Rick, The point of the thread was to elicit discussion and eventually decide which language/databse is best suited to this project.
> Database of 10 tables is not enough details. I can build a one table > database that has a billion > transactions a day. Well if there were any obscure requirements like that I would have mentioned them. Lets just assume that unless mentioned otherwise this is a sensible normal sized database. No high level of security required, security of source code not important, no special ActiveX requirements, future enhancements are like any business application likely to change, no third party product available, competition is sorely lacking so therefore not important. > What about developer resources, their skill sets, and size of training > budget? What about size of > budget for the retooling? What research has been done to look at all the > language/tool alternatives? > Can the company even afford the time to come up to speed on the new tools? I am the one being employed as their Strategy Consultant and then Project Manager. Nick > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of Rick Schummer > Sent: 09 December 2007 21:28 > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: A Question of Strategy / Crystal Ball required > > I think you missed my point Nick. The choice cannot be really discussed > with a lack of information. > Even with the details you posted in response to the post by Gil and > myself. There are too many > unanswered questions. > > Database of 10 tables is not enough details. I can build a one table > database that has a billion > transactions a day. If you tell me you have one table some people might > conclude MS Access could > have the horsepower. Throw in a billion transactions a day and people will > change their mind. See my > point now? <g> > > What about the security of the data? What about the security of the source > code? What about the > future enhancements? Are their certain ActiveX requirements? A Web > Component? Is a super rich UI > necessary for marketing? What are the competition offering? Is there a > third-party product > available? > > What about developer resources, their skill sets, and size of training > budget? What about size of > budget for the retooling? What research has been done to look at all the > language/tool alternatives? > Can the company even afford the time to come up to speed on the new tools? > Will a competitive > advantage be forgone? > > Too many questions. Too many possibilities. > > Rick > White Light Computing, Inc. > > www.whitelightcomputing.com > www.swfox.net > www.rickschummer.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of NickC > Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 02:58 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: A Question of Strategy / Crystal Ball required > > Vague spec: > All encompassing line of business application, for ten to twenty users. A > couple of say ten table databases plus document management, which could be > another ten table database. Also other external ancillaries, routing of > incoming faxes, iSMTP event sink to route incoming emails, input scanned > documents etc. Basically a Company wide integrated database solution. > > 64bit - That's were the crystal ball comes in, I do not foresee any > genuine > system need for 64bit, but in five years time it might transpire to be a > marketing disadvantage to not be able to run on a 64bit server, then again > it might not matter. > > Database storage - I see no reason why the database cannot reside on the > Companies internal server, which is also their SMTP mail server; most of > the > access will be from internally anyway. There are already a couple of VPNs > in place to allow remote users to connect to that internal server. Maybe > some restricted remote web access might be necessary at some point. > > Nick > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf > > Of Rick Schummer > > Sent: 09 December 2007 17:12 > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: RE: A Question of Strategy / Crystal Ball required > > > > You forgot to mention some or many of the key requirements. I am not > > saying you are doing this, but > > this is where most strategic consultants make a big mistake in my > opinion. > > Pick a language before > > understanding all/most of the requirements. I have worked on too many > > project recoveries where the > > developer picked a language and development tool set based on one > > requirement: what do I need on my > > resume. Sickening. I have walked into project proposal processes where I > > was told what the tools > > were before the project was defined. Skipped it and watched the > failures. > > > > You need to start by collecting the requirements for the project. So far > > you stated two - investment > > timeframe, and maybe a need for 64-bit. If the requirements are done, > > which I would assume is the > > case based on your question, you have to determine the best platform(s) > > for the job (database > > platform, replication schemes, servers (onsite or hosted), workstations > > vs. dumb terminals vs. > > portable (could be a mix), OS mix, distributed vs. local, etc., etc., > > etc.) > > > > Language is important, but probably the most insignificant of the > choices > > you have before you Nick. > > > > Rick > > White Light Computing, Inc. > > > > www.whitelightcomputing.com > > www.swfox.net > > www.rickschummer.com > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > On Behalf Of Nick Causton > > Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 11:07 AM > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Subject: A Question of Strategy / Crystal Ball required > > > > The age old question again I am afraid - which language to use? > > > > We are maybe looking at a largish <$200k development for which we want > to > > get returns for the next ten years, longer if possible. Now lets assume > > that I am being employed as a Strategic Consultant to examine which > > development environment is right for the job, where do I start? > > > > Now I know what the natural answer from most people here is likely to be > > but... bearing in mind the lack of 64-bit future and our ten year > > expectation is that still the right choice? > > > > I look forward to the ensuing discussion. > > > > > > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ 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 Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/!&[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. 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