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+---
+layout: post
+title:  "Introduction"
+author: Robert Jaros
+date:   2018-03-01 14:50:53 +0100
+categories: kvision kotlin
+---
+
+This is my first article about [KVision](https://github.com/rjaros/kvision) -  a new open source Web UI framework written in Kotlin language.
+I plan to write a series of them - describing what KVision is and how to use it. I will try to explain the design, focus on the 
+unique features and demonstrate the usage examples.
+
+### Why new framework?
+
+There are of course many different front-end frameworks on the market. A lot of them share many similarities, others offer some special and unique features. 
+Probably most of them are plain JavaScript frameworks, but there are other languages and technologies in play as well. 
+Just look at [TodoMVC](http://todomvc.com) website to find them and learn about them.
+
+I've been working with different technologies and frameworks for many years. I've used them in many commercial and non-commercial projects of different size and complexity.
+Most of the time I was more then satisfied with the tools I've been using. But I've never found a solution, I could just call perfect. There was always something missing 
+and something was not fully correct.
+
+I don't really like to go with the mainstream. I like to explore and learn new possibilities. I try to make things easier and more productive. I like to reuse and integrate good stuff, 
+made by other people available in open source. I had many thoughts and conclusions about features, a perfect framework should have.
+And finally I've decided to make my own framework. I plan to make it a perfect solution for me - it's quite easy when you know the expectations ;-) 
+But I hope it can be a good solutions for a few other developers as well.
+
+### Main features
+
+#### Compiled and strongly typed programming language
+
+When you work on a small project, dynamic and loosely typed programming language (like JavaScript) is more then OK.
+But when the project becomes big and complex, and more developers are working with it, you just need to have more control over the code. You have to be able
+to find bugs as soon as possible. You have to be able to refactor a large portions of code. It is possible only with compiled languages.
+There are a few such languages in use for web development today - e.g. TypeScript or Scala. And Kotlin is just at the beginning of its way in this
+direction. In fact, KVision project started as "SVision" written with [Scala.js](https://www.scala-js.org/), but soon I've decided to change the language to Kotlin,
+because of much better IDE support, simpler design and better compilation time.
+
+#### Object oriented, imperative design
+
+Unlike most of the popular web frameworks (AngularJS, React, Vue.js and others),
+KVision is not declarative - it is not designed to mix HTML code (or pseudo code) with a typical
+programming language. You can write KVision application without any knowledge of HTML or CSS, 
+but at the same time you are able to use this knowledge if you wish.
+
+In KVision everything is just written in Kotlin. Your whole application is designed as type-safe and compiled. 
+KVision gives you a hierarchy of consistent components, which you can just use in your project or which you can extend to 
+modify their default behavior. You reuse you code by well known OOP design patterns - composition and inheritance.
+
+This design is well known in the UI programming world. In fact, it's probably used everywhere but in the web environment.
+Swing, JavaFX, QT and WinForms are clear and solid examples of object oriented UI libraries and KVision goes the same way.
+
+#### Ready to use components
+
+Many frameworks give you well designed architecture but lack ready to use components. You have to
+search the Internet to find ways to use rich text editor, advanced select box, date picker or even 
+a simple tab panel. 
+
+KVision contains:
+
+- sophisticated containers (tabs, stack, dock, grid, horizontal, vertical, flexbox, responsive),
+- a bunch of text input components including rich text editor
+- buttons, checboxes and radios
+- date and time picker
+- spinner
+- advanced select box with ajax support
+- data binding components
+- modals
+- floating, resizable windows
+
+All of them with modern, [Bootstrap](https://getbootstrap.com/) based look & feel, and a consistent behavior.
+
+#### Forms support
+
+Almost all non trivial applications use some kind of forms. But implementing form support in not only about
+showing form controls on the screen. Form items are bound to some data model, and this model should be type-safe.
+You would like your text inputs to be "Strings", but you would also like your date values to be of "Date" type, 
+your spinner value to be "Number" and your checkbox state to be "Boolean". KVision lets you do it in an easy
+and consistent way. And additionally it allows you to define and test validation for single fields or for the complete forms.
+
+#### Suitable for any application
+
+KVision was designed to be open and flexible. By default it gives you [Bootstrap](https://getbootstrap.com/) based look & feel, 
+but it can be disabled if you wish. Then you can design your application appearance from the scratch, and you are limited only
+by your own knowledge of CSS.
+
+Ability to implement a fully compatible [TodoMVC](http://todomvc.com) 
+application, which you can find in the [KVision-examples](https://github.com/rjaros/kvision-examples) repository, 
+proves that KVision is suitable for any kind of projects, including responsive, mobile web applications or even a simple, plain websites.
+
+#### Last but not least
+
+Other KVision features:
+
+- Type safe DSL builders
+- [Font awesome](https://fontawesome.com/) icons support
+- Drag & drop support
+- Integrated JS router
+- [Karma](https://karma-runner.github.io/) testing framework support
+- Full IDE support with IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
+
+make this framework a complete solution ready for many different use cases. I will go into details of these features
+in the following articles.
+
+### Get started
+
+1. Download [KVision examples](https://github.com/rjaros/kvision-examples) from GitHub:
+
+        git clone https://github.com/rjaros/kvision-examples.git
+        
+2. Enter "template" example directory:
+
+        cd kvision-examples/template                        (on Linux)
+        cd kvision-examples\template                        (on Windows)
+
+3. Run Gradle incremental build with:
+
+        ./gradlew -t run                                    (on Linux)
+        gradlew.bat -t run                                  (on Windows)
+        
+4. Open [http://localhost:8088/](http://localhost:8088/) in your browser.
+
+5. Import "template" project in IntelliJ IDEA and open src/main/kotlin/com/example/App.kt file. 
+You can of course use your favourite text editor.
+
+6. Add some code inside the **start** function:
+
+        override fun start(state: Map<String, Any>) {
+            Root("kvapp") {
+                label("Hello world!")
+            }
+        }
+
+7. See your changes immediately in the browser.
+
+### Learn more
+
+- Explore all [KVision examples](https://github.com/rjaros/kvision-examples)
+- Read other articles at [KVision website](https://rjaros.github.io/kvision/)
+- Check [API Documentation](https://rjaros.github.io/kvision/api/)
+- Fork and play with the [source code](https://github.com/rjaros/kvision)