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Sugar and Spice - linking SugarCRM with Funambol
1. Sugar and Spice
Linking SugarCRM
with Funambol
Phil Shotton
November 2008
2. Agenda
Introduction
Company Background
Requirements for Sync
Why SugarCRM and Funambol?
Taking it on
Connector architecture
Challenges
Future plans
Value proposition
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3. Introduction – Phil Shotton
25+ years in software industry
□
Specialise in high-performance
□
distributed systems development
Java, C++, C, Unix/Linux
□
'Bedrock' software
□
Founder and principal PSJ Solutions
□
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5. Introduction - PSJ Solutions
Founded 2005
□
High performance custom solutions
□
Finance (pricing and trading)
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Telecoms
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Fortune 100 companies
□
Java and Open Source
□
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6. Software/Platforms
Java J2SE / JEE
□
Spring
□
Hibernate
□
Javaspaces / Gigaspaces
□
Eclipse RCP
□
Linux / Solaris / Microsoft
□
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7. Typical Projects
Order Management and Pricing for
□
Asian Broker
Order Process Management for major
□
UK Mobile Telecoms Company
Mobile / Backoffice integration for large
□
multi-national corporate
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8. Business Requirements
□
Client Management
□
Shared and Personal Calendars
□
Shared and Personal Contacts
□
Contact and Calendar
Synchronisation
□
Centralised Repository (under our
control)
□
Low-cost
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9. Technical Requirements
□
Linux Server
□
Multiple client devices
◊ Windows, Linux
◊ Mobile phones/palmtops
□
Multiple client software
◊ Outlook, Thunderbird
□
Remote-accessible
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10. Why Funambol/SugarCRM?
□
New company, new infrastructure
□
Heterogenous environment
□
Embracing Open Source Solutions
◊ Cost, flexibility
□
Requirements fit
□
Interesting technologies
□
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13. Taking It On – Jun 2005!
Problems with sync:
□
◊ Dates, missing fields
◊ Failed syncs
New versions of SugarCRM and Sync4J
□
not supported
But of course – we have the Source!
□
Oct '05 - become project maintainer
□
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20. Challenges
Multi-layer – which one is the problem?
□
Debugging php, SOAP, Funambol
□
Understanding multiple technologies
□
Database use
□
No test harnesses
□
Build, release process
□
Multiple versions of EVERYTHING
□
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23. Future Plans
□
General
◊ Code cleanup, test harnesses, better
logging
□
Selective sync, personal and/or
group calendar, contacts
□
Email address handling
□
Email sync
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24. Making my life easier
Documentation
□
◊ Server call sequence and expected
behaviour
◊ Utility API features
◊ Howtos and examples
◊ Database format, installation routines
Test harnesses
□
Version change information
□
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25. The Costs for PSJ
Time, time and more time!
□
□ file:///usr/share/icons/gnome/48x48/stock/generic/stock_alarm.png
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26. The Benefits for PSJ
Warm, fuzzy feeling :-)
□
Control of our own utility software
□
Exposure to potential client base
□
□
Exposure to interesting (marketable)
technologies
□
Potential business from commercial
support offerings
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