ColdFusion 11 – What’s in Store for Web Developers?

As a widely used rapid web application development framework, ColdFusion needs no introduction. Adobe further released updated version of ColdFusion at frequent intervals to meet the upcoming trends in web development. Recently, Adobe released ColdFusion 11 with a set of new features and enhanced capabilities. The programmers can now use the all-in-one application server to rapidly build both web and mobile applications for enterprises. At the same time, they also have option to avail features like full CFSCRIPT support, improved HTML to PDF conversion, and built-in functions to prevent cross-site scripting. If you are yet to migrate to ColdFusion 11, it is a good idea to have a look at some of its prominent features.

New Features of ColdFusion 11 to Speed up Web Application Development

Differentiate Content According to Individual Devices
Often developers have to put additional time and effort to differentiate website content for different devices. The content differentiation is also essential for delivering richer user experience. ColdFusion 11 makes it easier for programmers to identify the device type, along with its features, dimensions, orientation, description and group name without using any plug-ins. So the web application can deliver enhanced user experience without writing any complex code.

On-Device Debugging
Many web developers find it daunting to identify and fix flaws in installed apps. But the on-device debugging feature of ColdFusion 11 enables developers to identify and fix errors in both installed web apps and browser-based mobile apps without putting any extra time and effort. They can simple connect a mobile device to ColdFusion Builder remotely, and simulate the actual usage of the application on the device. Thus, they can easily step through the application code to identify the errors and flaws.

Multi-Device Inspection
While creating a web application, developers have to invest additional efforts to check its look and feel across different devices. The look and feel of the app further needs to be optimized for many devices to deliver enhanced user experience. ColdFusion 11 enables programmers to use the built-in Weinre server inspect the look and feel of both web and mobile apps across multiple devices. They can further use ColdFusion Builder to change the properties of elements. The changes can also be seen taking effect in the mobile devices.

Complete Support for CFSCRIPT
The updated version of ColdFusion further comes with complete support for CFSCRIPT. So the web programmers can use CFSCRIPT more productively to build applications rapidly, while accessing ColdFusion 11 functionality. For instance, they can now use the CFQUERY tag to directly access client-side databases using SQL. The enhanced support for CFSCRIPT further enables programmers to access databases without using callback handle.

Social Plug-in and Login
ColdFusion 11 enables developers to make the web apps interact seamlessly with social media, along with increasing engagement and creating buzz. The programmers can simply use CF_SOCIALPLUGIN tag to implement a variety of social plug-ins including Tweet button, Comment box and Like button. Also, they have option to enable end users to access the web application through their social media account without implementing a login mechanism from the scratch. They developers can now use the CFOAUTH tag to allow end users to access the web applicator using their Google, Facebook or Twitter identities.

Reuse and Distribute UI Components
The updated version of ColdFusion allows web programmers to use server-side custom tag framework on the client side. The feature makes it easier for developers to reuse and distribute the UI components without any hassle. Also, the smooth distribution and reuse of UI components will contribute towards both reducing the testing efforts and speeding up development.

ColdFusion 11 makes it easier for programmers to effectuate email management without writing additional code. They can simply use the SMTP server with the CFMAIL tag to send emails. The CFIMAP tag can also be used to connect to an IMAP server, whereas CFPOP tag can retrieve emails from a POP mail server.

You can hire developers from top ColdFusion web application development companies in India who can help you build your website within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide ColdFusion development services. If you would like to discuss with an expert ColdFusion developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Features of ColdFusion 10 that Enhances Websites

The first version of ColdFusion was originally designed to with a set of simple features required to connect HTML pages to a database. But the commercial web application development platform is being updated by Adobe regularly to complement the most recent trends in web development. ColdFusion 10 also comes with several new features and enhanced capabilities.

The latest version of ColdFusion 10 enables developers to embrace futuristic technologies like HTML5, RESTful Web Services, and revamped Enterprise Web Services. At the same time, they can also avail the features to create and deploy enterprise-ready applications more quickly. On the whole, the innovative features of ColdFusion 10 will make it easier for developers to enhance websites without putting any extra effort.

ColdFusion 10 Features to Enhance Your Websites and Internet Applications

HTML5 WebSockets: ColdFusion 10 comes with built-in support for the WebSocket protocol. So you can use the protocol to push data from the web server to the client more efficiently. The feature will further make it easier for you to boost the performance of real-time internet applications by providing updated and dynamic data. At the same time, you can also use the messaging infrastructure that is built on top of the raw WebSockets to easily subscribe or publish to multiple channels.

HTML5 Charting: The most recent version of ColdFusion supports interactive client-side charts. So you can enhance the performance of your website by integrating interactive client-side charts designed with Flash, SVG or Canvas. You can further incorporate these charts by using the ColdFusion CFCHART tag. Also, these charts can be customized by using the JSON objects.

