I've been studying a lot of Java. I've also separated the project into a series of stages--even though I'm not wholly sure what the underlying structure of the system will be:
Stage 1 is well-underway as I learn the Java language. Stage 2 is mostly planned out. Stages 3 and 4 are highly tentative and could change completely depending.
- Stage 1: -- build a chat application client and a chat application server object. The client and server portions will use RMI to communicate and provide the interlinking functionality between the clients.
- Stage 2: -- build a client front end. The front end loads up and talks to an admin server of sorts which allows the client to "load an application". The front end will request the client application, the admin server will serialize it and send it over. The client application will then pop up on the client side and talk to its server backend piece.
- Stage 3: -- surround this system with groups so that people can be a part of a group or class whilst working in the various applications. Build application client and server classes and all the other pieces that would provide the basic functionality framework for the system and package all of this.
- Stage 4: -- utilize the package and build the on-line classroom.