I'll ask a question that if there is an answer I have no idea if I'll ever be able to accomplish. I am not very "right brain" but I have such a need that I want to see if I can at least begin.
I have been working for years on a program that gets data from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This was originally written in 4d, but it was too slow and the upgrades to the next version were always over $2,000.00 for one copy so the process to rewrite to mySQL began. I have a marvelous programmer but he has just taken another job that is now occupying all his time and there are so many things that need to be done, AND I don't need to rely on someone else in a tight situation. This beast is huge, the SQL portion calculates the data, there is a program (possibly written in SQL?) that goes to get the data, feeds it into the database for crunching, then there is a front end that I can't remember, starts with a "P" I believe, it draws the screens that we need. Finally there are Applescripts that once the data is calculated they will email me a screenshot of the day so if I am away from the computer when I need the data I can have it sent to me, that is why I need an iPhone and iPad on both the AT&T & Verizon networks. To print all this out would be several hundred pages and when I look at it I think I have stumbled onto some Arabic. Where in the world would I begin to learn how to tackle this. Are there schools around that teach Unix, mySQL, etc. etc. I don't want a degree, I only want to learn my program. There are changes I need to make and my friend just doesn't have the time so I am going to have to see if I can take his code and make sense of it but to do so I will need classes. Books without instruction will do little for me as most textbooks assume you already know way more than I do. Lee and many of the others on this group could handle this type thing but for me I will need to start at the kindergarden level and build. There may be video lesson online somewhere, I know where a ton are for learning video, FinalCut, Photoshop, etc. but not the real geek stuff. Any direction would be appreciated, remember though it has to start basic. John _______________________________________________ MacGroup mailing list [email protected] http://www.math.louisville.edu/mailman/listinfo/macgroup
