OACS - A Framework for Web Applications

Rafael A. Calvo, David Peterson
Web Engineering Group
School of Electrical and Information Engineering
The University of Sydney

Keywords

Application Frameworks, web application frameworks, community web sites, web applications, ACS, OACS, open source application frameworks, Ars Digita Community System.

Abstract

In this paper we describe the architecture of the Open Architecture Community System (OACS, pronounced ‘oaks’). We first provide a brief historical overview of the development of OACS and its current status. We then describe both application frameworks and enterprise frameworks and cite key criteria for evaluating their success. We describe the key features of the OACS architecture, with specific focus on request processing, template and permissions systems and the workflow package. Finally we assess the current implementation of OACS according to the established criteria for evaluating enterprise frameworks. We identify the strengths of OACS as a web application framework and discuss opportunities for further development.