xsummit - Paulito Märki


        

Introduction to Zulu

Zulu's components

Zulu idea

Building a website based on templates is a common concept of server-based web applications (JSP, ASP). Zulu introduces a new feature which allows using templates when processing static HTML pages. We have not found any tool or concept which provides this capability. Zulu's main idea is the separation of layout, structure and content of a website. By processing them the Zulu web generator creates static websites which can be sent to the web server.

Zulu web assembler

The current Zulu web generator implementation consists of an Excel/OpenOffice table and some Python code. The layout and structure of the website is adjusted by editing the Excel table. Upon pressing a button the web pages are generated.

Zulu templates

Zulu comes with a collection of sample-templates. A template defines the layout and look of the website and the navigation within it. Chose from one of these templates or create your own one.

Why Zulu: Comparing Zulu with CMS or web browsers

Many websites have a navigation concept. Zulu supports you with the creation and maintenance of such websites. The following paragraph gives a comparison between Zulu and conventional procedures.

Website-navigation on each HTML-page (without Zulu)

On each HTML-page there is a navigation area with links to other pages within the website. These links are adjusted manually. This approach has the following disadvantages:

  • A single change to the structure of the website causes changes to several other HTML-pages.
  • Each HTML-page is created according to the layout of the entire website. A change to the layout of the website causes manual changes to every single HTML-page.
  • HTML-tools such as 'Microsoft FrontPage' and 'Adobe GoLive' support the creation and maintenance of a website navigation. The disadvantages of these tools are:
    • The user is forced to use all sorts of incompatible elements which render the HTML-code unreadable and poorly maintainable.
    • These tools are very complex. They prevent a reasonable separation from web-design and web-content.

Website-navigation with a Browser (without Zulu)

A website-navigation may be created using program code which can be read by a web browser. This can be accomplished by an applet, JavaScript or an ActiveX. Their disadvantage is their interpretation which can be different or event inexistent depending on the browser used.

Content Management System (CMS) (without Zulu)

A CMS is a program, which is installed on the web server. The websites are generated dynamically. Consequently their layout, navigation area and content are reconstructed upon each access. Online newspaper typically use a CMS since their content changes daily. This concept requires software to be installed on the web server which is a disadvantage and expensive. Such systems may become very complex too.

Zulu

Zulu combines the best ideas in a new kind of way: A template defines the look of the website, an Excel sheet is used to maintain the structure of the website and the content of each single page is saved in a simple HTML-file.

Advantages:

  • Clear separation between design (template) and content of a website.
  • Independent of HTML-tools such as 'Microsoft FrontPage' and 'Adobe GoLive'.
  • Well understandable.
  • Extendibility due to the available source code.
  • No license costs (LGPL).
  • See also chapter Why Zulu