[cgiapp] RFC CGI::Application::EasyGraph

["JOn Brookes" <suppressed>]

CGI::Applicaton offers a 'framework' for developing CGI based applications 
for the web. I use this module to accomplish a number of things. Currently, 
the main area of web systems development that I am currently engaged in is 
capacity planning, performance analysis and availability management of large 
systems. For this, one 'common requirement' is to display data graphically.

I can do this already with GD::Graph and embed this into current cgi / 
mod_perl applications. I would though like a 're-usable' sort of 'widget' 
that can be quickly set up and run without having to think about things like 
mime types, secure transfer of data locations / queries to the graphing 
application etc etc....

I would like to submit a module I am working on to CPAN that does the job of 
drawing a line graph simply and quickly with minimum required in the way of 
initial setup.

The module would be implemented as a 'CGI::Application' and would therefore 
share a part of this namespace.

I would propose, but RFC :

CGI::Application::EasyGraph

All of the functionality of drawing graphs, managing state persistence 
between http requiests are all done adequately by modules already in 
existence, this module so far therefore uses :

CGI::Session qw/-api3/;
GD::Graph::lines;
GD::Graph::colour;
GD::Graph::Data;
GD::Text;
GD

As this module already 'is a' CGI::Application, it therefore uses template 
technology in the form of HTML::Template

Data to be graphed is based on a 'lowest common denominator', as is also the 
CGI::Session data - that of 'flat text files' so far. This is hopefully 
going to run on more systems than would say, DBM or more specifically, MySQL 
(my tool of choice). However, I would like to add 'drivers' that can trigger 
the use of these where the user finds it more appropriate.

Very rudimentary 'proof of concept' code is available for viewing at:

http://www.jonblog.uklinux.net/cgi-bin/blosxom.cgi/computing/Perl/Modules/cgi_application_quickgraph

This blog is likely to show the current version and older ones as submitted.

There is better use to be made of the CGI::Application's ability to 
manipulate page headers (for Cookies etc) and I would like to look into the 
use of 'handlers' for mod_perl where mod_perl is available.

I would like also to look at other simple graph types such as LinesPoints, 
Bar, Pie for example.

Any comments / suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,

Jon Brookes.

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