Summary
This completes this chapter on Cocoon application design. As we said at the beginning, you can build many different types of applications with the current version of Cocoon. Although Cocoon's main focus currently is on web sites, as more components are built that integrate into the Cocoon architecture, it will expand and become a platform for other types of applications as well.
This is one of the great advantages of using Cocoon as a base for XML applications. Because of the way new components can be easily added, there is really no limit as to how you can use Cocoon as the platform for your solution. As an open-source project, it has much support from individuals and companies. Several firms have donated components to the Cocoon project and in so doing have helped the software become better suited for application scenarios such as the network publishing system and portal described in this chapter. The next chapter outlines some of the directions Cocoon might go in as XML and XML applications become more widespread. It also provides some additional ideas as to where Cocoon can be usedperhaps in your particular environment.