Michael, >>By creating several APPs instead of one big, all encompassing EXE, do you >>manage memory better via your application's performance since in theory, when an APP was done, it'd be released from memory? (Assuming that's how it works?!?)<<
One of the problems with APPs called from a single EXE is the management of things like SET PATH, SET CLASSLIB, SET PROCEDURE, SET LIBRARY, etc. In particular, SET CLASSLIB and VFP's class caching is a pain in the neck when you use this model. Specific to an example: you may have your main program use a base label object from your base class class library to display something on the desktop. Your APP module also has the same class library compiled in it to display labels within the APP module functionality. Your APP will use the one cached in memory by the EXE. The EXE might never get updated, and the APPs probably will on a regular basis. The APPs will get the latest and greatest updates of the base class library during each build. What happens is the APPs will still use the version of the base classes from the EXE because VFP is caching them. First in, first used. I ran into this at a client here in Detroit that you know. It was a nightmare to maintain, and in the end, you will find yourself compiling everything all the time to avoid this problem. The opposite way works as well. Say the APP is the first to bring into a cache a specific class and class library. The user finishes with this APP module and executes something from the core EXE or another APP module. Those will use the APP cached class which may be the same version, and older version, or a newer version. Hopefully it will be some compatible version. Do you feel lucky? This is not to say you cannot clear out the cache, or figure a way to release everything as you go in and out of the APP modules. I think life is too short to worry about managing these things. Otherwise I might enjoy coding in C++ more than a high level language such as VFP. It is my opinion that this model might work for something like account packages where users focus only on one module or at least one module at a time. If your app is going to be event driven and different modules will have active components at the same time, then I think you best consider not using this technique. I'll be interested in hearing if others have solved this and are using this architecture. Rick White Light Computing, Inc. www.whitelightcomputing.com www.rickschummer.com 586.254.2530 - office 586.254.2539 - fax _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
