The uKnowva Platform architecture is a 3-tiered model. The three tiers are:
- The Framework Layer at the bottom.
- The Application Layer in the middle.
- The Extension Layer on the top.
Framework Layer:
The bottom-most layer is the Framework Layer. This layer contains uKnowva’s framework and libraries. The uKnowva framework has been created by the Convergence Team by forking the Joomla framework and adding improvements and a corporate touch. This has been done so that the administrators of uKnowva instances (most of the users are corporates) find it easier to manage. Similarly, the uKnowva libraries have also been forked from popular open source libraries. uKnowva uses the following Open Source Libraries:
owva also uses the following custom-made library:
conv Library: This library has been created by the Convergence Team. It can be found in the "libraries/conv" folder. It handles all the UI elements, like the Token Input UI and auto-complete features, some special features like deciding a user's superior, all IP utility functions and many more.
Application Layer:
The Application Layer consists of the core uKnowva features and plug-ins. This layer is a bundle of the core apps and features that every instance of uKnowva has by default. The core features and apps of uKnowva are:
All these features are built over the framework and libraries.
Extension Layer:
The topmost layer, the Extension Layer, consists of five types of extensions, viz., Apps, Widgets, Plug-ins, Languages, and Themes. These are the customizable parts of uKnowva and can be modified to meet the needs of each client.
Apps, Widgets, and Plug-ins
These are modules that are created to customize uKnowva or add more functionality to it. Apps and widgets can be installed in uKnowva in 3 ways:
- Installing locally: The user can create an app or widget and save it as a ukv file. This file can be then installed on the user’s uKnowva instance.
- Extensions Store: The uKnowva Extensions Store has a host of free and paid apps and widgets that the user can directly download and install in uKnowva. The user has to only browse and select the required app or widget and download and install it onto his instance.
- Linking a third-party application: The user can add to uKnowva’s functionality by also linking a third-party application like Gmail to his instance. Entering the URL of the application creates a menu of that application in uKnowva from where it can be used.
Languages
The Languages extension allows uKnowva to be viewed in different languages. These languages could be Indian languages or other foreign languages. Currently, uKnowva provides support only for English. However, any developer is welcome to create plug-ins or modules to support other languages as required.
Themes
Themes provide a means to change the look and feel of uKnowva. Choose themes from the pre-installed ones or create your own, upload it, and then activate it from uKnowva Configuration.