Re: Suggestion for a development environment

->From: fschwaj@iia.org (Jeffrey ->Subject: Suggestion for a development environment ->Date: 18 May 1994 13:10:36 -0400 ->Reply-To: fschwaj@iia.org (Jeffrey ->Organization: International Internet Association. -> -> I am going to be building a fairly complex process that will take data ->from an Informix database, manipulate it and output records to another ->system. The application will be running overnight without any ->intervention so it will not be interactive. It will be running on an ->RS/6000. -> What I need is any suggestions for a language/development tool within ->which this could best be coded. I am also currently using PowerBuilder, ->but that is probably not the best tool since it would rely on the PC and ->is thus not suitable for an unattended batch process. -> Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. -> ->Thanks in advance, ->-Jeff ->-- ->Jeffrey A. Schwartz ->fschwaj@iia.org I have had very acceptable results using nothing more than programs written in Informix compiled 4GL, along with the standard Unix `cron' facility. General characteristics of a 4GL program to be run by cron are: 1. The program contains no DISPLAY statements of any kind. 2. The program creates a REPORT in a temporary file to contain any status, results, etc. After closing the report, the program mails it to my username (or to some other appropriate recipient), then deletes the file. 3. The program is run by root via cron. If your site allows other users to submit cron jobs, then you need not have root run your cron job. I have used this technique to copy files between remote machines (in Florida, California, Colorado) in the early morning hours, when net usage is low, tho' time zone differences reduced my window somewhat. You don't state how you intend to "output records to another system". If you tranfer files, as I do, I strongly recommend using some sort of check mechanism to verify successful data transfer. I used the `sum' command on the source and destination files, all built into the program logic. Other programmers in our org. have used fancier techniques, such as socket level communications; but I found my very simple approach to be adequate for my users' needs. Regards, Alan ___________________________ ______________________| R. Alan Popiel |__________________________ \\ Internet: | Martin Marietta, SLS | / \\ alan@den.mmc.com | P.O. Box 179, M/S 3810 | Std disclaimers apply. / )Voice: | Denver, CO 80201-0179 USA | ( / 303-977-9998 |___________________________| (But you knew that!) \\ /________________________) (____________________________\\