Re: Scalability in client/server languages.

In article <798395552snz@boothbc.demon.co.uk>, paul@boothbc.demon.co.uk (paul sellars) wrote: > I have seen a number of references in c.d.i. and other sources to the > *scalability* of various client/server languages. What is meant by > scalability with respect to a language? I *think* that they mean that you won't run into a wall once you stop creating pretty screens and start coding the real business logic stuff. > I have seen reports that NewEra is more scalable than, say, Powerbuilder > or Access. [snip] > Is it a reference to partitioning (executing some of the application > logic on the server or another client to reduce network traffic)? I think the single most important advantage that NewEra will have over the competing products is this application partitioning. Of course NewEra doesn't actually *have* application partitioning yet - but at least they recognise it as desirable and are working towards implementing it. We have recently implemented a Client/Server solution using 4GL over a WAN and the single most important discovery we made was the importance of getting as much work done on the server as you can - you don't want any more traffic on the network than you can get away with. Application partitioning in 4GL is, BTW, really easy: 1. Split your existing program into 2 parts. A frontend for data entry and a backend for database updates. 2. Devise a method for passing frontend information to the backend via some sort of job number (we used a table :-). 3. At the end of your frontend program execute a stored procedure to RUN your backend program (and pass the job number so the backend knows what data to collect from the table). Running the backend via a stored procedure means that the server executes it rather than the client. Works great, and was much easier than converting everything to SPL. --------------------------------------,------------------------------------- Kerry Sainsbury, kerry@kcbbs.gen.nz | THE INFORMIX FAQ Quanta Systems, Auckland, New Zealand | kcbbs.gen.nz:/informix/* | mathcs.emory.edu:/pub/informix/faq/* +64 9 377-4473 (work) 279-3571 (home) | http://www.garpac.com/informix.html