Developers zone
This is a special website for our developers.
You may apply by sending an e-mail to development@theipcompany.nl
When gaining access to the developers website you have access to the development framework of The IP Company.
When you are working with The IP Company on new development or extending the current developed software it is mandatory to work with our framework.
The framework exists out of a messaging platform called the "IP Host Messaging" platform. Within this platform the following functionality is available:
- Agent subscribe un-subscribe
- Messaging
- Allocation of processing speed and memory
The "IP Host Messaging" platform has been developed by The IP Company. You as a developer have to comply with the rules and development environment set forth in this framework and operation.
As a developer you are allowed to develop your "Agents" agents are small modules of functionality driven software. These "Agents" can be developed in different kind of software languages. We have included examples in Java and PHP, more examples will follow.
An Agent is a small module of software with dedicated functional performance. For instance connecting the messaging framework to hardware would require some low level codes to interface with the hardware.
It is mandatory that the messaging is based on XML this ensures compatibility between different agents. It is also mandatory that the messaging structure is commonly known to everybody developing on the framework. This ensures that messages can be used by various developers, enabling the usage and performance of the system.
The drawing below shows the structure of the Host messaging platform with two Agents sending and receiving commands to each other. In this example we "turn on the light", it is just a simple "Hello world".
In the example below there is an Agent commencing a "command" to turn off the light when the light is on and turn the light on when the light is off.
Now turning on/off a light does not seem to be a problem. However we do not want to store data about the status of the light e.g. is it on or off? We have to gather from the Agent light the status of the light then. So in other words, our vision is that the "Agent Light" controls the complete functionality required and this is controlled by another agent and/or agents.
In your design of the XML protocol you need to incorporate this by messaging. So there is an XML element structure and messages.
We completely understand that this brings a great deal of standardization to our framework in working with several developing parties. Therefore we have designed an XML online and within this developers environment an XML messaging builder. This XML messaging builder is a fully structured environment to build XML messaging for our developers framework. It is mandatory to use this webbased XML messaging builder. The main advantage is that the messaging you build will be available to other developers and that the elements are unique. So everybody uses "UserName" and not "Name" "User" "NamedUser", etc. This makes it very clear to every developer.
Another advantage is that the XML messaging is automatically documented for you as developer. Nevertheless some documentation will still have to be made by you regarding the functionality of the Agent you are developing.
Using the mandatory web-based XML messaging builder also brings a big advantage in testing your application. All messaging from different developers is on the website and can be used against your installed "Host Messaging" platform which is available in the SDK downloadable from the developers web.
As a developer you only have to download the SDK with the tools to begin developing the Agents. The SDK consist out of:
- Host Messaging framework (Running on Linux)
- Documentation to deliver to us
- PHP / Java bridge for PHP development against the Host Messaging platform
