Top 8 Benefits of Using ColdFusion 10

As a widely used rapid web application development platform, ColdFusion needs no introduction. Since its invention in 1995, the software is being updated on a regular basis with advanced features to help developers in building rich internet applications. Adobe released ColdFusion 10 on 15th May 2012 with a set of features and functionality that would surely make internet application developers more productive.

Further, a user can avail these innovative features by choosing the Standard, Developer and Enterprise edition of ColdFusion 10. Along with improved web service support, security enhancement, language enhancements, the updated version of ColdFusion also comes with HTML5 video player, Adobe Flash Player, Improved scheduler, Search integration with Apache Solr, Flex and Adobe AIR lazy loading, and XPath integration.

Top 8 Benefits of Using ColdFusion 10

• HTML5 WebSockets: By supporting WebSocket protocol on the server, ColdFusion 10 has made it easier for you to easily push data from the server to the client. You can use the feature to develop a variety of real-time web application that will boost user experience by using dynamic data. Also, you can use the messaging infrastructure designed based on the raw WebSockets to publish or subscribe to multiple channels without putting any extra effort.

• HTML5 Charting: If you are looking for a web application development platform that supports a number of interactive client-side charts, then the upgraded ColdFusion is the best option. With support for client-side charts based on Flash, Canvas or SVG, you can enhance the performance of your web application by incorporating interactive charts. Further, you can use the ColdFusion CFCHART tag to easily create and integrate these interactive charts. These charts can further be customized using JSON objects.

• Built-In HTML5 Video Player: Often web application developers have to write lengthy codes to integrate video players. But ColdFusion 10 comes with a built-in HTML5 video player that can be seamlessly integrated with your application using the CFMEDIAPLAYER tag. At the same time, Adobe has further revamped the Flash video player. Now you can use the same JavaScript APIs to run both video players. ColdFusion web development feature also makes it easier for programmers to build web applications by targeting different devices and web browsers.

• Revamped Web Services: Most web applications use RESTful web services over HTTP or HTTPs. ColdFusion 10 has made it easier for programmers to convert their ColdFusion components into RESTful web services simply by adding a few attributes to these components. Further, you have options to associate HTTP method to each function in your ColdFusion components, and invoke the specific functions over HTTP. At the same time, ColdFusion 10 uses a revamped AXIS 2 engine to support the web services, which enables developers to easily access and publish web services.

• Enhanced Cache Settings: The way a web application caches the frequently accesses user data will affect its performance. With the enhanced cache setting option provided by ColdFusion 10, you can easily crate specific data regions that can be used as buckets to hold the cached user data. Also, Adobe has modified the in-built caching function to avail the advantages of cache region. The feature also enables developers to run the cache server as an independent process that can run outside the ColdFusion JVM.

• Improved Search Options: Adobe has designed ColdFusion 10 with Apache Solr instead of Verity. The advanced feature allows developers to index databases in an easier and efficient way. Also, you can avail the advantages of Data Import Handler support extended by the updated version. Your search queries become more flexible with the additional support extended for passing dynamic custom fields.

• Easy to Share Data Connections: The upgraded ColdFusion also supports a variety of JDBC data types including SQLXML, NVARCHAR, NCHAR, NCLOB and LONGNVARCHAR. The feature makes it easier for developers to share database connections among clients in a more efficient way. With ColdFusion 10, you now have option to store information about each database connection. Once a specific database connection returns to the pool, it will be reset. You can also use tags like cfinsert, cfquery , cfupdate and cfstoredproc to store the database-specific client information.

• Comprehensive Security Features: ColdFusion 10 also comes with a set of upgraded features that enhances the security of your web application. It provides you with a number of built-in functions that can be used to prevent CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) and XSS (Cross-site Scripting) attacks. Also, the session cookies can be applied only to a particular domain by being set as HTTPOnly. The feature can also be used to rotate or invalidate a session.

We provide ColdFusion application development services. If you would like to know more about our expert ColdFusion developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Content Management with ColdFusion is Fascinating

Each organization wants to use the most efficient content management system (CMS) to suit its business model and work process. Some companies even hire developers to build customized content management systems to suit their specific requirements. If you are planning to migrate to an advanced content management system, it is a great idea to consider the ColdFusion-based CMSs.

