Re: Dynamic 4GL

Mike Segel wrote: > > Dave McNight wrote: > > > > When ever we upgrade Online Dynamic Server, we are recommended or > > required to upgrade the tools (4GL, ISQL, RDS, ID) for compatability > > reasons unless we use the relay module functionality (not recommended > > normally). All of our 4GL code is recompiled. This recompile and > > testing effort takes a lot of time and effort to insure that > > applications still work as the user expects. It seems like we have to go > > through this process yearly. With a limited staff, this results in a lot > > of unproductive time as far management is concerned. > > No, relay module is definively not recommended. I got burned by it recently. > I think you are doing this as more of a precaution than a need. > This is generally a good thing since your code may have a work around > that in future releases may not either be necessary or can cause > problems. > > [SNIP] > > Our management is potentially looking at some alternatives to 4GL to > > get our programmers into a GUI environment and loosen the dependence of > > the application from the chosen DBMS (though we are not looking at > > ORACLE or SYSBASE as alternatives to Informix DS, at least not in near > > term). Any comments and suggestions are most welcome. > > This is a separate topic from the first. > To losen the reliance on a single vendor, you can look to other tools > like > Rogue Wave C++ libraries. However you would then be tied to whatever C++ > libraries > that you use for your platform. By this I mean, that if you use > MicroSoft for a client, > then you are locked in to that platform. > > Java seems to be the better way to go. > SWING is supposed to simplify the AWT and you can go to a three tier > development effort. In this vein,ETRUS has a product which will let you > use your 4GL > code over a java based browser. Its not the final goal, but it will > allow you > to use a common front-end until you do a Java rewrite. > > I'm not preaching the Java mantra here, but it is designed for write > once use anywhere, and with the major vendors having JDBC compliance, > you can then switch the back end. > > -Mikey Also consider Prolifics. It runs under X-win, MS-Win, Mac, UNIX char mode and Web, is database independent, and uses BEA Tuxedo to implement n-tier architecture with added benefit of developing front-end and app server components in the same, more or less visual tool. Cheers! Dragi "Bonzi" Raos 4-MATE Information Engineering Zagreb, Croatia