SilverLining is a VMware Fling that implements a simplified user experience to the cloud. The simplified workflows and interactions allow end users easily find virtualized applications and add them into their personal workspace. The Fling includes both a JavaScript SDK (vcloud-js-sdk) and a reference implementation (silverlining) to exercise the SDK. The implementation is created in HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript and can be used as an example of how to create a custom UI that talks to VMware vCloud Director (vCD).The JavaScript SDK communicates with vCD 5.1 through the vCD API. A limited number of API calls are supported in this release. For a reference to the complete vCD API see http://www.vmware.com/go/vcloudapi for more information.
Once authenticated, the SDK will automatically fetch information about the vApps, Templates and VMs available to the user and store this information in an internal model. The SDK provides methods to work with the data in this model.
Using this model, the SDK can update the data independently of any UI display logic that needs to retrieve data from it. This is especially useful if there is any network lag or temporary disconnect since this data model acts as a cache. Any operations in the UI logic are not interrupted, unless there is a specific reason to communicate with the Cloud Director server, such as a power operation on a vApp.
This Fling includes the following features:
- A flexible vCloud Director 5.1 SDK for JavaScript implemented using vCloud API
- A reference implementation with a responsive UI done in HTML5, CSS and JavaScript
- Use of metadata feature to enhance the UI with custom attributes on templates and vApps
- Supports local storage in HTML5 to support offline mode
- Notifications system to support long running operations
- Separation of form and content of the backend processes from UI updates
- Easy install script
Project SilverLining: A vCloud Director 5.1 SDK for Javascript
