Transitioning from Django to AngularJS

This write-up is made for quickly let you understand AngularJS and able to participate in the development of Horizon in Openstack by using AngularJS.

Prerequisite

Since AngularJS is actually a javascript library, you should know how to use JavaScript before you start the development. A great source to learn javascript is through http://www.w3schools.com/js/.

Besides the basic javascript syntax you should also understand the list of feature of javascript:

• Function Hoisting
• Callback Pattern
• Module Pattern
• Static Members

Leanring Curve

Although AngularJS web app is entirely client-side application, but you can write AngularJS application without intergrating with a back end at all and still have a dynamic, responsive web app. It is learning curve is steeper than normal front-end technique.

Write-up Structure

Since this write-up aims to quickly let you know how to develop AngularJS with openstack, I will skip the detail of JavaScript and AngularJS (maybe I will create an independent pages for tutorial). But now let’s install a devstack environment and testify the AngularJS portion. The write-up will follow this structure:

• Boot A VM in Cloud
• Install and initial devstack on the VM
• Running the devstack and be able to play with the dashboard
• Using Django to add a function to the dashboard
• Instead of Django, using AngularJS to achieve that functionality