Improving Web Application Development Course

PurposeThis study aims to identify the developer’s objectives, current state-of-the-art techniques, challenges and performance evaluation metrics, and presents outlines of a knowledge-based application programming interfaces (API) recommendation system for the developers. Moreover, the current study intends to classify current state-of-the-art techniques supporting automated API recommendations.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors have performed a systematic literature review of studies, which have been published between the years 2004–2021 to achieve the targeted research objective. Subsequently, the authors performed the analysis of 35 primary studies.FindingsThe outcomes of this study are: (1) devising a thematic taxonomy based on the identified developers’ challenges, where mashup-oriented APIs and time-consuming process are frequently encountered challenges by the developers; (2) categorizing current state-of-the-art API recommendation techniques (i.e. clustering techniques, data preprocessing techniques, similarity measurements techniques and ranking techniques); (3) designing a taxonomy based on the identified objectives, where accuracy is the most targeted objective in API recommendation context; (4) identifying a list of evaluation metrics employed to assess the performance of the proposed techniques; (5) performing a SWOT analysis on the selected studies; (6) based on the developer’s challenges, objectives and SWOT analysis, presenting outlines of a recommendation system for the developers and (7) delineating several future research dimensions in API recommendations context.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides complete guidance to the new researcher in the context of API recommendations. Also, the researcher can target these objectives (accuracy, response time, method recommendation, compatibility, user requirement-based API, automatic service recommendation and API location) in the future. Moreover, the developers can overcome the identified challenges (including mashup-oriented API, Time-consuming process, learn how to use the API, integrated problem, API method usage location and limited usage of code) in the future by proposing a framework or recommendation system. Furthermore, the classification of current state-of-the-art API recommendation techniques also helps the researchers who wish to work in the future in the context of API recommendation.Practical implicationsThis study not only facilitates the researcher but also facilitates the practitioners in several ways. The current study guides the developer in minimizing the development time in terms of selecting relevant APIs rather than following traditional manual selection. Moreover, this study facilitates integrating APIs in a project. Thus, the recommendation system saves the time for developers, and increases their productivity.Originality/valueAPI recommendation remains an active area of research in web and mobile-based applications development. The authors believe that this study acts as a useful tool for the interested researchers and practitioners as it will contribute to the body of knowledge in API recommendations context.

Object-relational mapping is a technology that connects relationships with object-oriented entities, which aims to eliminate duplicate layers together with costs of maintenance and any errors arising from their existence. A lot of tools and technologies were designed in order to support and implement idea of object-relational mapping. In this paper we present the performance comparison of two most common object-relational mapping interfaces for .NET framework: Entity Framework and NHibernate. In the .NET developers community, there is a lot of discussion today about the similarities and differences of the both technologies. To address this issue, we compared the features and performance of both tools. We analysed the performance of Entity Framework and NHibernate for two different databases (MS SQL Server and PostgreSQL), different query languages (lambda expressions and LINQ for Entity Framework and HQL and Critera API for NHibernate) and compared the results with the standard SqlClient queries. The results show that there is no significant difference between these both tools and we proved that common opinion that NHibernate performs better than Entity Framework is incorrect.

Web application development cuts across the HTTP protocol, the client-side presentation language (HTML, XML), the server-side technology (Servlets, JSP, ASP, PHP), and the underlying resource (files, database, information system). Consequently, web development concerns including functionality, presentation, control, and structure cross-cut, leading to tangled and scattered code that is hard to develop, maintain, and reuse. In this paper we analyze the cause, consequence, and remedy for this crosscutting. We distinguish between intra-crosscutting that results in code tangling and inter-crosscutting that results in code scattering. To resolve inter-crosscutting, we present a new web application development model named XP that introduces extension points as place-holders for structure-dependent code. We present another model named DDD that incorporates XP into the Model-View-Controller (MVC) model to resolve both intra- and inter-crosscutting. WebJinn is a novel domain-driven web development framework that implements the DDD model. WebJinn has been used to develop web applications at several web sites. Domain driven web development with WebJinn benefits from a significant improvement in code reuse, adaptability, and maintainability.

Studies indicate that information systems and computer science programs should place more emphasis on software design topics.Because little significant software in a commercial environment is developed using only programming skills,students without exposure to design patterns and frameworks will be ill-prepared for the workforce. This paper investigates whether PHP-based web development courses should use PHP frameworks to guide program development and how to select an appropriate framework. The paper begins with a literature review of the concept of design patterns, particularly the Model-View-Controller(MVC) pattern. We review studies that argue that design patterns and frameworks are essential pedagogical tools. Finally, we report on our work to select an appropriate framework for incorporation into web development courses as well as the process by which some of the major PHP MVC frameworks were assessed to determine which is best-suited for use in an academic environment.

The Model–View–Controller (MVC) design pattern is widely used in web development and ERP to separate data layer, presentation layer, and user interaction concerns. In recent years there have been many PHP frameworks available for web developers to choose from right one. Developers face difficulty in choosing the relevant frameworks and appropriate support functions with libraries to include in their projects. For this reason, a clear understanding of the various frameworks is now becoming an important requirement for web developers. In this paper, we studied several research papers talking about different PHP frameworks, and we compared them with each other for result. In PHP, there are several MVC frameworks available that provide a structured approach to developing web applications. The purpose of this research paper is to explore and review some of the popular MVC frameworks for web development in PHP.

Drug errors and abuses are the most frequently reported deficiencies in the healthcare sector worldwide. In the US alone over $3.5 billion has been expended on treatment related to drug errors that concern more than 1.5 million individuals. The drug is an important part of livelihood has faced the problem of authentication because medicines have to be tested to differentiate between the real and the fake. Drug code detection will reduce the risk of these mistakes by supplying the first responders with accurate information that can quickly decode this information using a code scanner on their smartphones and thus take the necessary steps against their use. The previous study implemented a desktop application system that checks for standardized drugs by scanning the Quick Response codes on the pack. Recently, lots of improvements have taken place in terms of smartphone development with various tools like cameras, which can be used to scan drug barcode. Therefore, the study developed a mobile application to scan the drugs' barcode and verify authenticity. The application designed using an integrated database for real-time drug authentications. The application was implemented using SQL running on a server and interacted with an Application Programming Interface (API) to serve as an intermediary between the application and the browser API built with an Object-relational mapping (ORM) called Sequelize. After code is scanned to gets its serial code, the API validates the serial code and releases a quick response code through a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON). The proposed system can be used by doctors, pharmacists and patients for the identification of fakes and harmful drugs, hence reduced the calculations of fakes or harmful drugs.

Software maintenance and evolution are important processes in software development. Developers usually face issues in the process of maintaining and evaluating software. The common problem is software code not well structured and organized. This will have an impact on the difficulty of the process of maintaining and evolving software. Maintenance and evolution process is done in all types of applications. In this research, we focus on web-based applications. Web-based applications are chosen because the development of web-based applications is very evolving. One of the most widely used design patterns in web applications is the Model View Controller (MVC) design pattern. This research focuses on the model layer in web applications. Because this layer automatically changes if there is a change in the data structure or database. Therefore, to make the maintenance and evolution process easier, it is necessary to analyze and reorganize the model layer. In this study, we trying to group the functions on the model layer by looking at the similarity of table reference access in the query. For the analysis process of the reorganization of the function structure, we use DSM (Design Structural Matrix). in this research, we use DSM in a new field that is in the model layer on MVC based application. The preliminary result, the reorganization of the function structure provides better contex recommendations that following the reference table for each function.

This paper examines the performance of popular object-relational mapping (ORM) technologies such as Hibernate for Java, Entity Framework for .NET, Django ORM for Python, and Sequelize for Node.js, focusing on their interaction with the MySQL database management system. The analysis covers key aspects including data management, query complexity and scalability, providing valuable insights into the advantages and disadvantages of each technology in different usage scenarios. The article details the process of configuring and using each ORM, offering practical tips for optimizing performance and improving data management. Special attention is given to migration automation capabilities, performance tuning, and integration with other technologies. Through a discussion of testing ORMs using standard benchmarks and customizable test databases, the article offers guidance on testing methods to help developers evaluate the right ORM technology for their projects. The final section emphasizes the importance of proper selection and a thorough understanding of ORM to improve the development process and application performance.

In many universities, a student has to take several mandatory courses and some elective courses which the student can individually choose. Many a time, elective course contents are not clear and prerequisites are not seriously considered. In this paper, we show that it is possible to get insight into the student’s performance in the electives offered, by the knowledge of student’s past performance in related courses. Data of similar students, who have recently graduated, is used to build a decision support system (DSS) using decision tree and fuzzy logic. Rules are extracted that establish the relationship between prerequisites and elective courses and their performance. Current course performance is entered into this elective course DSS (E-DSS), which can predict suitable electives and how the student might perform in those electives. Satisfactory results are obtained from the tests, and it is found that the students who performed successfully well at the required prerequisite courses have also performed well in the related elective courses.

With the development and popularization of Internet, distance education has already entered the stage based on Web. Due to the shortcomings of traditional methods in developing Web application, the MVC (model-view-controller) pattern is introduced. The separation of logic programming from interface design is effectively archived by the three kinds of technology correlated with Java: JSP, Servlet and JavaBeans. This paper analyses MVC pattern. On the purpose of the unanimous solution of distance education and commercialization, an improved MVC pattern based on the conventional one is introduced. The practice of developing the distance education system proved the improved pattern is feasible.

