.Net has become my environment of choice. The Visual Studio IDE is fantastic and the character based U2 stuff that I've used since the 80's seems archaic and I'm not going back. Microsoft has tools, integration and support that's hard to match.
I've become very proficient in both C# and VB.Net and totally agree with you that they are pretty equal as far as application development. VB.Net is easier (readable) but C# is the current 'sexy' language (more object oriented) and more in demand. One thing I've noticed is that no matter what the platform, the key to success seems to be in the ability to efficiently architect your solutions. In the .Net world, that is n-tiered with reusable class libraries. That's the where the talked about improvements in development speed and quality are achieved. Regarding the original post: 1) I think there are only 2 real mainstream options today, Java based or .Net based. My choice would be based on my current resources and environments. If my environment and people resources lean towards Unix and the 'C' world, I'd explore the Java based technologies. If it's Windows and dialects of Basic, then .Net is probably a better fit If you are coming from the MV world, the leap to .Net and VB.Net is far easier IMO. 2) The pain or joy from gui-izing a character app depends on the level of separation of the source app's presentation from the business layer. I've done several and the most successful are those with some type of existing screen handler where the business logic is already somewhat isolated. Your old-school MV app with the screen logic intermixed with the business logic is far more difficult as you really end up redesigning the entire function. There lies the beauty and power of an n-tier architecture. With each layer defined as separate, callable libraries, you end with an environment that is nimble in regards to changing technologies. Pure gold for software houses and end-user application life cycle and longevity. Mike Randall -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Leach Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 12:25 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [U2] Straw Poll - what GUI do you/would you use? Hi I've been writing (and using) GUI and web applications for UniVerse for over 15 years, and I've used most of the standard technologies. Over the years ... Brian > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Baker Hughes > Sent: 12 January 2007 15:58 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [U2] Straw Poll - what GUI do you/would you use? > > Perhaps this question should've gone to the community list > but I didn't want to miss the technical readers, nor their > technical input. > > I'm conducting a straw poll about the 'preferred' graphical > user interface. > Please, no vendors or software providers. [We like you, we > just want to hear from those who actually are in the trenches > with your tools. > Thanks. ;-) ] > > Would you mind responding to any of the following 3 questions: > > 1) In a perfect world, assuming UniVerse or UniData has the > requisite hooks/services, what development environment would > you use to put a graphical user interface on a character > based application? Be concise if responding on-list. Rants > are welcome to my direct email. > > 2) What was your *best* experience GUI-izing a character application? > What language/tool? How long did it take? Was business logic > already separated from presentation layer? > > 3) What was your *nightmare* experience GUI-izing a character > application? What language/tool? How long did it take? Was > project abandoned/completed? Was business logic already > separated from presentation layer? > > Please forgive any repetition with previous threads, some of > which I've read. > > Thanks exceedingly for any response. If you don't 'name > names' this will be of no use, yet we are hoping this will > not degrade into a trashing spree. We are grateful to all > those providers/vendors who are contributing to the synergy > of our market, wherever their toolset is along the continuum > of perfection. There are likely factors, beyond the toolset > itself, that contributed to the *nightmares* - please give > credit where due. > > > R. Baker Hughes > UniVerse Programming > Mouser Electronics, Inc. ------- u2-users mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
