This is README file for RayApp, a framework for data-centric Web applications The RayApp provides a framework for data-centric Web applications. Instead of writing Perl code that prints HTML, or embedding the code inside of HTML markup, the applications only process and return Perl data. No markup handling is done in the code of individual application, inside of the business logic. The data output is then serialized to XML, and postprocessed by XSLT to desired output format, which may be HTML, XHTML, WML or anything else. In order to provide all parties involved (application programmers, Web designers, ...) with a common specification of the data format, data structure description (DSD) file is a mandatory part of the applications. The data returned by the Perl code is fitted into the data structure, creating XML file with agreed-on elements. This way, application programmer knows what data is expected from their application, and Web designer knows what XMLs the prostprocessing stage will be dealing with. In addition, application code can be tested separately from the presentation part, and tests for both application and presentation part can be written independently, in parallel. Of course, the data structure description can change if necessary, it is not written in stone. Both application programmer and Web designer can use the old DSD file and regression tests to easily migrate to the new structure. This change in DSD leads to change in the DOCTYPE of the resulting XML and is thus easily detected by the external parties. The system will never produce unexpected data output, since the data output is based on DSD which is known in advance. Installation: Download the RayApp-x.xxx.tar.gz file, extract it (tar xvzf), change to the RayApp-x.xxx directory, and do perl Makefile.PL && make && make test && make install Documentation: After installation, man RayApp or perldoc RayApp should give you the documentation for this software. Author: Copyright (c) Jan Pazdziora 2001--2003