MemberJunction Explorer

Introduction to MemberJunction Explorer

MemberJunction Explorer is a versatile application developed to enhance data interaction within the MemberJunction framework. It addresses the need for a tool that allows users to not only view but also manipulate data in various scenarios, akin to a document repository with advanced search and query functionalities.

Purpose and Utility

• User-Friendly Interface: Designed for both administrators and regular end-users, MemberJunction Explorer offers a simple yet powerful user experience, enabling users to view and, if permitted, edit data.
• User Views Feature: A standout feature is ‘User Views’ – user-defined queries that can be created using either a graphical interface or an AI-powered chat interface. These views allow for easy data filtering and can be saved and revisited for fresh data.

Advantages for Application Developers

• Dynamic Data Element: The concept of a ‘user view’ extends beyond the Explorer. It’s a fundamental element in the MemberJunction framework, serving as a dynamic data element accessible programmatically at any tier.
• Replacing Hard-Coded Logic: This replaces the need for hard-coded data retrieval logic, allowing for more flexibility and ease in modifying data retrieval criteria.

Architectural Choice: Why Angular?

• Angular Framework: The development framework for MemberJunction Explorer is Angular, chosen for its strong TypeScript support, object-based methods for encapsulating business logic, and the ability to expose UI elements individually.
• Angular Elements and Web Components: Angular’s capability to create web components through Angular elements allows functionality developed in Angular to be seamlessly integrated into various web environments.

User Interface and Administration Tools

• Multi-Tabbed Interface: The Explorer features a multi-tabbed interface, facilitating simultaneous data examination.
• Deep Linking and Data Sharing: It supports deep linking, ensuring the URL reflects the exact resource being viewed, enhancing data sharing capabilities.
• Administration Shortcuts: The UI includes shortcuts for common administration tasks, like setting permissions for roles.

MJ Explorer as a Sample Application

• Learning and Extensibility: As an open-source application, MemberJunction Explorer also serves as a sample application, demonstrating the implementation of various MemberJunction architecture components.

Extensibility and Customization

• Building on MemberJunction Explorer: The application is designed to be extensible, allowing developers to create custom forms and dashboards. This is facilitated through the ‘Registered Class Decorator’ from the global library, enabling automatic integration of custom components.
• Forking Considerations: While the source code can be modified, it may lead to forking parts of the code, which is recommended only in specific scenarios.

Component Reusability and Future Considerations

• Reusable Components: Many components within MemberJunction Explorer, such as the User View grid, are designed to be reusable in other applications.

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Potential for Breaking Changes: Users should be aware that as MemberJunction Explorer evolves, there may be changes, including potential breaking changes, affecting the components’ usage in other applications.