Roadmap 2007

ZK has become the #1 Ajax project in SourceForge.net, accumulated 250,000 downloads and 500,000 unique visitors, and been referred by over 2,500 websites since the first release in November 2004.

The major rhythms of 2007 for ZK include ease of use, cross platforms, cross scripting languages, mega components, and community collaboration.

Ease of Use

Simplicity is one of the core values of ZK. In 2007, we will keep pushing ZK to the optimal goal: Zero Code.

• Data Binding. ZK 2.2 has a good start to support data binding with ZUML annotations. In 2007, more live model will be supported, including comboboxes, grids and trees.
• Visual Design Tools. We are working with our partner to deliver an intuitive visual design tool that works with Eclipse IDE.
• More Publishing. In addition to Small Talks, we are writing books with publishers to explore each bit of ZK.

Cross Platforms

ZK is booming with Ajax, but the Ajax-enabled browser is not the limit of ZK.

• In 2007, your marvelous ZK applications will reach billions of mobile phones. ZK Mobile, a Java ME client, will be released in the first half of 2007.
• To work with existent applications more efficiently, ZK components will be ready in the form of JSP tags. We also consider the possibility to provide them in JSF.
• Browsers without JavaScript at all is another platform, also a challenge. We'd like to see if we can make them talk in ZK.

Cross Scripting Languages

Year 2007 could be the year of scripting languages. ZK, with the help of BeanShell, illustrated Java can be a good scripting language. In 2007, we would like to explode your productivity futher by allowing you to select different scripting languages, such as Ruby and Groovy.

Mega Components

ZK is one of the frameworks with the most numerous and most diversified components. It is never enough. In addition to keep improving components, we will start to develop large-scale components, such as spreadsheets and forums. Completeness of the large-scale components is not the first target. Rather, I see them as initials to inspire ideas and collaboration from the community.

Community Collaboration

An open-source community is all about collaboration. ZK started with a superior architecture that is easy to extend, and a friendly community who loves to share.

In 2007 we would like to ignite more development of diversified plugins, versatile components, cool themes, design patterns, and sample applications.

At the core, we will keep enhancing the extensibility with more flexible plugins, such clustering and scripting languages, and the long-awaiting Component Development Guide. With open sources, people tend to modify the source codes directly, but please talk to us first. Maybe we can find a better plugin that serves more diversified needs, and keep your work compatible with the standard distributions.

Disclaimer: This roadmap is for information only and represents current view of ZK product direction. None of the information should be interpreted as a commitment on the part of Potix Corporation. POTIX MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT.