Re: Project Advice, Please
Alf P. Steinbach
> I've been reading books and Googling for a few weeks trying to figure
> out how to do this project, and I've only managed to confuse myself. I
> was hoping you guys could help me figure this out?
>
> I've used PHP, MySQL and HTML to create a genealogical research log
> that I run on localhost. What I'd really like to do is turn this idea
> into a "real" computer program -- but I don't know where to start.
> I've looked into compilers for PHP (which I already know -- well, I
> can "make it work" anyway <g>), and thought about learning Python or
> Perl -- or C or C++.
>
> The selections at my local library are woefully inadequate, and though
> I love to buy books, my resources aren't unlimited, so I'd like to
> make sure I get the right books to accomplish the desired end result.
> I want GUI and need to connect to an embedded relational database
> (SQLite?).
>
> I'm looking at the book recommendations in this group from the past
> few months, but I can't tell if any of them address these particulars.
> My programming experience consists of playing with PHP over the past
> few years, a little CGI before that, and a really cool real estate
> evaluation program that I wrote in BASIC over 25 years ago. That's it
> -- basically, a beginner.
>
> So, mostly, I usually just decide what I want to do and then just get
> a book and learn how to do it. But I knew nothing about
> object-oriented programming or compilers when I started looking into
> this, and I'm still lost. Frustrating! I just seem to be meandering
> around. So I'm not looking for an "easy" solution -- but a straight
> shot would be nice. :-)
>
> So -- can I do what I want in C++? AND can I do it before my
> descendants are researching ME? :-)
What's wrong with your current solution?
It sounds like it's ideal.
With just a little tweaking it will even support accessing and updating your
data from Anywhere(TM).
Cheers,
- Alf
Kaz Kylheku
> Yes, it works great for me, but I've talked to some other people who
> would like to use it and in its current state it requires either
> setting up a website and hosting (and all that goes with that) or
> installing Apache, PHP, MySQL, etc., locally. While I like to play
> with that stuff, these other folks don't. :-)
So, what that means is that your program needs a installer which hides
all those pieces (and isolates them from any other installation
of the same thing).
Users don't care if the program has to install a copy of Apache, PHP and MySQL,
if they don't have to do it themselves, and if it doesn't mess up their
existing Apache, PHP and MySQL if they have them already installed.
> There's also the possibility that I could just set all this up in a
> website for them (being able to access from "Anywhere(TM)" would be
> great, yes!)
At that point, it would be easier to ship a virtual OS image.
You can deliver an installation of the whole ``LAMP stack''.
If you write your proram in C++, that doesn't mean you have no installation
dependencies. You're going to need libraries which are not no the user's
system.
If you continue using the browser as your UI, what will serve pages to the
browser? If you don't want Apache, you will need some C++ library that lets
your application host its own HTTP server. That library will either have to be
shipped with your program, or you have to bug the users to fix that dependency
themselves.