On 06/01/2007, at 1:03 PM, Daniel L. Taylor wrote:
Or with the improvements in AJAX techniques, programs such as http://
www.gliffy.com/ replace offline apps altogether.
Yeah...I've heard that one before. In the late 90's I believe. I
didn't buy it then either ;-)
It is possible you could be more cynical than me about silver
bullets, especially when it comes to GUI app development and cross-
platform solutions. Unlikely, but just possible :-)
The reason I posted a URL was to get people to have a look at just
how seriously good such apps can be. *I* was pretty impressed. I
suspect I will also be impressed by some of the Google Apps if I test
them.
A completely online architecture might at least have a shot if app
sizes, I/O, and CPU requirements were the same as in, oh, 1990. But
they're not even close.
AJAX style stuff isn't download, it's incremental download of bits as
you need them (If you ever did 4D stuff, much like their very smart
server downloaded recompiled individual subroutines, forms etc. as
you requested them). It's little bits of JavaScript talking back to a
server in real-time. Of course it requires a connection but apart
from that the bandwidth can be very low.
I would consider it a major advantage if RS had some form of legal
agreement or escrow whereby if the company ever went under, RB
would be open sourced automatically.
I would also consider it a major advantage to be able to purchase a
license whereby I not only got RB, but the source to RB, even under
NDA and even if I had to submit all improvements back to RS.
(Naturally I would expect that to be the most expensive purchase
option.)
Whilst it would be a pain, if you got source to the frameworks alone
that would be enough to guarantee "worst case support" to most clients.
Compiler and IDE would be nice but not strictly essential - there
could be a migration and there would be a huge rush to fill the gap
using one of the other BASIC compilers out there.
In the case of a source-license, what's to really prevent the
source from ending up on BitTorrent?
Nothing, which is why I am very against any suggestions that tie the
chance of framework source access to bolder suggestions to releasing
source to the IDE.
Andy Dent BSc MACS http://www.oofile.com.au/
OOFILE - Database, Reports, Graphs, GUI for c++ on multiple platforms
REALbasic, Python, Mac and Windows development and porting
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