On Tue, May 23, 2006 at 11:49:04AM -0400, David A. Desrosiers wrote: > > > > > Does anyone here know of anything like jpilot that can be run as a > > > web application? I very rarely use jpilot locally, the only time I > > > use it is remotely running X across the 'net which is slow and > > > insecure. So I'm after a Web based PIM that I can synchronize with > > > my Palm. > > > > You should be running X over an ssh tunnel, securing it. > > > > More information here: > > > > http://www.vanemery.com/Linux/XoverSSH/X-over-SSH2.html > > > I already do that to run jpilot on my work machine but it's > unacceptably slow for regular use, I just do it when I *have* to get > some information. > > A proper Web based PIM would be easier to use from other places and a > lot faster I suspect. Web-jpilot is something I've dreamed about finding for a couple of years now. The advantage of such an application would be far greater than mere remote access. The ability to _collaborate_ and share data between people and their PDAs would make this thing a killer app. Existing groupware suites --- like phpGroupware and friends, for example --- don't really cut it with regards to palm integration. The problem is, there is a separate sync required (using some external application) in order to bring calendar data from a palm device into the program. Sync for contacts and memos, conduit management, backups, palm app installation etc. are outside the horizon of these applications, so those still go through j-pilot. As a consequence, there are two syncs necessary, with the attendant possibility of data inconsistency. If I may indulge in a moment of "air programming", the real solution would be something along the lines of "phpJpilot", in which the back-end logic from j-pilot and pilot-link is preserved, but the gui elements of jpilot are translated to php, and adapted for web-browser display. PhpJpilot would run on some master box with a web server, and PDA sync would be handled either locally on that machine or remotely using the pilot-link net sync plumbing. Since phpJpilot is the hub in charge of all palm sync, consistency problems are resolved. All PIM data is then remotely accessible, and shareable, and even remotely editable. As an additional benefit, printing and PostScript generation would now be handed off to the web browser, instead of burdening the code. I have no illusions that this would be a quick or easy project. A lot of basic assumptions that are appropriate for standalone workstation-based sync would have to be tossed out. At a minimum, new architectural elements relating to authentication, permissions, and record access would have to be banged out. Interaction between PIM data of two different users on the same server would also need to be thought out (can I import a memo or an appointment from a friends' desktop to mine? Sort of like desktop-side record beaming...) There a surely other buried landmines to be discovered. Nonetheless, the benefits would take this already outstanding application to a whole new level, in my opinion. I feel a little embarrassed to be tossing this out, since I'm not really in a position to contribute code to such a project. I'd contribute to a bounty, though. Cheers, Carlo -- Carlo Graziani (773) 702-7973 (Voice) Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (773) 702-6645 (FAX) University of Chicago carlo at oddjob.uchicago.edu 5640 South Ellis Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 Vive Les Pommes Frites De La Liberte'!
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