creating an eCommerce module

[matiskiva]

Hello all,

I am creating a webshop module, meaning to serve clients within an existing framework. It is intended to be a simple module with rather basic capabilities.

 

It seems to me that the best option is using one of the existing mature eCommerce applications. Both for greater reliability and because any implementations done by me, could be integrated back to the community code serving others.

 

I have reviewed a few existing eCommerce applications, narrowing the possible candidates to two: osCommerce and magento.

I would like to get your opinion regarding using the osCommerce system as a base for the module.

My requirements are:

1. manage multiple webshops when each has it's own admin [while a general admin exists for tax definitions, shippment definitions and so on]. or, allowing a different view for each webshop, unrelated to the others and i shall manage the different users.

2. embed the eCommerce elements into an existing HTML page.

3. implementing an alternative admin view/customizing the existing one [need to remove most of the options, maybe allowing the admin to browse through the products with the same view used by the client].

4. implementing an AJAX aware client view [dragging items to the shopping cart, browsing between different item pages without refreshing] by either reimplementing the client side while keeping API and styles or customizing it [or using an extension].

5. expose an API for general statistics query.

6. client can pick items, provide personal information and purchase [while supplying payment method] without signing up - the signing up is a product of the mentioned.

 

Please tell me generally what is the approach toward implementing each of the requirements (for example: using api, install an extension, edit a style sheet, change the core code).

I prefer maintaining compatibility with the main code, allowing me to contribute my code to the community and update the base code as needed, even at the cost of a lot of work for me.

It would be best if you could direct me to a specific api/extension relevant to implementing a requirement so i can review it.

 

Thank you,

Mati.