The following is an interview with Mike Schneider, who built K2’s new Web site on K2 SmartObject technology.
Q: K2 isn’t typically used as a Web content management system. Why did you decide to use K2 software to, essentially, build
K2.com?
A: Because Adriaan (Van Wyk, CEO) said so. He said, “If we can’t do this with SmartObjects, then SmartObjects aren’t ready.”
Q: And what was your reaction to that?
A: “What!? Do you really think it’s a good idea to build this Web site on a product that doesn’t exist and then launch the site, still, before the product is finished?” You could say I was very reluctant.
That was in February (2007). So then I started playing around with the software — and this was beta 1 software, remember. I was putting together some samples and things started falling into place. And eventually, after about a month of working on it, I started to think, “Hey, this is actually going to work.”
Q: What is the real benefit of building K2.com on SmartObjects?
A: The way we are managing and surfacing information on K2.com is something totally different. It is unique. And, the way it’s built, the site is extremely dynamic and extremely easy to manage and change.
First off, our software has historically been all about “workflow.” K2 blackpearl still contains a strong workflow element, but it also introduced totally new concepts and capabilities. SmartObjects are an important addition to the process management side of things, but they can also stand alone as data storage and delivery devices.
So, by building the backend of this site using SmartObjects, I am now able to surface any of the data in the site to any K2 blackpearl process without having to create an additional layer between my “custom” data store and blackpearl. This is important. I can literally take any piece of the Web site and attach a K2 blackpearl process without having to jump through any hoops. My blackpearl processes already understand SmartObjects. … My backend is 100 percent SmartObjects.
If I want a certain process to trigger every time someone logs into the site, I can attach that process to my Site Usage SmartObject and make it kick off a blackpearl process anytime a new record is created (which happens every time someone logs in). I don’t need to do anything on the front end or middle tier. All I need to do is update my SmartObject to add “K2 blackpearl Login Process.”
The management of the data is another key factor in using the SmartObjects. Again, just by adding a blackpearl process to the Create Method on a SmartObject, I can force all content that gets entered into the system to go through a process I created in blackpearl.
Q: Would you recommend using K2 to build a Web site?
A: It depends. If you have a static Web site that doesn’t change and wouldn’t benefit from being able to add in process management at the drop of a hat, then, no.
If, however, you have a Web site that is focused around knowledge — and that knowledge continues to grow and change over time — then, yes. You can and will benefit by building with K2 software. It’s gonna take some work, but any Web site that is data-intensive will take work.
You may not want to create the site the same way we created it. For example, if you have an existing CMS system, it would be simple to create a SmartService that talked to your CMS system, then create SmartObjects that interact with the SmartService as well as extend the data that is stored in your CMS system. This would give you the flexibility of using your existing CMS system, while being able to add additional fields and properties, without affecting the CMS system and still retaining all the benefits of K2 blackpearl.
I would say anyone that is comfortable with .NET programming would have a very limited learning curve. And the payoff in using SmartObjects as the bones of an interface like K2.com can be huge.