack, Java J2EE web application development platform, developed by BrickSimple to dramatically reduce time and resources required to build enterprise web applications. Traditional web application development involves design/programming of web forms, business rules and database, within three basic layers:

Chart Depicting Traditional Java Web App Development

While many frameworks are available to facilitate development at each layer, they do not ensure integrity across all three layers; i.e. each component must be individually edited, compiled, executed, then tested as a whole. Most software companies today have evolved toward "frameworks integration", which still does not address problems such as application performance control, framework version synchronization, and expertise "silos" required for each framework.

The next generation of web application development tool is a "full stack solution" - a development platform which abstracts the various layers into a single layer. BrickSimple's Foundation Suite is a full stack solution, written in JAVA yet abstracting the vast majority of development to XML Application Definitions. Fully extensible with a JAVA SDK, the Foundation Suite includes a rich set of rules, widgets, actions and controls. A Connector Configurator enables quick development of XML-based interfaces with other systems and applications.

Chart Depicting Foundation Suite Web App Development

The BrickSimple Foundation Suite platform is implemented in Java (J2EE) and makes extensive use of XML/XSLT technologies. It features a flexible plug-in architecture that allows the platform to be easily extended by developers. Key components of Foundation Suite include the following.

Component	Description
Application Definitions	XML files that define application behaviors
Form Host Processor	Provides integration with Java web server platforms
Form Process Manager	Foundation Suite I/O and internal event model
Rules Engine	Common platform for rules analysis and validation of data
Dictionary Manager	Application independent multi-lingual capabilities
Skin Rendering	Abstraction layer for application look and feel
Roles-based Security	Integration of J2EE security features
Message Services	Support for Java Messaging Service (JMS) integration
Connector Architecture	Local/remote integration of application data
Realm Partitioning	Permits a single server to host distinct applications
Instance Manager	Intelligent caching support for applications

For deployment, the Foundation Suite is deployed on a Java-enabled web server such as SunONE/iPlanet, WebSphere, or Tomcat. The platform also integrates with the Java security features of these platforms.

With Foundation Suite, BrickSimple also provides the Product Two (P2) XML database. The database permits the native storage, indexing, and management of XML documents. For enterprise reliability and management, P2 hosts its XML database information within a traditional RDBMS data store. Conventional DBA disaster recovery procedures and management processes can be used with a database hosting P2. The XML database includes the following capabilities:

Indexing and storage of XML documents in their native format
Easy to use XML-based query language
Query documents by physical structure, element values, and/or keyword search
Perform RDBMS-like aggregate functions across XML documents

Execute queries that return multiple document types
Union construct for data from complex XML document scenarios
Join Synthesis Engine (JSE) permits relational joins across XML documents
Real-time linking of other databases using the P2 External construct

The Foundation Suite provides inbound XML interfaces for integration with other systems. Application definitions created for end users may also be invoked in a web service model. The P2 databases may also be directly accessed in this manner.

BrickSimple provides an SDK (Software Development Kit) with the Foundation Suite that enabling Java developers to enhance the core capabilities of the platform with their own components. The platform can also be extended using reusable XML components.

For the requirements of advanced application builders, BrickSimple offers its Enhanced Developer Services. With the Foundation Suite plug-in for Eclipse, developers are provided with tools to work directly with the Foundation Suite Application Definition XML and the Foundation Suite SDK. It is a completely integrated environment for developers who wish to work with the Foundation Suite architecture at a low-level. To get your development team moving quickly, BrickSimple also offers a pre-configured Eclipse IDE.

Our ongoing work on tools for the Foundation Suite platform demonstrate our commitment to developer productivity. For your development projects, BrickSimple can help your team get up to speed on building new solutions or enhancing existing projects.