Using ReactJS with ColdFusion

The Short Version:
On June 5th at 6pm we'll be looking at ReactJS which is a Javascript Library used to create the "front end" of web apps and pages as Single Page Applications. ColdFusion is very well suited to work with ReactJS and using the two together can lead to rapid application development, new and "shinier" interfaces on existing applications and a UX experience that can be transferred across devices.

The Important Stuff:
This meeting is generously sponsored by Advantage Data (https://advantagedata.com), a "leading provider of credit and credit derivative pricing, descriptive, financial and analytical information" and long time ColdFusion shop. They are located at 1 Federal St. 25th floor in Boston. Please RSVP and bring ID on the evening of the event. Afterwards, we'll go to a nearby purveyor of adult beverages such as Elephant and Castle across the street. There is parking in the building or street parking if you can find it. The closest T stations are Downtown Crossing (Red and Orange lines), State Street (Orange and Blue) and Government Center (Green and Blue).

One more note: If you are bringing a laptop or device to follow along, it's recommended that you have CommandBox installed (https://www.ortussolutions.com/products/commandbox) to make downloading sample code easier and get a development environment set up very easily. There s little or no impact on the rest of your machine in using CommandBox and it is removed as easily as deleting the folder it's in.

The Longer Version:
Over the past several years, JavaScript has gone through a massive resurgence and expansion in where it's found, how it's used and the tools that support it. That in turn has changed the face (literally) of web design and app deployment. How does this impact us as ColdFusion developers and Application designers? Does it impact us?

Yes. If for no other reason than the standard of UX/UI of sites and apps is increasing and expectations of Single Page Applications, seamless rendering, responsive layouts and so on are driving requirements for new projects.

CF has been going through a renaissance in and of it's own right and, as usual, it is poised to be the great resource it always has been and works very well with the new JS libraries. In this presentation, we'll look at

• What ReactJS is and what it isn't
• Look at a typical React/CF architecture
• Install the React Framework
• Create a simple React Application
• Integrate that React Application with CFML CFCs and Web Services
• Use CF Applications and Session Variables inside the React Application
• Look at some of the other "scaffolding" that can do along with optimizing a React Application
• Use some relatively new CF Tools such as the CommandBox CLI.

If you have any questions, please post here or email Dan at djcard [ at ] gmail.com

See you then!