Fernando, Perhaps a fair comparison would be - using SQL C Lib (with rolling your own data binding) versus ADO/.Net
As far as "real time data" - on the PDA side you may or may not be in a service area, may or may not be able init a lib, create a socket (available resources) - if you do it may or may not be able to connect to the target, encryption, compression (aka Sprint contract companies after they get there first new data bill - easier to negotiate "unlimited/high combined block" rates beforehand!), etc.... Personally, <saying this in a humorous way :)> - 4 weeks is what it would take to do high level use cases, data modeling, redunancy and security sections, prototypes and design sign offs! (and I would expect 60 hour weeks too! - oops that is only is we go to MS SQL/My SQL, Oracle might take a little longer <grin>! - middleware/cache servers) - might pull it off with an experienced team of 3-4 people who are familiar with the client business needs, direct contact to appropriate IR decision makers, and no unusual documentation/code standards. However - I've been "byteing" off more than I can chew for a long time! Focus, Determination, and Refusal to give up or give in - are worth a lot more than any fancy RAD tool or new methodology. Doing the deed on time (a realistic one) may give you and your team some grey hairs - but success makes them worth it! Good luck! Have a great day! Shawn. Shawn M. Cuff Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 18:24 To: Palm Developer Forum Subject: Re: Newbie question Thanks for all your frank responses; Putting the cross platform issue aside, what I was envisioning was something like i have done before with VB where you have the front end query the database on the fly, but this would limit the use of this only if you are connected wirelessly.. unless you download the database and upload the database via the PC which would still have to have a connection to the dbase server. Let's say in the App you would only have to enter the info of widgets as they come in and send this info to the server and get the inventory number back as real time as possible, is this just too complicated and would take more than 4 weeks? Then my question would be what kind of Apps are people writing out there for PDAs to make them useful for real time data application? I had thought that PDA had evolved more than what they actually have.. Again thanks for your responses Fernando > > From: Douglas Handy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2005/03/11 Fri PM 04:41:59 EST > To: "Palm Developer Forum" <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: Newbie question > > Fernando, > > >we would need real-time communication with the database server, and I > >was told that this App should be able to run on all PDAs out there. > > Your newbie status is showing. :) > > First, if you want cross-platform support for multiple operating > systems, and don't want a complete rewrite for each platform, your > development environment choices will be very limited. You may want to > consider Crossfire, the new name for what used to be called AppForge. > See http://www.appforge.com/products/enterprise/crossfire/index.html > > That may have the lowest learning curve for you too, if you are > familiar with familiar with .NET development. It will also have the > highest cost for your IDE, plus runtime licenses per client of $25. I > have no experience with either AppForge or Crossfile; I only mention > it as an option to explore if you want cross platform compatibility. > > Secondly, real-time coummunication with a database server is not even > possible on the vast majority of PDAs out there, so you'll fail on this project anyway. > Even if you limit yourself to just those running Palm OS, most won't > handle this easily. In particular, if what you want is 802.11b WiFi, > your choices are very limited. If you are also allowed Bluetooth or > cable to a cell phone, your number of choices go up but still isn't "all PDAs out there". > > Third, without knowing the complexity of their order system > requirements, given the fact you appear to have a steep learning curve > yet in front of you, I'd say your chances of being on time and within > budget and meeting the stated objectives are very low. > > If you have done .NET work and written TCP/IP client and server > applications and are willing to pay for Crossfire, then it may be > possible if the order system requirements are not too complex. But it > will still only run on PDAs which can do real-time communication to > the server, and that most definately is not "all PDAs out there". > > Ironically, assuming you have TCP sockets experience, this project may > well take > *less* learning curve than a typical order entry for a PDA, because > you can offload all the database work to the server. That saves you a > *lot* of learning curve on using Palm OS based databases, conduits, etc. > > YMMV. > > Doug > > -- > For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe, > please see http://www.palmos.com/dev/support/forums/ > -- For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe, please see http://www.palmos.com/dev/support/forums/ -- For information on using the Palm Developer Forums, or to unsubscribe, please see http://www.palmos.com/dev/support/forums/
