What is Snapp MX?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX is an innovative framework designed to minimize the time and effort involved in developing and deploying secure Rich Internet Business Applications.  Snapp MX applications embrace a multi-tier Service Oriented Architecture that guarantees 100% compatibility with Sun Microsystem's J2EE platforms.

What problems does Snapp MX solve?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX allows you to create form-based data-centric applications that are deployed through a Flash player . 

Since no Flash ActionScript programming is required and very little coding, if any, is involved, Snapp MX applications are easy to maintain and enhance. 

In fact, Adobe's Flash authoring tool is not required at all.

What problems doesn't Snapp MX solve?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX does not directly support the development of highly graphical applications.  But these components could be created in Flash and seamlessly embedded within a Snapp MX application.

How is a Snapp MX application created?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX is supported by a web-based (zero footprint) visual development tool that is used to:

• organize projects;
• establish visual themes (skins) and associate them with specific applications;
• define and lay out user interface screens;
• update interface component attributes (i.e. position, labels, database table connections, etc.)
• endow the interface with an ability to adapt visually and logically to initial and changing conditions; and
• dynamically generate custom JAVA web-services to support interactions with backoffice resources.

The layout of each user interface screen and its client-side processing logic is represented in a simple string of XML that is stored in the Snapp MX data repository.  

The following diagram illustrates the process involved in prototyping Snapp MX applications.

How do deployed Snapp MX application function?     [Goto Top] 

The layout of each user interface screen and its client-side processing logic is represented in a simple string of XML that is stored on a server. This XML string is interpreted by the Snapp MX Runtime module when a specific screen is requested.  The Runtime module, which is loaded when an application is called.  Since this module doesn't change from application to application it is loaded from the cache following its initial upload.

When interaction is required with external data resources, Snapp MX communicates with common and custom Web Services.  Common Web Services handle standard tasks such as populating lookup tables.  Custom Web Services are used to embed business rules and update database tables.  The following diagram illustrates the programmatic flow of a Snapp MX application.

Why does Snapp MX use Flash?     [Goto Top] 

A Flash player is a light-weight, easily installed, media rich environment that eliminates all code incompatibilities found between browser types, browser versions and operating systems.  The Flash player is also the most pervasive plug-in technology used on the Internet today (installed on over 98% of all network attached devices).

How does Snapp MX ensure system scalability?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX is supported by a multi-tier architecture that naturally splits processing duties. 

By employing a Flash Gateway, data exchanged between Web Services and Snapp MX applications are compressed into a binary stream called Action Message Format (AMF).  Web Services would otherwise transfer data as raw text.  This format change increases transmission speeds from 400% to 1700%, eliminating a major bottleneck that plagues other systems that employ Web Services.

Snapp MX systems also employ a "Just-in-Time" model for screen generation.  This means that screen are loaded only when requested.

Does Snapp MX replace anything in my current environment?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX does not replace existing tools, application servers, and databases.  It complements them.  Using Snapp MX, existing applications can be made more effective by adding a more powerful presentation tier.  In this way, Snapp MX unlocks additional return on your prior investments.

Snapp MX doesn't offer a feature that I need. What can I do?   [Goto Top] 

Netcentrics Corporation, the developer of Snapp MX, offers a custom development service for creating customer specific features within the Snapp MX framework. Contact sales@netcentrics.net for a quote on your custom feature needs.

Do you know of any hosting companies that support Snapp MX?     [Goto Top] 

Snapp MX is not an application server in itself but a framework consisting of front-end Flash applications, a database repository, and Web Services.  To support backend processing, Snapp MX relies on an existing JAVA Application Server.  Because of this architecture, Snapp MX can be loaded manually onto almost any hosting service by following the steps outlined in the installation documentation.