Abstract: Efficient development of conventional web applications suggests extensive and thorough knowledge of web page delivery technologies such as HTML, Java, and JSPs. A rendering framework to define the static, cosmetic, “window dressing” type of content, replicated across multiple pages, in a single JSP template file which can then incorporate or include the dynamic, active content from other files, mitigates development inefficiencies. Such a rendering framework represents each screen output page by a file including the active content, while avoiding replication of the static content. Such inclusions may be nested in a hierarchical manner to enumerate the static content in one file and allow a web application to include active content according to a hierarchical inheritance. Metadata components, such as XML files, include the active content according to a predetermined declarative syntax, thereby facilitating implementation, which the framework then interprets into a resulting output page such as a JSP page.

Abstract: A registration service enables one or more plug-in applications to register with a web-based application. The web-based application may be, for example, a management console for managing items in a distributed environment. The registration service enables plug-in applications to register dynamically or statically. Dynamic registration enables the web-based console to continue executing while registration is performed. In contrast, static registration occurs during initialization of the web-based console. Each plug-in application provides a registration descriptor containing information regarding the plug-in application. The registration descriptor is processed by the registration service to facilitate registration of the plug-in application.

Abstract: A scripting service receives requests from a browser client that includes an executing web browser. The request is then translated into a command line interface (CLI) command. The CLI command may be displayed for a user to understand how browser requests are translated into corresponding CLI commands. In addition, a translated command may be stored in a script of other translated commands. The script may be stored persistently for subsequent use. The script may also be passed to a CLI client for execution. The scripting service is especially well adapted for use with web based application such as a management application that manages items in a distributed environment.