HTML5 Video Player: You also have option to use the CFMEDIAPLAYER tag to access the built-in HTML5 video player provide by ColdFusion 10. Also, the CFMEDIAPLAYER tag can be used to access a completely revamped Flash video player. Along with using the same JavaScript API, both HTML5 and Flash video players also sport the same look and feel. So your website can be accessed by the users regardless of their choice of web browsers and devices.

RESTful Web Services: The simple and easy-to-use features of RESTful Web Services have made them hugely popular among internet application developers. The Restful Web Services can be accessed over both HTTP and HTTPS. As ColdFusion 10 supports RESTful Web Services, it becomes easier for you to convert your ColdFusion Component (CFC) into web services. The conversion can be done simply by setting certain attributes in the CFC.

Tomcat integration: Unlike earlier releases of the commercial web development platform, ColdFusion 10 is integrated with Tomcat. However, you can smoothly migrate from JRun to Tomcat to avail additional benefits. The Tomcat integration will further help you in boosting the performance of your website by availing the benefits of Java Platform Enterprise Edition (JEE) technology.

Enhanced Caching: ColdFusion 10 allows developers to specify cache settings at an application level. You can avail the feature to easily create dynamic cache regions. The cache region can be used as a bucket to store the cached data. You can even use the modified cache functions to manage the cache regions. Also, you have option to run the cache server as a separate process outside the ColdFusion JVM.

Search Improvements: Instead of Verity, ColdFusion 10 comes with Apache Solr. Apache Solr supports Data Import Handler in ColdFusion 10. So you can index the database in a more efficient and simpler way. You also have option to make your search queries more flexible by passing dynamic custom fields.

A developer can further optimize the security of websites by using ColdFusion 10. The latest version of the rapid web development platform comes with built-in functions to protect the website against Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF). Further, the developers have option to manipulate the session cookies to manage the client sessions more efficiently.

You can hire developers from top ColdFusion web development companies in India who can help you build your website within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide ColdFusion application development services. If you would like to discuss with an expert ColdFusion programmer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

How Far Can Online Businesses Go With Coldfusion?

With online businesses taking over the conventional brick and mortar trade, the need of the hour is to come up with new tools that would help in promotion as well as development of various types of online businesses in a seamless and unabated way, much in tune with the changing dynamics of the market and trend of consumerism. When we speak of that, it is ColdFusion that clearly enjoys a significant edge over other tools that are creating a buzz in the domain of online business or e-businesses as they are called.

Truly as per the experts, ColdFusion has the ability to go a long way in developing online businesses. In other words, online businesses will be able to taste astounding success with the proper use of ColdFusion.

Firstly, the tool is not at all expensive, and this indicates that businesses can have a significant amount of savings with the successful implementation of this software. In fact, if we look at the monthly subscription amount that ColFusion shopping cart asks for, it is generally $100 a month or less even with all the value added features that are needed by an online store for successful operation. Now, that amount, frankly speaking is meagre, when compared to some of the other e-commerce software packages available in the market. This gives the ColdFusion a tremendous shot in its arm, so far as its acceptability in the realm of e-commerce is concerned.

The presence of a buying cart designed as well as developed in ColdFusion comes to the aide of the business merchants in a great way, especially when it comes to processing the orders in a seamless way. Online shopping carts that come up with multiple online payment methods are an added asset for these e-businesses, especially in reaching out to a wider spectrum of customers, who are looking forward to shop and make payments in a different way.

In the modern world of e-Commerce, a trustworthy, safe as well as secure online shopping wagons is the keyword to success as this goes a long way in creating the brand value of the product or service offered.

Let us look into some of the ColdFusion shopping cart solutions that help businesses in more than a way.

cf_ezcart

This particular cart from ColdFusion is extremely user-friendly as well as easy to integrate. Besides, it is search engine friendly. This is what makes the difference at the end of the day.

SiteDirector

This online buying cart is powerful, safe as well as user-friendly. Extreme flexibility and robustness coupled with the presence of a number of value added features make this Adobe ColdFusion software highly adorable.

Cartweaver

Cartweaver 4 is supposedly the principal buying cart developed with the help of PHP. This cart can be manned easily by experienced as well as the ones who are navigating for the first time. The cart uses CFBuilder, Eclipse, Adobe Dreamweaver along with some other code editors. The cart works with ColdFusion as well as PHP. From the functional point of view, this makes the tool, especially the 4.02 version a versatile platform for e-commerce.

Slatwall

This is an extremely effective open source platform for B2B as well as B2C enterprises that offer a wide range of e-commerce solutions, flexibility as well as enterprise level functionality. It also comes up with a user-friendly administrator interface that allows managing applications like promotions, product management, customer service, 3rd party integration and the likes. Besides, it also features up-selling along with cross-selling option for the products or services, messaging that are promotion-based, customer service, shipping calculations etc.

