Hello all,

My company has decided that we are going to redo our website with widgets. What they want to basically do is set it up just like iGoogle, where we can make some widgets, and the user can drag them around how they want into predefined "square spaces", (so no widget overlapping, or dragging them around anywhere they want as if they were windows).

My boss tells me to figure out how to design a "widget API" where we can throw some widgets on it and they can interact with each other or a central widget manager.

So here's the thing, sounds complex right? Well I'm thinking it's not actually that hard. Thus far, I've found a drag and drop interface for objects (that I could simply stick a widget inside each one) Check out Demo #5 here

Is it REALLY as easy as this? So I could simply model it after Google's code using Google Web Toolkit?? (I used GWT for AJAX apps before..). Or am I overly simplifying things? I guess what I'm asking, is that if you were going to build something JUST like Google's iGoogle start page, would you simply use the GWT DnD extension to create something like Demo #5, and then from there make your own widgets (using script.aculo.us or GWT, YUI, whatever) and stick them inside the movable objects?ey

Drag-and-drop is simple when you use good libraries.

I like Script.aculo.us + Prototype, myself. ( sometimes jQuery )

http://script.aculo.us/

The complicated part will be building the API for people to interact with it. It sounds like users will only be using this stuff on your site. If that is the case, you don't really need to build an API. You will most likely just be remembering which widgets each user has chosen to hide/display, and where they are located.

Good luck, and have fun!

Your demo is sweet.

It sounds like placement of the widgets is only half the battle, though...?

Yeah sure is half the battle, but actually, since we're just currently working on how to implement this stuff, it's the whole battle, for now..

I had the same thoughts and feelings about the API thing, why would we even need one if we aren't sharing these widgets, right?

I think I'm going to use the dnd functionality, and simply place the widgets themselves inside the boxes & make the boxes auto-expandable, that way when the widget is resized/closed etc. the boxes will accommodate the user's activities.

I am having to create a similar framework, look and feel like igoogle, but with a php backed set of chunks which can be loaded into different sections.

Did you have any success in the end with this? Or anyone have any advice on the best way to tackle the problem?

Was looking for same and found this:
http://blog.xilinus.com/2007/8/26/pr...e-portal-class

Take a look of
www.sigmawidgets.com
It provides many many widgets and you could design it visually at http://www.sigmawidgets.com/products/sigma_visual/
You could use it freely under LGPL license.
Good luck