WPAS Workflow

One of the questions we frequently get is if there is a workflow for WPAS. Yes, there is. Following a workflow helps you better manage your app’s requirements. It also helps you analyze the problem domain and come up with a better, structured solution.

  1. Write down what you need:

    You can use top-down, bottom-up, hybrid approach when defining your requirements. The top-down approach means you write a paragraph or two describing what you need. After you are satisfied with what you wrote, underline all nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives. Convert all nouns to entities or taxonomies, verbs to relationships, adjectives to entity attributes, and finally adverbs to relationship attributes.

    The bottom-up approach is used used mostly if you have an existing app and you want to convert it WPAS. Using this approach, take a look at every app screen and write down the fields needed. Then convert every major screen to an entity or taxonomy and the fields on the screen to entity attributes. If there is links to other other screens then you might think of creating some relationships as well.

    Hybrid approach is used when you wanted to bottom-up and top-down approaches. An existing system conversion with some new additions could be a good candidate for this method.

  2. Model what you wrote

    Drawing a model of your requirements is a good way of visualizing what you need. It also greatly helps you communicate others what will be implemented. There are many goog CASE tools in the market. Just pick one of them and start creating a version model. Don’t forget to update your model when your requirements change overtime.

  3. Implement the model in WPAS

    Entering the model in Wp App Studio is very easy if you have identified, your entities, entity attributes and their types as well as taxonomies and relationships if they exist. Enhance you app by adding dashboard and sidebar widgets.

    In addition, there might be a requirement for a certain look and feel of your app. Make sure you put them in the app settings screen.

  4. Generate code

    Generating app code finalizes all the modifications made to your plugin. Once you click on Generate link, your app design get sent to the WPAS server for further processing. If there is no errors or warnings, the plugin’s zip file download link will appear. If something went wrong, you will be asked to submit a ticket to get the error fixed. The whole process usually takes about 30 – 45 seconds depending on the server load once your plugin start getting generated.

  5. Install, Activate and Test your plugin

    if necessary go back to the step 2 and do it again.