[Asterisk-Users] PHP Gui for Asterisk (AGI questions)

Mon Mar 17 17:28:01 MST 2003

Would someone like to propose what an XML extensions.conf would look like?
How about an XML zapata.conf?

I know XML is a fun buzzword and as a syntactic "hammer" seems instantly
appropriate for every configuration "nail", but I think in practicality,
XML does not lend itself to describing things like zap interfaces as
easily and certainly not as compactly as the existing syntax does.

Sure, it takes about 5-10 minutes to understand the nature of Asterisk's
config files, but the time is well worth it, and you'll understand why it
is done the way it is.  Why incur the overhead of trying to parse XML?

Mark

On Mon, 17 Mar 2003, Chris Albertson wrote:

>
> This topic is of interrest to me because I have to re-write the
> conf. file system on some software I'm working on.  It's currently
> horible.  (Just keyword=value pairs minus the keyword= part)
>
> SOAP looks to me like a message passing protocol.  Configuration
> needs to be placed in a persistent storage like a file.  Sometimes
> "db" tables, LDAP, or a DBMS is used.  Either way it's "storage"
>
> SOAP looks like a way to send messages, not a way to store data.
> But SOAP is XML, So I'm glad you agree about the part.
>
>
> --- Jeremy McNamara <jj at indie.org> wrote:
> > SOAP
> >
> > My 2 cents,
> >
> > Jeremy
> >
> >
> > Chris Albertson wrote:
> >
> > >I think the way to go with conf. file for Asterisk is XML.
> > >
> > >When I first saw the Asterisk conf files I wondered if Eric
> > >Allman had found a new job working on Asterisk. (That's
> > >a joke for those of you who have had to maintain a sendmail
> > >installation.  sendmail.cf is the definition of cryptic)
> > >
> > >Some advantages of XML:
> > >
> > >1) Parsers and file editors already exist for XML.  Users could
> > >   edit files with ready made GUI tools, programmers can use
> > >   XML with XML libraries.  There are even web-based tools for
> > >   maintaining XML data.
> > >
> > >2) Parsers and file editors can perform file validation.  Making
> > >   it not-possible to save an invalid file.
> > >
> > >3) (some) Database systems can gobble up XML and spit it back
> > >   out.  Yes, I think the DBMS idea was resonable for a large
> > >   installation.  Overkill if less then say a few hundred
> > >   extensions.  Large sites like to manage phone extension and,
> > >   extension to physical location maping and other stuff in a DBMS.
> > >
> > >4) XML (with addition of a style sheet) can be directly displayed
> > >   in a web browser
> > >
> > >5) Without a GUI and/or wrb front end the system will remain
> > >   only "geek usable".  (Your average "phone guy" doesn't know
> > >   how to use vi.)
> > >
> > >6) XML readers can ignor parts of the XML file they don't
> > understand.
> > >   This allows one file to carry information for multiple readers
> > >   ad for new additions too the file not to break older readers.
> > >
> > >--- Steven Critchfield <critch at basesys.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>On Mon, 2003-03-17 at 11:36, Stefano Finetti wrote:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>I was wondering about a little php-based GUI to manage Asterisk
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>Extensions.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>Many way to obtain this, but i think that implementing in a php
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>script the
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>AGI Commands should obtain the best results (more, the best result
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>would
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>come with AGI+Mysql instead of a text file like extensions.conf
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>but...).
> > >>
> > >>Text files would be better than a database since you could comment
> > on
> > >>what you are trying to do with a text file. Also a text file can be
> > >>munged easier than a database when a change in argument format
> > comes
> > >>out
> > >>such as the function style of calling apps in asterisk. Maybe if
> > you
> > >>need webbased configuration you could make a script that held your
> > >>working copy either in a flat file or text file , then generated a
> > >>new
> > >>extensions.conf file as you commit changes. Once commited, you make
> > a
> > >>call to asterisk to reload via the manager port.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>The problem is that I've tried to understand *where* and *how*
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>apply AGI
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>commands, without, of course, any good result.
> > >>>
> > >>>In which way AGI commands are passed to asterisk?
> > >>>Into the console?
> > >>>Executing applications via extensions.conf?
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>AGI commands come from a script invoked by asterisk itself, and
> > >>communicate via STDIN/STDOUT with asterisk.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>--
> > >>Steven Critchfield  <critch at basesys.com>
> > >>
> > >>_______________________________________________
> > >>Asterisk-Users mailing list
> > >>Asterisk-Users at lists.digium.com
> > >>http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
> > >>
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >=====
> > >Chris Albertson
> > >  Home:   310-376-1029  chrisalbertson90278 at yahoo.com
> > >  Cell:   310-990-7550
> > >  Office: 310-336-5189  Christopher.J.Albertson at aero.org
> > >  KG6OMK
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
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> > desktop!
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> > >_______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
> =====
> Chris Albertson
>   Home:   310-376-1029  chrisalbertson90278 at yahoo.com
>   Cell:   310-990-7550
>   Office: 310-336-5189  Christopher.J.Albertson at aero.org
>   KG6OMK
>
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