=head1 NAME

Handel::Manual::About - A few words about the Handel Framework.

=head1 DESCRIPTION

Handel is a cart/order/checkout framework with L<AxKit|AxKit> taglib
support , TT2 (Template Toolkit) support and L<Catalyst::Helper|Catalyst::Helper> support. It was created
for the conversion of an IIS/ASP based commerce site to Apache/ModPerl, but I decided that it might be
useful to others so here it is.

For the curious, Handel is German for commerce.

=head1 WEBSITE

You can get the latest news, source, documentation and wiki help at
http://handelframework.com/.

=head1 SOURCE

You can browse the latest source code at L<http://handelframework.com/source/>, or get the latest version
of the source code from the Handel subversion repository at
L<http://svn.handelframework.com/CPAN/Handel/>.

=head1 MAILING LIST

Join the mailing list at
L<http://lists.rawmode.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/handel>. Big thanks to
gabb@#catalyst for the list space.

=head1 IRC

I can be found most nights on IRC in the following channels:

    claco@#handel@irc.perl.org 
    claco@#dbix-class@irc.perl.org 
    claco@#catalyst@irc.perl.org 

=head1 PHILOSOPHY

The Handel philosophy is to provide a framework of reusable parts and not an entire solution. No two shopping
carts or checkout processes are alike so it's impossible to create The One Great Solution.

Handel is built in layers, each of which should and can be reusable on their own. The storage layer deals
with mapping generic actions like adding items, creating carts, etc  to specific storage mechanisms like
DBIC, DBI, XML, etc. The interface classes, like Handel::Cart, take care of providing one possible public
API for consuming the storage layer classes.

=head1 GOALS

=head2 Database Agnostic

Thanks to DBIx::Class and a general avoidance of auto incrementing ids, Handel should run in any database
that DBIx::Class supports.

=head2 Schema Agnostic

The default schema isn't enough for everyone. Some have existing schemas in place, and some just need to
add a field or two. Handel aims to have the ability to use as many disparate schema configurations as
possible through a storage layer to abstract schema access without hardcoding specifics in the top level
Cart/Order/Item classes.

=head2 Implementation Agnostic

Handel should be able to be used from the command line, from a web page, from a SOAP service, or from
a GUI application. It's simply a data access mechanism. Any interaction with forms, web pages, browsers,
cookies, etc is the responsibility of the consumer/programmer.

=head2 Checkout Agnostic

A checkout process means different things to different people in different situations. The Handel checkout
pipeline by itself does absolutely nothing with an order. Instead, it's a plugin manager that allows you to
specify and build plugins to do various actions (payment authorization, address validation, fax delivery, etc).
Each site, server, page, even process() call can have its own unique order processing pipeline.

=head2 Easy Integration

Handel aims to provide as much glue as possible for existing application and page templating systems.

=head1 FEATURES

=head2 Basic Add/Edit/Delete/Save/Restore Cart Operations

What cart would be complete without the usual operations: add, update, delete, save, and restore.

=head2 Plugin Based Order Processing Pipeline

With just a few lines of code, you can utilize the power of CPAN to add address validation, credit card
authorization, or even email confirmations to your checkout process. With a building block style order
processing pipeline, your checkout process can be as easy or as complex as you need it to be.

=head2 Runs On Any Database

Handel runs on any database that DBIx::Class supports. That list includes, but is not limited to
SQLite, MySQL, Postgres, DB2, MSSQL, and Oracle. In theory, it should also work and any generic DBI
driver that can handle table relations and join statements.

=head2 Currency Conversion and Formatting

Handel includes support for currency conversion and formatting on all currency related fields.

=head2 Highly Customizable

Choose your level of dragons. You can use the default schema, adding column or two, or go full tilt and use
a completely different schema.

=head2 Easy Integration with Catalyst

Handel includes Catalyst::Helper modules to make adding Handel functionality into a Catalyst website as
easy as possible.

=head2 Easy Integration with AxKit

Handel includes basic Cart/Order/Checkout taglibs for use inside of AxKit XSP pages.

=head2 Easy Integration with Template Toolkit

Handel includes Cart/Order/Checkout plugins for those who use Template Toolkit as their page language of
choice.

=head1 WHAT HANDEL IS

Handel is a framework to enable simple cart and order record maintenance with a plugin based checkout
process.

=head1 WHAT HANDEL ISN'T

Handel is not Intershop, Cart32, WebGUI, a CMS or a complete web commerce packageB<(1)>.

B<(1)> While it is not a complete web based commerce system, I do plan on having feature complete
working demos sites so people can still quick-start their own projects. There is also a Catalyst/Handel
commerce project in the works called Mango.

=head1 MAD PROPAGE

I big shout at to the DBix::Class folk for all the support. Without the flexibility that DBIx::Class provides,
Handel would be a much less flexible.

=head1 AUTHOR

    Christopher H. Laco
    CPAN ID: CLACO
    claco@chrislaco.com
    http://today.icantfocus.com/blog/