> Dave, you have mentioned a few times that you favor > developing the front end in Cold Fusion (and of course > DHTML and Javascript), the back end in a SQL Database, > and all of the business logic in a middle layer. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I favor a four-tier approach. What I do favor, though, is partitioning the logic within an application across multiple tiers. I would argue that CF would primarily be a middle tier, rather than a true front-end; HTML, JavaScript/DHTML, and Flash (nowadays, especially Flash) would make up the front-end. Likewise, data manipulation logic can usually fit well within the database, using stored procedures and triggers. Finally, there's the option of placing business logic in an object tier between CF and the database. With this approach, you'd be surprised how little CF needs to be in a CF application! Most of our applications don't have an object tier, though. They do always have the other three tiers. For some applications, an object tier just makes sense - for example, if you're working with message queues or multiple database platforms. > Can you tell us more about what you use for that middle > layer? Do you write custom COM or CORBA objects? > Do you write custom CFX tags in your favorite programming > language? For object tier development, I prefer COM. My preference is driven by ignorance - I don't know enough about CORBA, and I'm not especially fond of the CFX API. Plus, I can write COM in VB - and anyone can be a VB programmer! The only problem with using COM is CF's weak COM interface, which is the biggest obstacle keeping us from using it in more CF apps. > Once Pharaoh comes out do you see yourself using Java for > the business logic layer? I don't think I'll wait that long. I think Java is a nice language, and I'm learning it as fast as I can. It's got very powerful libraries, and it's easier than C++. Plus, I can write cross-platform server-side code in Java. For Windows solutions, though, it's hard not to go with COM, especially if your client is a typical Windows shop with lots of VB guys. I do think that Java is the "language of the future", in that I think it'll replace the use of C++ for general line-of-business application development. Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software http://www.figleaf.com/ voice: (202) 797-5496 fax: (202) 797-5444 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/cf-talk@houseoffusion.com/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
