[asterisk-users] Dialplan programming vs. AGI vs. ???

[yusuf]

Lee Jenkins wrote:
> Gordon Henderson wrote:
> 
>>
>> Just a general question on dialplan programming... I've implemented a 
>> fairly full-featured system using dialplan code only. I've not used 
>> any AGI for it, yet it ticks all the boxes I want it to tick (diverts, 
>> follow-me, voicemail, dnd, outdialing restrictions, simple 
>> auto-attendant, and numerous "star codes" to control it all) This is 
>> all aimed at the small/medium office PBX type application.
>>
>> But I'm curious as to the approach others use. Is doing dialplan 
>> coding in an AGI more efficient, or do people just do it that way 
>> because it's easier than learning dialplan code? Or are there some 
>> things that people think they can't do any other way?
>>
>> So I'm just after some ideas, really, possibly to work out if it's 
>> worth my while going down the AGI route for future projects, or not!?!
>>
>> Any feedback is most welcome!
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Gordon
> 
> 
> 
> I've only been using Asterisk for a short while, but have been 
> programming for about 10 years so AEL appeals to me.  Steve Murphy has 
> done an outstanding job on AEL2.
> 
> But IMO it all depends on the job at hand.  For instance, I wanted to be 
> able to access FirebirdSQL databases from the dialplan and the only 
> viable way was through AGI.
> 
> My personal thought (and practice) has been:
> 
> 1. If it's dialplan specific (Dial(),Playback(), etc) then Asterisk 
> script, preferably AEL2.
> 
> 2. Even if it's dialplan specific, but prone to require any appreciable 
> resources, off load it to an AGI.
> 
> 3. If it's not dialplan specific (FirebirdSQL access, SOAP calls, etc) 
> then definitely off load it to AGI.
> 
> Remember there is also FastAGI which allows us to scale a system by off 
> loading resource intensive stuff to other computers entirely when the 
> situation requires it.
> 
> Personally, I'm glad that there is so many different ways to interact 
> with Asterisk.  Nice having a swiss army knife ;)
> 

Could'nt have said it better!

-- 
thanks,
Yusuf