Spin the Web Book

Weaving Web Portals

Read the Latest PDF Version (Local) | View the Live Site

This book presents the Spin the Web framework, from foundational concepts to implementation techniques. The content details the Webbase Description Language (WBDL), the Web Spinner, and Spin the Web Studio, and then provides a guide on how to use it to build web portals. The framework and this book are stewarded by the eponymous open-source Spin the Web Foundation.

Book Content

Part I: The Philosophy (Chapters 1–4)

• Chapter 1: Genesis — History and evolution of Spin the Web
• Chapter 2: Introduction to Enterprise Portal Challenges — Problem domain analysis
• Chapter 3: Virtualized Portal Framework — Conceptual architecture
• Chapter 4: Technical Architecture and Mechanics — System design principles

Part II: The Framework (Chapters 5–11)

• Chapter 5: WBDL (Webbase Definition Language) — Declarative markup language
• Chapter 6: WBPL (Webbase Placeholder Language) — Placeholder management
• Chapter 7: WBLL (Webbase Layout Language) — Component layout management
• Chapter 8: Webbase and Webbaselets
• Chapter 9: Web Spinner Engine Architecture and Mechanics
• Chapter 10: Spin the Web Studio: An Integrated Development Environment
• Chapter 11: Technology Stack and Implementation Mechanics — Deno/TypeScript runtime, WBLL engine, WBPL, session/state, security, and deployment

Part III: The Web Portal (Chapters 12–13)

• Chapter 12: Implementing Portal Contents — Structure, semantics, information architecture, documentation, search, and evolution
• Chapter 13: Implementing Portal Visuals — Layout, navigation systems, interaction, accessibility, theming, and performance

Part IV: The Roadmap (Chapter 14)

• Chapter 14: The Roadmap

Appendices

• Appendix A: WBDL JSON Schema Reference — Formal JSON Schema definitions for WBDL element types (Site, Area, Page, Content, etc.)
• Appendix B: WBLL Token Reference — Complete reference for WBLL tokens, syntax, examples, and interpreter behavior
• Appendix C: Webbaselets: BPMS, PLM, and Ticketing — Overview and common design for three foundational webbaselets; includes structured classification and examples

Book Structure

├── main.tex                   # Main document file
├── build.sh                   # Build script (bash)
├── SpinTheWeb.pdf             # Generated book
├── preamble/                  # LaTeX configuration
│   ├── packages.tex           # Package imports
│   ├── formatting.tex         # Style definitions
│   ├── glossary.tex           # Glossary and acronyms
│   └── commands.tex           # Custom commands
├── frontmatter/               # Book front matter
│   ├── titlepage.tex          # Title and copyright pages
│   ├── license.tex            # License page
│   ├── dedication.tex         # Dedication page
│   ├── abstract.tex           # Abstract
│   └── preface.tex            # Preface with mathematical philosophy
├── part1-foundations/         # Part I: Foundations and Concepts
│   ├── intro.tex              # Part introduction
│   ├── genesis.tex            # History and genesis
│   ├── introduction.tex       # Introduction to enterprise portals
│   ├── virtualized.tex        # Virtualized portal framework
│   └── architecture.tex       # Technical architecture
├── part2-framework/           # Part II: Framework Specification and Mechanics
│   ├── intro.tex              # Part introduction
│   ├── wbdl.tex               # Webbase Definition Language (WBDL)
│   ├── wbpl.tex               # Webbase Placeholders Language (WBPL)
│   ├── wbll.tex               # Webbase Layout Language (WBLL)
│   ├── webbaselets.tex        # Webbaselets and components
│   ├── web-spinner.tex        # The Web Spinner Engine
│   ├── studio.tex             # The Spin the Web Studio
│   └── technology.tex         # Technology stack of the reference implementation
├── part3-implementation/      # Part III: Implementation (Contents & Visuals)
│   ├── intro.tex              # Part introduction
│   ├── contents.tex           # Implementing portal contents (structure, semantics, IA)
│   └── visuals.tex            # Implementing portal visuals (layout, interaction, branding)
├── part4-roadmap/             # Part IV: The Roadmap
│   ├── intro.tex              # Part introduction
│   └── directions.tex         # Roadmap and evolution
├── figures/                   # Images and diagrams
│   ├── logo.png               # Logo
│   └── spin-the-web.png       # Architecture diagram
├── bibliography/              # References and citations
│   └── references.bib
├── appendices/                # Appendices
│   ├── wbdl-json-schema.tex   # WBDL JSON Schema reference
│   ├── wbll-tokens.tex        # WBLL token reference
│   └── webbaselets.tex        # Webbaselets appendix
└── build/                     # Generated files (auto-generated, can be safely cleaned)

Building the Book

./build.sh

This will:

1. Compile the LaTeX source using pdflatex
2. Generate SpinTheWeb.pdf in the root directory
3. Display build status and any warnings