Customization for coffee shop

[graemian]

Hello,

I have a coffee shop in my city. I'd like to use KonaKart to build a web shop that allows my customers to order lattes, mochas, etc via the web. I am an experienced Java programmer.

I need to make some customizations:

1) I want the product listing to show the sizes of the drinks (Short, Tall, Grande) along with the prices
2) I need the customer to indicate on a map where the entrance to their building is

From my initial research, this all seems doable. I'm a little nervous about not having the source code. However, as I understand it, I've got all the JSPs and access to the database, so if I ran into a customization problem, I could just bypass the KonaKart stuff and do my own. Is that correct?

I started out with OSCommerce, but I really don't like PHP. OSCommerce also doesn't seem to have a proper architecture.

I really like KonaKart so far. Given the few customizations I've indicated above, would I be better off with OSCommerce (full access to source so I can change anything, I hate PHP) or KonaKart (can bypass what can't be changed, I like Java)?

Thanks,
Graeme

[kate]

Hi Graeme,

1) I want the product listing to show the sizes of the drinks (Short, Tall, Grande) along with the prices

You could either do this by listing these as separate products or by using product options.

2) I need the customer to indicate on a map where the entrance to their building is

This would be something for your own customisation but easy enough for a java programmer to integrate.

From my initial research, this all seems doable. I'm a little nervous about not having the source code. However, as I understand it, I've got all the JSPs and access to the database, so if I ran into a customization problem, I could just bypass the KonaKart stuff and do my own. Is that correct?

Yes, you get the source for all the parts designed to be customised.   Whilst you can access the database independently we don't encourage this as we have a very rich API that should satisfy your requirements.   If it doesn't have a particular feature that you need, let us know for possible inclusion in a new release.  We strongly encourage people to code to the APIs so that when a new release becomes available the upgrade process is painless (we maintain backwards compatibility) and you get access to the new features when you're ready to use them.   Note that our APIs are available as POJO calls or via SOAP.

I started out with OSCommerce, but I really don't like PHP. OSCommerce also doesn't seem to have a proper architecture.

osCommerce does have rich functionality and it's a good choice for someone who wants a PHP solution.   Personally, however, I don't like the way all the queries are mixed in with the presentation code in the php files... but I guess that's the way things are often done in php.   I far prefer a multi-tiered java approach myself.

I really like KonaKart so far. Given the few customizations I've indicated above, would I be better off with OSCommerce (full access to source so I can change anything, I hate PHP) or KonaKart (can bypass what can't be changed, I like Java)?

I can't help you fairly with that decision as I'm far too biased in favour of KonaKart 

Regards - Kate