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Over the last several months the development team at OnForce has been working a cutting edge web server, called WaterSpout, that will change the way OnForce is able to deliver information to our users. WaterSpout takes advantage of emerging standards in web communication to eliminate the delay between an event occurring on our system and the affected users being notified.

Traditional notification techniques require the browser to send background requests to the server at timed intervals to ask for updates. This approach comes with considerable overhead and has a delay which is dependant on the timed interval. Decreasing the interval increases the overhead; increasing the interval delays the information even more. A delicate balance is needed between scalability and timeliness.

WaterSpout utilizes the new HTML 5 websockets standard to provide a constant connection between the browser and the server. This allows for constant contact with the end user and a minimal amount of overhead. The reduced overhead as well as the specialized nature of the code running on the WaterSpout server make for extremely efficient communications between the user and the server.

Using WaterSpout, we can notify our users of events as they happen. Instead of waiting for the user to click into a work order, we can pop up a notification of the event the instant it happens. Service pros on the system will not have to wait for an email or a text message to know that they have been routed a new work order or that the buyer has approved a spend limit increase request. WaterSpout can notify pros of the new work order before the email even goes out. The support team can be notified about a cancelled work order as it happens allowing us to be the ultimate partner in service.

Chris Lewis and I  have been asked to present on the topic of real-time communications via the web at this years International PHP Conference in Berlin, Germany. We have also been selected to speak at this years LinuxTag conference. As part of the presentations they will be discussing WaterSpout.

The project is open source. Comments and contributions are always welcomed.

I recently wrote a desktop application in PHP-GTK 2 that implements the OnForce web services API.

After a few hours of coding, I was able to create a desktop application that lets me put together a batch of work orders while I am offline and send them when I get connected again. Also, when I am online, I can pull down work order data, close work orders, increase the spend limit and get and add notes. And what’s best is that it is all organized in a way that make it easier for me to focus on one task or piece of data at a time.

I like the idea of taking something that is normally web based and putting it on the user’s desktop. This way things can be made a little more intuitive and comfortable for the user because the application
isn’t constrained by the web browser any more. Not having to connect to a server to change the current interface or display different data allows the application to organize things differently and break data down into more managable chunks.

If you’d like to see what the application looks like (or want to give it a try) you can find it here. I’d be interested to see what other tools you guys can create using the OnForce API. Who knows, maybe your new Ajax enabled way to organize work order data or your Java application to streamline the
importing or work orders may just spark some imagination here at OnForce and inspire the next version of our system. Check out the OnForce Developer’s area for more information on working with the OnForce API.

* Please note, this is not an OnForce application. It is an application
that I wrote and provide support for that uses the OnForce public API.
If you have questions about it, please don’t call OnForce, send me an email.

** Also note, this post is an excerpt from a blog post on the OnForce blog. Sorry if it seems out of place here.

OnForce.com (the company that I work for) is looking for PHP developers in the New York area. Here is a blurb from the careers section:

The Technology Department’s core function is to develop, maintain and enhance the OnForce platform. Additionally, this team of talented individuals is responsible for developing, deploying and supporting internal systems to increase the efficiency of the organization through the application of technology and automation. All Technology Department team members must be professional and dedicated, with a keen interest in new technologies and a desire to learn new skills.

If you are looking for full time employment in Manhattan take a look at the careers section.

A little about OnForce:

OnForce is the industry’s first web-based, on demand marketplace for on-site technology services in the U.S. A second-phase start-up with funding from a top-tier venture capital company, OnForce is accelerating sales, marketing and development efforts to support aggressive growth. We seek entrepreneurial, self motivated candidates that thrive in a dynamic start-up environment. OnForce employees enjoy a competitive compensation package, stock options and health benefits.

If you are interested, please send me your resume (preferably in PDF format) with the subject “OnForce PHP Developer”. Send them to scott @ crisscott . com I’ll make sure it goes where it needs to.