Re: Need to evalute NewERA

> We are about to start a GUI development project. The main aim is that it be > cross - platform (atleast one UNIX m/c and PC) with Informix Database engine > (with ODBC capability to talk to other Databases). We are doing the same thing and had the same requirements. Development was done by someone who works for me. I'll give him your email address. > We were looking closely at NewERA from Informix. As yet, all information we > have got about NewERA is mainly marketing b......t. We need a honest opinion > from somebody who has used it. The main items that concern us are > -- Speed: Since NewERA generates the final code in 4 steps (or 5 steps or 6...) > NewERA - to 4GL src code - to 4ec - to ec - to c - .o > I know, a simple 4GL program (not generated by NewERA) is 10 times > slower than equivalent C program. We are having speed problems with the database overall. I think there is a config. problem. Unix NewEra applications run much slower than PC, I am not sure if that is the code or the Hardware (some are Sparc IPX). > -- Features: One tool we were looking claimed "almost similar GUI tools as > UIM-X", which is a biiig claim. How is NewERA in features. I don't > think I want the moon, but having bare essential tools would be a +. Not bad, but we have had LOTS of peculiar problems on the UNIX side. We'll create a superfield to hold text, and after compile it goes from three display lines to one - that kind of stuff...Kind of disappointing since we have more UNIX than PC, but did development in NewEra for Windows (way more robust than for Motif) > -- Cross-Platform: Has anybody does Cross-Platform development using NewERA. > How good or bad is it???? Is it as simple as taking the source and > compiling on the target machine (dream of a software team)?? Nope, our sales rep has promised that NewEra's next major release (due out First qtr '97-I think it is 3, I have it at work) on the UNIX side will be compile-only. That is another biiig claim. He tells me that you can develop on a PC and send the code over to UNIX, compile and go. It is FAR from this way now. 4GL code ports fine but plan to repaint most of your windows. kjd