J
Jordan S.
SQL Server will be used as the back-end database to a non trivial client
application.
In question is the choice of client application:
I need to be able to speak intelligently about when one client (MS Access vs
..NET Windows Forms) would be preferred over the other. While I have some
good arguments on both sides, I would appreciate your points of view on the
topic.
For the sake of this discussion, please assume a *non trivial* client
application with, say 120 forms, secure data processing, hundreds of
reports, and a clear need for a rich UI experience (MDI, a variety of rich
UI controls, non trivial printing requirements, etc).
I would appreciate help in compiling arguments both for and against each
technology (MS Access and .NET Windows Forms) as a client application.
So far I have this (in no particular order):
BENEFITS OF a .NET Windows Forms Application:
1. Client can be MDI (whereas Access only SDI)
2. Much richer UI with .NET (vs MS Access UI controls)
3. Easier deployment (with ClickOnce, XCopy, and similar .NET technologies
or methods). The client already has the CLR installed as part of their
standard desktop image - so I need to put nothing more than "XCopy" the
application files onto the local machine.
4. .NET requires a smaller footprint on the client with respect to the use
of 3rd party UI controls. MS Access is a COM-based technology and therefore
requires that 3rd party controls be COM controls. These require installation
to Windows\System32 and associated updates to the Registry (whereas .NET 3rd
party controls require only XCopy deployment to the application folder)
5. 3rd party UI controls for .NET are more prevalent, capable, and rich than
3rd party COM controls. Plus support for COM controls (i.e. number of 3rd
party companies making and supporting them) is expected to only decrease,
not increase, during the coming years - with the exact opposite trend
expected for 3rd party .NET controls.
6. .NET Windows Forms applications can take full advantage of OOP constructs
and patterns - thereby enabling the developers to create applications that
are easier to maintain, more easily extensible, and better architected than
the "equivalent" functionality provided in an MS Access application.
7. Visual Studio .NET significantly increases developer productivity (vs MS
Access support for application development)
8. The .NET base classes significantly increase developer productivity by
pre-packing substantial functionality that would have to be coded from
scratch in MS Access.
9. Runtime performance of a .NET application would likely be faster than MS
Access because MS Access (really Jet) necessarily entails a file server
architecture, while ADO.NET necessarily entails a distributed (and
disconnected) architecture.
10. ADO.NET takes care of connection pooling automatically and provides a
huge amount of built-in functionality that substantially increases developer
productivity and increases programmer control over database communications
and updates (as compared to JET and DAO).
DOWNSIDE OF a .NET Windows Forms Application:
1. Increased expertise required for .NET development - vs. MS Access (at
least that's the perception of the client)
2. Requires the target version of the CLR to be installed on the client
machines (leading possibly to multiple versions of the .NET Framework
installed simultaneously. Not that I have a problem with it, but their
desktop support folks might).
BENEFITS OF a .MS Access Client Application:
1. Less expertise required on the part of the developers (at least that's
the perception of the client).
2. Out of the box it includes many useful UI controls and a first-class
report writer.
DOWNSIDE OF a .MS Access Client Application:
1. Insert right here THE EXACT OPPOSITE of all of the benefits of a .NET
Windows Forms application, then:
2. The client machine must have the correct version of MS Access installed
(i.e. they're stuck with a particular version, or all must upgrade
simultaneously).
3. Passthrough queries would be required in order to get the query
processing to happen on the server. Passthrough queries ential some
additional complexity than non passthrough queries.
4. Without the use of passthrough queries, SQL Server's locking mechanisms
can behave unexpectedly (e.g., locks can unexpectedly be placed on tables
rather than pages or rows) - thereby resulting in slower performance.
5. Date processing logic is less secure because users can, relatively
easily, view and modify the client-side code and/or queries.
Any additions to these lists are greatly appreciated!
Jordan
application.
In question is the choice of client application:
I need to be able to speak intelligently about when one client (MS Access vs
..NET Windows Forms) would be preferred over the other. While I have some
good arguments on both sides, I would appreciate your points of view on the
topic.
For the sake of this discussion, please assume a *non trivial* client
application with, say 120 forms, secure data processing, hundreds of
reports, and a clear need for a rich UI experience (MDI, a variety of rich
UI controls, non trivial printing requirements, etc).
I would appreciate help in compiling arguments both for and against each
technology (MS Access and .NET Windows Forms) as a client application.
So far I have this (in no particular order):
BENEFITS OF a .NET Windows Forms Application:
1. Client can be MDI (whereas Access only SDI)
2. Much richer UI with .NET (vs MS Access UI controls)
3. Easier deployment (with ClickOnce, XCopy, and similar .NET technologies
or methods). The client already has the CLR installed as part of their
standard desktop image - so I need to put nothing more than "XCopy" the
application files onto the local machine.
4. .NET requires a smaller footprint on the client with respect to the use
of 3rd party UI controls. MS Access is a COM-based technology and therefore
requires that 3rd party controls be COM controls. These require installation
to Windows\System32 and associated updates to the Registry (whereas .NET 3rd
party controls require only XCopy deployment to the application folder)
5. 3rd party UI controls for .NET are more prevalent, capable, and rich than
3rd party COM controls. Plus support for COM controls (i.e. number of 3rd
party companies making and supporting them) is expected to only decrease,
not increase, during the coming years - with the exact opposite trend
expected for 3rd party .NET controls.
6. .NET Windows Forms applications can take full advantage of OOP constructs
and patterns - thereby enabling the developers to create applications that
are easier to maintain, more easily extensible, and better architected than
the "equivalent" functionality provided in an MS Access application.
7. Visual Studio .NET significantly increases developer productivity (vs MS
Access support for application development)
8. The .NET base classes significantly increase developer productivity by
pre-packing substantial functionality that would have to be coded from
scratch in MS Access.
9. Runtime performance of a .NET application would likely be faster than MS
Access because MS Access (really Jet) necessarily entails a file server
architecture, while ADO.NET necessarily entails a distributed (and
disconnected) architecture.
10. ADO.NET takes care of connection pooling automatically and provides a
huge amount of built-in functionality that substantially increases developer
productivity and increases programmer control over database communications
and updates (as compared to JET and DAO).
DOWNSIDE OF a .NET Windows Forms Application:
1. Increased expertise required for .NET development - vs. MS Access (at
least that's the perception of the client)
2. Requires the target version of the CLR to be installed on the client
machines (leading possibly to multiple versions of the .NET Framework
installed simultaneously. Not that I have a problem with it, but their
desktop support folks might).
BENEFITS OF a .MS Access Client Application:
1. Less expertise required on the part of the developers (at least that's
the perception of the client).
2. Out of the box it includes many useful UI controls and a first-class
report writer.
DOWNSIDE OF a .MS Access Client Application:
1. Insert right here THE EXACT OPPOSITE of all of the benefits of a .NET
Windows Forms application, then:
2. The client machine must have the correct version of MS Access installed
(i.e. they're stuck with a particular version, or all must upgrade
simultaneously).
3. Passthrough queries would be required in order to get the query
processing to happen on the server. Passthrough queries ential some
additional complexity than non passthrough queries.
4. Without the use of passthrough queries, SQL Server's locking mechanisms
can behave unexpectedly (e.g., locks can unexpectedly be placed on tables
rather than pages or rows) - thereby resulting in slower performance.
5. Date processing logic is less secure because users can, relatively
easily, view and modify the client-side code and/or queries.
Any additions to these lists are greatly appreciated!
Jordan