Along with being a rapid web application development language, ColdFusion further comes with a set of customized tools that make it easier for your organization to create, upload, edit and share a wide variety of data. In comparison to conventional server-side scripts, ColdFusion is much more effective in supporting all key phases of content management. You can use a set of customized tools to easily create and edit content along with integrating the external content.

Also, the features enable you to easily retrieve, update and share the stored content based on a number of custom criterions. At the same time, the system will also make it easier for you to publish and deliver the content to authorized users in a fast and hassle-free way. There are also a number of features that make content management with ColdFusion web development more efficient and fascinating.

Features that Make Content Management with ColdFusion is Fascinating

• Smart Content Creation Options: ColdFusion offers a set of built-in tags that support HTTP. Some of the tags like CFHTTP, CFContent and CFHeader make it easier for developers to create content. You can use the CFHTTP tag to retrieve and use data from an external website or page. ColdFusion further stores the files from the server after receiving information from the URL. You can use the feature to import XML, Microsoft Office and other types of data from various external sources using COM objects.
• Easy to Create RSS Feed for Your Website: A developer can further use the CFHTTP tag to retrieve Atom, RSS and other incoming syndication feeds. At the same time, the ColdFusion XMLParse function makes it easier for you to parse the document, while validating it for invalid XML. You can also create an XML document using the CFXML tag, which can be later written to a file after being converted into a string. The feature makes it easier for developers to create RSS feed for their websites. ColdFusion also enables developers to integrate external data developed using other programming languages through web service.
• Feature-Rich Online Text Editors: A user also has options to use the feature reach text editors to manage several types of content. You can easily integrate a number of open source web-based text editors to create and add fresh content without putting any extra time and money. Along with creating the content, you can also use these editors to format and edit the files. At the same time, you also have options to upload, rename, edit or delete the files and directories using a CFML-based media asset repository tool.
• Content Publication and Distribution: Along with creating a variety of content, the ColdFusion CMSs further allows you to distribute the content to a sever using different protocols. You can use the CFFTP or the CFSFTP CFC to transfer the files to a server through secure protocols like ftp or sftp. Also, you have options to publish a variety of ColdFusion components on the web by converting these into a web service. Unlike conventional content management systems, ColdFusion allows developers to publish web services simply by adding a single attribute to the methods of his component. As ColdFusion comes with the Verity search engine, it makes it easier and convenient for users to index and search documents and files.
• Seamless Interaction with Various Database Systems: The performance of a CMS depends on the way it interacts with a variety of database management systems. ColdFusion is effective in interacting with several database systems through JDBC. You can also use Reactor, an object-relational modeling tool, to generate database abstraction based on your needs. The tool enables users to create an object-oriented database abstraction layer, with options to regenerate the objects whenever any changes occur to the configuration file or database.

We provide ColdFusion application development services. If you would like to know more about our expert ColdFusion developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

ColdFusion 8 Makes Developers' Lives Easier

The frequent changes in user preferences have made it essential for developers to complete web applications within a very short span of time. So many developers frequently explore fast and efficient ways to make robust web application without writing lengthy codes. As a rapid web application development platform, ColdFusion is widely used by developers. ColdFusion was initially designed as a tool to make it easier for developers connect simple HTML pages to a database.

But Adobe launched ColdFusion 8 with a set of advanced version meet the ongoing trends in the age of web 2.0. The upgraded version of ColdFusion also provides a set of tools to developers to easily build powerful web applications. Along with Microsoft .NET integration and built-in Ajax widgets, ColdFusion 8 also came with specialized image manipulation functions. At the same time, the software is also available for several operating systems including Windows Server, Linux and Mac OS X.

At the same time, a developer also gets the option to avail a number of advantages including enhanced reporting, improved database interaction, stronger encryption libraries, PDF manipulation and merging capabilities (CFPDF), and array and structure improvements. You can further develop ColdFusion applications using a set of customized tools like CFEclipse, Macromedia HomeSite 5.x and Adobe Dreamweaver CS4. On the whole, ColdFusion 8 has completely changed the traditional way of coldfusion web development.