Architectural design patterns are essential in software development because they offer proven solutions to large-scale structural problems in software systems and enable developers to create software that is more maintainable, scalable, and comprehensible. Model-View-Whatever (MVW) design patterns are prevalent in many areas of software development, but their use in Web development is on the rise. There are numerous subtypes of MVW design patterns applicable to Web systems, but there is no exhaustive listing of them. Additionally, it is unclear how these subtypes can be utilized in contemporary Web development, as their usage is typically unconscious. Here, we discuss and define the most prevalent MVW design patterns used in Web development, as well as provide Angular framework examples and guidance on when to employ a particular design pattern. On the premise of the primary characteristics of design patterns, we created a rule system that large language models (LLMs) can comprehend without doubt. Here, we demonstrate how effectively Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) models can identify various design patterns based on our principles and verify the quality of our recommendations. Together, our solution and GPT models constitute an effective natural language processing (NLP) solution capable of detecting MVW design patterns in Angular projects with an average accuracy of 90%.

A curriculum is a set of related courses that constitutes the basis of a degree program. The required courses of a curriculum generally build student knowledge and skills particular to the field. In most cases, these are cumulative, meaning that as students go through their studies, they put their new knowledge on top of earlier ones, hence leading to the notion of prerequisite courses that must precede a given course. As accreditation practices gain widespread acceptance, and as uniformity among peer institutions is promoted to facilitate mobility, each course is assigned a set of learning outcomes. The learning outcomes of a prerequisite course are seen to encapsulate the skills necessary to take the downstream course. This study follows our efforts regarding the substantial revision of engineering courses throughout our college. As the task is quite involved, we developed a flexible linear programming-based tool to help the decision-making process by quickly evaluating alternative curricula. This study aims to provide an effective decision-making tool to accommodate many “what if” scenarios which would provide options to the decision-makers and help them detecting inconsistencies and oversights. This paper describes our approach and our experiences.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) such as the World Wide Web (WWW) has increasingly become embedded in everyday life and is progressively becoming indispensable for public, business, personal efficiency or even improvement of livelihoods [1]. Web users including People with Disabilities (PWDs) can conveniently undertake a number of tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. But many Web applications such as e-learning, e-commerce and e-government are not accessible to PWDs including the blind. Through Web accessibility guidelines, Web developers can develop Web applications that are accessible to PWDs. However, majority of the available accessibility guidelines are difficult to integrate into existing developer workflows and rarely offer specific suggestions that are developer oriented. In this paper, we propose a Web Design Framework for Improved Accessibility for People with Disabilities (WDFAD). The WDFAD provides precise guidelines on how to develop Web applications that are accessible to PWDs particularly the blind. These are packaged according to the three components of Web applications namely; content, navigation and user interface. Using constructs of the Non Functional Requirements (NFR) Framework, Web accessibility design objectives are represented as primary goals and sub goals. The primary goals represent the high level accessibility design objectives, while the sub goals represent the requirements that need to be met in the Web development process in order to meet each primary goal. WDFAD also illustrates the overlaps between the process of meeting each primary goal. This unveils the optimal ways of achieving Web accessibility during Web design. The precise nature of WDFAD and its packaging according to the main components of Web applications makes Web accessibility requirements potentially easier to understand and apply by Web developers. Web Developers prefer precise and familiar tools due to their busy work life and daily interface and expression in formal instructions. In addition, the global versus local classification of Web accessibility requirements in WDFAD modularizes the web accessibility guidelines hence making them easier to understand, apply and update.

Lucent Softswitch (LSS) provides an LSS application programming interface (API) based on Java <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">∗</sup> Telephony API (JTAPI) to allow third parties to develop customized services. One of the biggest challenges with developing Java programs is performance, and this paper focuses on software design strategies to improve it. This paper discusses generic solutions that can be applied by other development communities. The design features a layered architecture that insulates the customer from the low-level switch APIs. Design strategies covered include overload control, threading strategies that enable high call loads in an event driven model, managing garbage collection, event dispatching, and the use of design and architectural patterns. © 2003 Lucent Technologies Inc.

Professional education aims to provide students with requisite knowledge and skills to face today's competitive environment. To achieve this currently practices like systematically assessing student learning and measuring learning outcomes are presently in place. The primary goal achieved by this process is the continued improvement of academic quality for the institution. This paper investigates the application of correlation analysis for finding relationships between skills acquired is one test with the other components like assignments, individual marks with the final result and the correlation of performances of students' across courses. The results obtained for the first study indicates that there exists moderately strong relationship. The second study shows that correlation coefficients of related courses are better while that of some unrelated courses have moderate value. This means that in case of related courses the skills acquired in a prerequisite course can help them to do better in the current course. This exploratory analysis when properly interpreted can help plan and retrospect and re-adjust the mode of assessment or course delivery to enhance student learning.