OpenFreeway 2.0 Functionality

Introduction

This BluePrint follows on from "OpenFreeway Version 2.0 is coming" and describes in draft form some of the functionality to be included in Open Freeway 2.0 It is not an exhaustive list and will be updated as a Blueprint as we add more detail.

OpenFreeway 1.x functionality conversion
• Create an inventory of all OpenFreeway 1.x functionality and decide which features and interface processes will be included or dumped.
• Restructure database to support our new goals in consultation with a bunch of MySQL gurus.
AJAX Library
• Review YUI further to see if it is the appropriate choice or if we choose the Zend Framework, if theirs is appropriate.

Essential Modules
Here are some examples of essential modules to be included in the OpenFreeway base layer.

Template
Build a new template management system with these features:
• XHTML full compliance
• Multiple templates
• Separate template themes per category
• Split pages into granular elements to support movement of elements like iGoogle.
• Convert all on page elements to merge fields to assist with greater mobility
• Option to create a simplified mobile device template.
• By default, add a simplified template of OpenFreeway for mobile devices as a example.

CMS
• Simple modern content management system to add HTML pages throughout OpenFreeway with menu links.

Discount Module
• Integrate discounts, coupons, specials, price breaks and options for other discount types.

Total Module
• The OpenFreeway total module is relatively advanced. It is not forseen that a lot more functionality will be added to it.

Sales Method
• Instead of monolithic sales methods like the current Products, we’ll have the base of a sales method which includes name, description, and price etc. , but pieces like the images, attributes, discounting etc. will all be fully modular and easily combined to complete new sales methods.

Payment Gateway “Easy Builder”
• Create an interface for defining and deploying simple payment gateways including options like addition of CVV, redirection and return codes.
• Add granular controls over access to elements on pages.

Reports Module
• Investigate GPL compatible Business Information tools to find sections of one which we can integrate to provide advanced options for report configuration. Also review eToys

2D Barcode
• Add a 2D barcode creator to define a barcode at sales item or category level. Link directly to page in the mobile device template.

Additional Modules
This is just a start on some of the new modules to be added on top of the base layer.

Advertising
• Include support to display advertising throughout areas of OpenFreeway.

3rd party integrations
We are extending ecommerce in ways no other Open Source or commercial eCommerce application has ventured towards. We are building sales methods only currently supported in highly configured ERP systems. As a project, we need to grow in maturity to start to develop standards fro some forms of ecommerce transactions. For example, we’ve experimented in two way iCal updates for event and services bookings. It makes sense this becomes standardised.

Mature Web Services
• Adopt WSO2 as the preferred web services management server.

XML Feed generation
• Configuration tool to create feeds, e.g. product categories or individual products in the manner of Amazon.

RSS Feed generation
• We need to consider what level of configuration we give to admins to build their feeds.

Miscellaneous

Logging
Add logging functionality to all layers of OpenFreeway
• Required for PA-DSS with financial transaction attempts but beneficial for other aspects of the application.

Error reporting
Add friendly error reporting which sells, not just errors.