Re: Client/Server Development thoughts

In article <3olck4$mk5@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au>, scott@vetpath.vet.uq.oz.au says... > >Hi, > >We have just found out that we need to develop a package very quickly. From >past experience, we believe that it would take about 8-10 weeks to do the >job in RDS/4GL (using our own 4GL code generators!). The powers that be >want it done in about 4 weeks and with Windoze front ends! (ie telnet session >isn't good enough!). Much of the tricky processing etc can be handled with >SPL and triggers but our experience in developing Windows Client Server stuff >is fairly limited (have done masses of 4GL stuff though). We need to work >out the best way of doing it. There will be plenty of "Non-trivial" screens >to write. The following is a list of some of the possibilities. We would >appreciate any thoughts on these options: > >1) NewEra >2) ODBC - Visual C++ } > Visual Basic } - They already own dev tools for these 3. >3) Powerbuilder } >4) Magic >5) Run away to a South Pacfic Island. >6) Other..................... > >The DB will have some tables with upwards of 1 million rows. There will >typically be up to about 20 simultaneous users (mostly simple quick queries >though some big reports). They have a 90Mhz Pentium running SCO Unix >and SE 5.02 available to run the show. > >Are we crazy?? > >TIA > >Scott. I would look at the type of application. Are updates being made to the db or is this simply a reporting app? If just a reporting app, you may want to look at some online reporting tools like Impromptu or Business Objects. I found development in VB to be quite easy but it is lacking in a few areas. I do primarily reporting applications but, I've been told that VB is a little weak for data input applications. The weaknesses come primarily from limited ability to lock rows. If you'd like more info on reporting tools, let me know! -- ben -- Benjamin Taub DSS and Data Warehouse design, development & project management btaub@izzy.net ph: (313) 761-5962