java STW or winforms in as desktop application

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elhanan
  • Start date Start date
E

Elhanan

hi.. all

a client of ours is considering to move from a dos application to
windows desktop application.


the application is for traveling agency, the database is rather large.
their current database for other application is SQL-SERVER.

they have 12 users.

i suggested doing it in winforms, but my boss is against the idea
becouse he doesn't have the man power (aside from me) to maintain it.

so he is on the side of java with swt.

to be honest my brief knowledge with winforms says it might not as
slick as VB6.

my main concern is that java is slow and non responsive when it comes
to windows interface, but ecplise 3.0 shows otherwise.

so JAVA or winforms?
 
I think you need to consider is .NET (not just Winforms) or Java. You will
find that .NET provides some really neat classes for accessing your
SQL-SERVER (ADO.NET). You will find that productivity in writing the data
tier of your application is going to be much higher with .NET than with Java
because the classes have been designed specifically for that function.

So lets recap: workstations running Windows, database running SQL Server,
client should be....probably .NET and you will have much better integration
across all phases of your project development.

I believe that with all new releases of Windows will come equipped with .NET
so your .NET apps will function properly across many upgrade paths and no
need to deploy anything like the Java virtual machine. I also have
programmed some enterprise apps with Java but given your environment I think
..NET is better suited.

Also you will need to look deeper into .NET. IMO is much better than VB6.
Pick the language/platform that is best suited for your project
requirements.

Alex
 
Elhanan,

I think that the Java model, when dealing with UI elements on a Windows
platform is a little slow as well (then again, I haven't seen it in a while,
so I can't be completely sure). I've also noticed that it doesn't always
have the Windows look/feel (and I don't know if they have the ability to
handle XP look and feel).

You are right, Windows Forms is not as slick as VB6. It's slicker
actually.

I haven't used Eclipse, but I find that System.Windows.Forms is fine for
generating desktop applications in .NET. A side benefit of using .NET is
that you will be able to use the System.Data namespace (and the
System.Data.SqlClient namespace) to access the data, which will probably be
easier than if you had done it in Java (depending on your prior experience,
of course).

Hope this helps.
 
i suggested doing it in winforms, but my boss is against the idea
becouse he doesn't have the man power (aside from me) to maintain it.
Click to expand...
hhhmmm seems like a great reason to go with WinForms over java. Swing apps
are very hard to learn. :<
so he is on the side of java with swt.
Click to expand...
One thing your boss should consider is not the language you want to pick.
That is a relatively small part of the equation, IMHO. I've done VB4/5/6,
java swing/web apps and am now moving to C#/WinForms/.NET apps and I MUCH
prefer working/developing WinForm applications. The key here is not the
language, but the underlying APIs, exposed functionality, ease of
development and use. I used to spend SOOOOO much time with JBuilder/java
and Swing problems/crap that I would still have nothing to show for it at
the end of the day. :<
to be honest my brief knowledge with winforms says it might not as
slick as VB6.
Click to expand...
Nope, it's MUCH slicker! You have the power of C++ with the ease of use of
VB. Ok, ok, I'm exaggerating a small bit, but not by much to be honest.
Java was supposed to be the same thing, but the Swing APIs, the
LayoutManagers, and threading (you CANNOT ignore that with Swing apps, if
you do, you are indeed slowing your app down), they all added layers of
complexity which made learning the language insignificant. :< I even
thought the Designer in JBuilder would help me out. Again, insignificant
compared to learning how to properly use the APIs.

Now, you (or some other reader) might comment, I'm dumb, not smart, but I'm
just an average coder/developer trying to make a living. I started out with
VB4/5/6, I'm not an assembly/C++ person, and I'm a MUCH happier person with
C#. I'm MUCH more productive with C#, the help you get with C# on the
internet is FAR superior to anything java! :< After three years of java
apps (thick and thin), I'm much happier and FAR more productive with
C#/WinForms and .Net than I ever was with java.
so JAVA or winforms?
Click to expand...
That's your call (or your bosses). But I know where I'm spending my
investment/time/energy! :>

Good luck.
 
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