Presentation from Alfresco Moscow Meetup Record of the speech (with russian subs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_8imv40bZU

1. What Every New Developer
Should Know About
Alfresco
Jeff Potts
Chief Community Officer

2. CoffeeShopbyBbunchofpants

3. Content Models
The rough equivalent to Data
Definition Language in Alfresco

4. Everything is a node, nodes
are typed
Content Model is expressed in XML
• Defines types, aspects, properties,
associations, constraints
• Cold-deploy most common, hot deploy
possible
Hierarchical
• Types inherit from super types
Extend the out-of-the-box model with your
own

5. Forms
Forms are modeled in XML
• Explorer: web-client-config-custom.xml
• Share: share-config-custom.xml
Form Service
• Processes and persists form data
• Filters for intercepting form data before and
after form submit
• RESTful API for retrieving form model as
JSON

6. Rules
You can automate a lot of content
processing using rules that trigger
rule actions

7. Rules save time
Defined in the UI by end-users
If this (criteria) then that (action)
Associated with a folder
• Can optionally be applied to sub-folders
Can easily add your own custom actions to
the list

8. Web Scripts
Roll your own REST API using this
MVC framework or leverage the out-
of-the-box URLs

9. Roll your own REST API
Web Script Framework used to declare a
URL, bind it to logic, provide views
• Model-View-Controller pattern
• Controller implemented in server-side
JavaScript or Java
• Views implemented in FreeMarker
Deployed to the repository or the classpath
Can also have web scripts on the Share tier

10. Out-of-the-box URLs
Web script console lists all web scripts
• http://localhost:8080/alfresco/service/index
• http://localhost:8080/share/service/index
Pay attention to the lifecycle
• Lifecycle “internal” may change without
warning
Use CMIS or public API whenever possible

11. Web Scripts run in both tiers
Web scripts exist in
both tiers
They access different
sets of objects
They communicate over
HTTP/S
Code running in the
browser can invoke
web scripts in either
tier (not shown)
XML/JSON over HTTP/S
Apache Tomcat
Spring Surf Web Script
Framework
alfresco.war
Spring Surf Web Script
Framework
share.war

12. CMIS
CMIS is the preferred API for
integrating with Alfresco

13. The Beauty of CMIS
My Custom Application Third-Party Systems
CMIS API
Standard
integration
Standard
integration

14. Use CMIS for CRUD functions
Important ECM industry specification
managed by OASIS
Alfresco uses OpenCMIS, the de facto
standard implementation of the spec
• Available at http://chemistry.apache.org
All you need is a service URL
For Java, Python, .NET, PHP, Objective-C,
Android libraries see Apache Chemistry

15. Service URLs by Version
Alfresco
Version
CMIS Service URL
3.2r2 - 3.4 http://localhost:8080/alfresco/service/cmis (ATOM)
http://localhost:8080/alfresco/cmis (SOAP)
4.0 http://localhost:8080/alfresco/cmisatom
http://localhost:8080/alfresco/cmis (SOAP)
4.2.d/e/f,
4.2
Enterprise
http://localhost:8080/alfresco/api/-default-/cmis/versions/1.0/atom
http://localhost:8080/alfresco/api/-default-/cmis/versions/1.1/atom
http://localhost:8080/alfresco/api/-default-/cmis/versions/1.1/browser
http://localhost:8080/alfresco/cmis (SOAP)

16. Extensions
Avoid changing files included with the
Alfresco distribution

17. Use AMPs to package
extensions
An AMP is a ZIP with a special folder
structure, a manifest, and a strange name
The MMT is used to deploy (merge) your
AMPs with alfresco.war and share.war
Use AMPs even when you do not intend to
publicly distribute your customizations
https://wiki.alfresco.com/wiki/
Packaging_And_Deploying_Extensions

18. Debugging
Use the source, turn up logging
verbosity, leverage one of many
consoles

19. Developer, heal thyself
Configure Eclipse for remote debugging
Turn up logging in log4j.properties
Turn on the server-side JavaScript
debugger
Use a client-side JavaScript debugger
Use Florian Maul’s JavaScript Console
Use the Node Browser
Use the OpenCMIS Workbench
Use SurfBug if you are doing Share custs

20. Asking for Help
Help the Alfresco community help
you

21. Help us help you
The community welcomes everyone
Invest some sweat equity
• Read the docs
• Search the web
• Try a few things before asking for help
Be specific
Be polite
Pay it forward

22. Resources
Alfresco Forums
http://forums.alfresco.com
Alfresco Wiki
http://wiki.alfresco.com
Alfresco Blogs
http://blogs.alfresco.com
CMIS Resources
http://cmis.alfresco.com
ECM Architect Blog
http://ecmarchitect.com
Documentation
http://docs.alfresco.com
Freenode IRC
#alfresco
Code Examples
http://code.google.com/p/
share-extras
https://code.google.com/p/
alfresco-api-java-examples/
https://github.com/jpotts/
alfresco-developer-series
Full list at:
http://www.alfresco.com/resources/
documentation/getting-started

23. Thank You!
Jeff Potts
@jeffpotts01
http://ecmarchitect.com