Which RDBMS and development tool should I choose to re-write my personal application?

Question

I have a pawn shop CRUD application written 20 years ago with INFORMIX-SQL / SE (DOS), which currently runs on DOS 6.22 in Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 in Windows Vista. I would like to upgrade this application using the graphical interface, SQL engine and preserve its existing functions. It does not require any network or multi-user capabilities. I would prefer the product to be free.

I would also like to quickly rewrite it with minimal effort. Which tool would you recommend?

I am discussing whether to rewrite my INFORMIX-SQL application using I4GL (character-based) or another Windows / GUI-based tool.

My application is very reliable and has incredible features that my users are very pleased with. The only obstacle that prevents me from effectively penetrating the market is, I suppose, my char application, and I would like to duplicate the same functions with a graphical interface. I feel that faster than the user can process the transaction with my char application, instead of focusing the cursor with the mouse, but the makeup hurts me!

I would like to know specific examples of the limitations, errors or disadvantages of using another development tool before investing a significant amount of time spent on another product. Answers to this question could save me a lot of time and money!

If you visit www.frankcomputer.com , you can watch a video demonstration of my pawnshop application. (CAVEAT: website in Spanish, use google translate to get more or less decent translation of the text. Start the video with a two-minute mark with 720p resolution and full screen to better understand my application.)

Answer 1

Based on your answers and your emphasis on time, to make changes and that you do not seem to want to change the application at all, but are imposed on you by then, you should definitely evaluate Genero from 4js .

This will allow you to use existing code, but provide a more convenient external interface. You can also maintain a single code base supporting both characters and Gui clients.

Answer 2

If I did this, I would probably decide to write a WPF GUI in C # with a SQL Server Express database. An embedded database such as SQLite may also work. But the main reason I would choose this is what I am most familiar with. Someone else is likely to choose something else ...

I can also select ASP.NET MVC and make it a web application if it were an option (you say that multi-tenant is not required, but I say that it is not yet required).

In addition, if you are not the one who develops it (that is, you are going to hire someone to build it for you), then I would say that you must first find a developer and let them choose (or at least say ) technology. If you choose technology up, then you simply limit the scope of developers who can work with you, and there really isn’t much.

Answer 3

I would recommend using Python with the PostgreSQL backend. Now, some will think that this is too much, but after watching your video and reading your site (I had to use a translator ), I suspect that I added flexibility - this is something that you will really enjoy going this route.

The reasons why I would approve this decision are as follows:

• Python and PostgreSQL are great products with awesome communities when you need them.
• Both products have a bright look on the way of development. Since you obviously spent a lot of time and effort setting up SPACE, I bet you will do the same for the next 40 years. So, the tools you choose should now be for you as you continue the development cycle.
• They are both free with friendly licenses.
• Cross-platform support.
• Scalability. You can use PostgreSQL installed locally and connect via a socket or scale it up to multiple servers using a load-balanced connection pool.
• Security.
• Data integrity. This includes how easy it is to make your entire environment easy to back up and therefore easy to recover in the event of a disaster.

Whatever tools you choose. I wish you the best in this project. I can say that you are working on what you really love, and that is what we should strive for more!

Answer 4

Choose any language and technology for you. If you need access to the database and a short runtime, this will be better than Java or Visual Basic. Both have many free tools to get you started.

Answer 5

The top language tags in StackOverflow are C # (with a wide margin), then Java, PHP and DotNet, followed by C ++ and Python. Some of them will be distorted by the origin of Joel and Jeff's site, but any of them are more than capable of completing this task. Personally, I would go with Java or Python, but I don't like to get attached to the Microsoft stack.

wxWidgets and QT can be parameters for GUI components.

From mysql, SQL Server Express, or Oracle Express Edition databases are free and reliable. SQLite is good enough for most single-user applications. I would put this at the bottom of the importance list. For small single-user applications, you should be able to slice and modify database platforms without any problems. The biggest consideration will be how you actually back up / copy / restore data in the event of a disk failure or corruption.