How ColdFusion 8 has Made Developers’ Lives Easier

Building AJAX-based Web Applications

ColdFusion 8 comes with as set of new features and tags that enables you to build AJAX-based powerful web application without putting any extra time and effort. If you are familiar with the function and tag syntax, then you will enjoy building AJAX-based web application using ColdFusion 8. For instance, you can create an Ajax grid simply by using cfgrid tag. The tag even allows you to bind a grid to the dataset returned by a CFC method by referring to the cffunction. Similar features can also be used to integrate rich user interface elements to your web application.

Using Additional Tags and Functions

ColdFusion 8 also comes with additional tags and functions that make it easier for you to move data back and forth within JavaScript. For example, you can create functions using cfajaxproxy tag that will reside within a CFC, but the functions can be called from a page using JavaScript. Also, the feature can be used to convert ColdFusion data types automatically into a data type that can be used seamlessly within an array, JSON packets or any other JavaScript block. You can even place built-in functions while creating a proxy, and use a callback handler for the asynchronous method calls.

Multi-Threading

The updated version of ColdFusion is also designed with multi-thread capabilities. A developer can use the feature to improve the performance of a request that includes a long-running process. The long-running process can simply be transferred to a thread, and boost the performance of the user request. Also, you have options to choose and use from a variety of request threads. At the same time, new threads can be created easily using the cfthread tag. As the code contained insider the cfthread tag is executed in a synchronous way, the current user request will be processed as part of an independent block. So the web page will be loaded immediately by eliminating the time required for the completion of a specific process.

Advanced ColdFusion Debugger

ColdFusion 8 is also designed with built in the Eclipse IDE that removes the limitation of the conventional ColdFusion Studio. Any developer familiar with Flex Builder or CFEclips can start using the debugger without any extra training. The advanced debugger has made it easier for developers to set breakpoints, along with running debug requests on the local as well as remote ColdFusion instance. After setting the breakpoints, you can easily check the value of each variable contained in the request. The feature further enables you to easily identify and fix the inconsistencies in value setting. Once you start using the debugger, it will be more convenient for to make your web applications bug-free.

In addition to these features, ColdFusion 8 further makes the developers’ lives easier by offering a set of additional features like Exchange Server integration sophisticated PDF integration, Microsoft .Net integration and RSS/Atom integration. Also, you have option to manipulate images and zip files to enhance the efficiency and performance of a variety of web applications.

We provide coldfusion application development services. If you would like to know more about our expert coldfusion developers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions. 

ColdFusion Web Development

To start a business online we need to design our website in a way so that it looks good, works well and conveys messages of the products well. Web Designing is a process of conceptualizing, planning and building a collection of electronic files that determine the colors, layout, text styles, structure, graphics, images and use of interactive features that deliver web pages to site visitors. And they can hold On for your website longer and return to your site time and again.

3 important things we need for an efficient and interactive website:

• It should have a high runtime performance.
• It should be secure and reliable
• It should be simple and users can understand its presence.

Today ColdFusion is a rapid application development platform made in Java J2EE and responsible for web designing providing robust environment and feature rich tools which can build excellent websites. With this technology programmers can build compelling and complex websites faster compared to other platform. As technologies used for creating websites include standardized mark-up, which could be hand-coded or generated by WYSIWYG editing software. For a good website usability should be high. It is mainly related to layout, clear instructions and labeling on a website where users can understand the message of the site. Any interactive design of the site perceives the usefulness of that website, they are more likely to continue using it This drives the trend for a more universal user experience and ease of access to accommodate as many users as possible.

ColdFusion has become the favored alternative of the world wide web programming veterans owing to the fact that it is compliant with several submission servers. ColdFusion boasts support for NSAPI, IIS as well as Apache world wide world wide web servers. It sprints easily in Windows and Solaris environment. To pack it all, ColdFusion application development supports other programming dialects including server-side Actionscript. It was initially developed by Macromedia and now trades under the brand of Adobe Inc, which is among the popular website development stages liked by the developers worldwide. The ever-growing community of website development veterans has helped it emerge as a commerce foremost in rapid-paced development sector.

