Re: Client/Server Development thoughts

Scott McClintock (scott@vetpath.vet.uq.oz.au) wrote: : 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. Scott, Given that: 1) 4GL Application Development Environments (ADEs) such as NewEra require a significant investment in time and training to master; 2) Event driven programming in a GUI environment is very different from even the so-called "non-procedural" 4GLs we've used in the past; 3) Forms design in a multi-widget, GUI environment is much more time-consuming than designing screens for a CHUI environment then you should locate some local magicians to help you out (#4 on your list of options) or relocate to one of those islands you were talking about :) Seriously my advice FWIW in your situation is to go the VB route using contractors to provide the missing expertise and only promise to provide a limited prototype within the given timeframe. Without the needed experience you should take your "normal" estimates and multiply by 3, development is NOT easier in this "new" environment - just prettier. Good Luck, Larry Jones Systems Architect Caelus, Inc.