SonicWebTools On Demand Service. Web 2.0 Compliant. Flexible Components. No Programming - HTML Script Tag. Low Cost To Your Client. Plug into Your Website. Custom Options. Affiliate Program.
Web Tools The SonicSpider Way!
Since the beginning, SonicSpider has created a number of "tools" that it uses to provide more interesting content and business functions and also keep the cost down on custom development. These tools have fallen into the the following categories:
- Widgets - Small buttons or styled hyperlinks that popup a larger application and maintain the current site location.
- Plugins - Larger real estate items that provide dynamic functions or content to a website
- Engines - More sophisticated applications that can have some part fed into a website or can be controlled via an API. These provide extensive back ends for management and configuration along with more complex tasks.
For a more detailed discussion go to this article.
On Demand Service
All of the tools are provided via a SaaS (Software as a Service) format. Therefore they are "on demand" services. There is no installation of the application. Installation generally involves just two steps:
- Create a profile for the desired service.
- Cut and paste the dynamic javascript tag with the profile ID.
Web 2.0 CompliantI
Interestingly, there are a lot of differing opinions on exactly what this means. Humorously, some have suggested that it has to do with the following criteria
- Big fonts
- Oversized input fields
- Silly or misspelled name
- AJAX
- Community content or sharing something
- Bright colors and/or pink
- Rounded corners
- RSS
- Wiki
- Podcast/video/mobile content
The following article spells out how SonicWebTech is using the term:
Flexible Components
Often times flexible can equal complex. It is always a challenge to maintain the ability to meet a changing wide range of needs and still stay "simple to use". For most of the web tools this means one or more of the following:
- The ability to use CSS to change appearances and integrate into a website.
- Profiles that alter what is delivered, thereby keeping the dynamic script call very simple.
- Readable XML protocols for APIs
Low Cost
Because the web tools are built on a SaaS (Software as a Service) framework, they can be delivered at a low cost. Also many of the tools are "pay as you use them" so that the cost is relative to the demand, which can vary from time to time.
The Component Philosophy.
There are a number of architecture constraints used in developing these components:
- It serves a business function.
- It must be embedded into standard HTML pages, which can be hosted at any location.
- It generally requires no more than three lines of code that are simply "cut and paste" from a document or administrative console source (ease of install).
- Where needed, there is a full featured administrative back end.
- If there are dynamic components or programming at your end, you can control and access the "engine" from any location using any other programming language via an API using xml-rpc protocols.
Component Service Matrix
| Service | Feed | Post Page | Admin | Pay Method | xml-rpc |
| eCommerce Engine | X |
X |
X |
Monthly |
X |
| SonicWidgets™ | X |
X |
By Hit |
||
| Hotspot CM™ | X |
X |
Allotment |
||
| Registration Engine | X |
X |
By Hit |
X |
|
| RSS Feed Manager | X |
X |
By Hit |
Feed - Paste a three line script tag. (Uses Dynamic Script Tags with AJAX and open source UI libraries)
Post Page - Allows you to post to the engine via standard form fields. (using published naming conventions for field names).
Admin - Full Administrative back end for management and setup.
Pay Method* - Payment method used.
- Monthly - Monthly Use fee
- As Used - Pay by hit with refill on account
- Allotment - Service plan based on average hit rates
(*All services have a one time only setup fee. Some have a yearly service fee.)
Xml-rpc - (optional) An advanced feature that allows you to access and manage the engine remotely from your dynamic programming services.
For more details on each component service, click the appropriate menu on the left.