Factors responsible for a good online business

• A good online website must have neat logos, layouts and buttons for the site.
• Internet marketing specialists to help maintain a web presence through strategic solutions on targeting viewers to the site, by using marketing and promotional techniques on the internet.
• SEO writers to research and recommend the correct words to be incorporated into a particular website and make the website more accessible and found on numerous search engines.
• Internet copywriter to create the written content of the page to appeal to the targeted viewers of the site.
• User experience designer incorporates aspects of user focused design considerations which include information architecture, user centered design, user testing, interaction design and occasionally visual design.

How Can Professional Web Design Help Your Online Business?

• Satisfy customers: Any professional web design should meet the requirements of customers – telling them quickly what they want to know without unnecessary and confusing design items. Making sure the navigation Web site design is consistent and easy to understand and will help you build a positive relationship with your visitors.

• Attract search engines: No matter how appealing your website design looks, it won't show up on the search engine results pages if it's not coded in a way that the search engines can read.

• Avoid technical glitches: We need to avoid confusion, wrong content, spelling errors, lengthy loading times, broken links and images are just a few of the web design issues that has to be remedied by a web design service.
• A good website must reach out to customers and search engines quickly. It gives a great impact on online sales.

ColdFusion is most often used for data-driven websites, but can also be used to generate remote services such as Flash remoting. It is especially well-suited as the server-side technology to the client-side. It can handle asynchronous events such as SMS and instant messaging via its gateway interface, available in ColdFusion MX 7 Enterprise Edition. Generate and Capture PDF Form documents, create printable documents with full page formatting control, integrate rich text-editors, deploy AJAX mechanisms, integrate .NET objects within ColdFusion Applications, display editable data grids, can easily create server data like calendars, tasks and contacts. Create On-Demand Presentations with Dynamic Data.

Crucial factors for selecting ColdFusion for any business:

• With ColdFusion programmers can build highly effective web based applications which does not require a lot of coding such as PHP, JSP and ASP based applications. The alleviate of use, high runtime presentation and its dependability are amidst the main causes why this ColdFusion is such a well liked alternative the developers.

• ColdFusion has the ability to integrate web pages and databases with the wide range of tools. This incredible array of tools can connect live data, integrate PDF files, create on-the-fly presentations, integrate with mail programs and work seamlessly with other popular web technologies, including AJAX, Flash and Flex.

• With ColdFusion more dynamic and interactive web applications can be built for enterprises using the Java Enterprise Edition (EE) platform.

• It offers built-in support for HTML5 and helps boost performance using Tomcat integration and enhanced caching.

• With the new hotfix installer and scheduler, it allows enterprise developers to improve productivity, while strengthening authentication and encryption techniques to make websites more secure.

• ColdFusion is a relevant platform for every web developer for its smart built-in solutions and the core benefit of productivity.

• It can be counted as the most flexible platforms which runs on multiple server environments.

• ColdFusion web hosting meets the best security standards. It has a tight control over who has access to the database and that you can allocate permissions at a base level.

• It is easier to use because of its tools , that you need to properly manage your website. This should include access to a range of different database types, MySQL is the most common, as well as the right tools to administer those databases.

For a successful online business to run we need to make sure of high security and the back-end functionalities taken care of, This makes certain that you have the proficiency to use characteristics such as videos and functionalities to your webpages without having to add anything more to the package. ColdFusion web hosting should be bought so that you have added room to add more databases and bandwidth to accommodate growing visitors. For the development companies with ample monetary resources, ColdFusion can be the app of choice. It is perfect for hassle free and fast-paced world wide web site development with allotments of flexibility. It does arrive at a cost but the programmers can download an exceptional ‘developer version’ accessible for free and explore its potentials to create sophisticated and interactive websites which will add value to your business.

We provide coldfusion web development services. If you would like to know what makes us expert coldfusion developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.