CFWebstore

This is yet another entirely integrated web storefront which helps customization of template and creation of a customized store. The cart is available with some value added features like membership functions, option for processing batch orders, role based admin, delayed capture of CC and more.

If we think about the presence of shopping cart tools and their role in providing safe and secure e-commerce solutions, what we have discussed is just the introduction. ColdFusion comes up with a wide variety of solutions, that are specifically designed to serve online businesses of various niches. Hence, there is simply no doubt that with successful implementation and use of ColdFusion, online business will never be the same again.

You can hire developers from top custom ColdFusion development company in India who can help you build your website within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide ColdFusion development services. If you would like to speak to one of our expert ColdFusion developers, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

ColdFusion Use on the Rise

ColdFusion is widely used by developers across the word as a powerful web development platform. But the platform was developed in 1995 with some simple features to establish connection between HTML pages and a database. The version 2 of the ColdFusion was released in 1996 with a full scripting language and an IDE. But the latest version of the rapid web development platform, released in 2012, provides application developers with a set of advanced features to easily develop a variety of rich internet applications, along with carrying out enterprise integration.

According to FarBeyondCode.com, in February 2013, Adobe reported, “ColdFusion 10 brought sales and positive feedback to the highest point since 2008. They just had their best quarter at the end of 2012.” The commercial success further encouraged the company to release “a roadmap for versions of the ColdFusion server and the Eclipse IDE, ColdFusion Builder. They project to offer support for security and bug fixes for these new products until around 2020.” The report clearly indicates the growing usage of ColdFusion 10 to meet the needs of web applications developers to build robust application for clients belonging to different industries.

The constant rise in the popularity and usage of ColdFusion was also confirmed by a report published on WebProNews.com. To quote from the report, “Stephen O’Grady over at RedMonk compiled a ranking of programming language popularity based on an interesting set of metrics: StackOverflow questions and GitHub projects. Comparing Stephen’s findings from September 2011 and February 2012 show a significant improvement in ColdFusion’s position.” Also, a number of reports have highlighted the initiatives taken by Adobe to optimize the growth and popularity of ColdFusion.

Key Initiatives Taken by Adobe to Make ColdFusion more Popular

Discussing New Roadmaps

Each company has to collect feedback, suggestions and comments from its clients on the features and functionality of the applications developed by it. Often the interaction with customers also makes it easier for the organization to decide how to boost the performance of its application development framework. Adobe has initiated roadmap discussions to make ColdFusion programming more popular. As per the initiative, the senior leadership from the company will engage in discussions with customers. The feedback and suggestions received from customers will be used in deciding the features and functionality to make the updated version of ColdFusion 10 more powerful.

More Frequent Updates

Each software development company has to impress users by launching updated versions of its products. The updated frameworks also come with a set of advanced features that saves the programmers’ time and efforts while developing rich internet applications. Adobe has implemented a strategy to reduce the release cycles for ColdFusion. So the updated versions of the framework will be released more frequently with a number of advanced features and functionalities. Also, the reduced released cycles will make it easier for Adobe to meet the changing trends in technologies.

Launching ColdFusion on the Cloud

The Cloud-based application development frameworks are popular among developers due to their flexible and convenient features. Many companies have launched the Cloud version of their frameworks to meet the needs of developers. But the Cloud release of ColdFusion on Amazon EC2 was delayed due to some issues between the two companies. So Adobe has resolved the issues with Amazon, and is ready to offer Amazon Machine Image (AMI) for ColdFusion 10 at hourly rates. The Cloud version of ColdFusion 10 will encourage more programmers to avail the advantages of this powerful platform.

Expanding the ColdFusion Community

The popularity of an application development framework often depends on the size of developer community. So Adobe has taken initiative to promote ColdFusion at various community colleges. The initiative aims to educate programmers with a detailed semester curriculum for server side programming concepts using ColdFusion. Also, the program includes quizzes, tests, instructor guides and software to encourage new programmers to use this platform to develop rich web applications. At the same time, both instructors and students also have options to clear their doubts by interacting with a community expert.

Engaging the ColdFusion Users Actively

Adobe has further implemented a program to keep the users actively engaged. It is planning to organize ColdFusion events to keep the interested user groups by working with them in an active way. At the same time, the ColdFusion Business Unit at Adobe is planning to organize a full-fledged ColdFusion conference to encourage the involvement of user community. However, Adobe will work only as the primary organizer, while allowing the maximum involvement of the community in several aspects like content selection. The constant interaction with developers will further make it easier for the company to contribute towards the growth and popularity of this rapid web application development platform.

The initiatives taken by Adobe will encourage both novice and experienced programmers to migrate to ColdFusion. Also, the active participation and involvement of developer community will contribute towards boosting the popularity of this web development platform.

We provide coldfusion application development services. If you would like to discuss with an expert coldfusion developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.