CodeCharge Studio

Choosing Web Technology

Making technology choices is one of the most difficult and critical decisions facing any organizations. After the web application is built future developments may require that the application to be converted to another programming language or integrated with software that utilizes a different technology. CodeCharge Studio makes it easier to convert a web application created with it from one language to another. 

Technology decisions are often based on the available budget, the operating system preference and available database. Here we describe how these factors influence your decision. Note that the following subsections are meant for informative purposes to those who are new to web development and do not yet have a technology preference. The final decision is up to you and you should always perform proper research before making long-term decisions.

Cost

If you're looking for the most inexpensive solution then you've probably heard that Linux with the Apache web server, MySQL database, and PHP scripting engine can be obtained and installed for free. This is also the technology of choice for many small web sites, though it is also used with large web projects, such as parts of the Yahoo web site. Some flavors of Java for Linux can also be obtained at no cost, as well as PERL.

Another popular alternative is Windows with IIS and MS Access running ASP or .NET programs. This environment can be installed at a cost below $500, but at some point you could outgrow MS Access as it is a limited database sufficient for a small number of users. The CodeCharge community Website, http://www.gotocode.com successfully used MS Access for over a year. However, we found that the server occasionally crashed when more than 10 users submitted information at exactly the same time. Thus the recommended alternative for Windows users is to use MS SQL database, although this brings the cost of the system to over $1,000 and even much more if you plan on implementing a scalable, multi-server solution. If you're willing to spend the extra money then you can also consider obtaining ColdFusion or Java for either Linux or Windows.

If you do not require to have your own dedicated server, then you can easily find many web hosting companies that offer both Linux and Windows Web hosting plans for anywhere between $10 and $50, or more, for advanced needs. The price usually covers support for a variety of technologies, including PHP, Java, PERL, and ColdFusion for the Linux platform as well as ASP, .NET, Java, and ColdFusion for the Windows platform.

Operating System Preference

If you love the Linux operating system or your management requires the use of Linux for web hosting then you are most likely to use the Apache web server and a MySQL database running PHP, Java, or ColdFusion applications. Choose PHP if you're new to the web and do not have specific requirements. Otherwise, if you need to make a long-term decision, then it is important that you research all available technologies.

If you prefer the Windows operating system, or Windows is your organization's standard, then you'll most likely use it with the IIS web server and MS SQL database running ASP or .NET (C# or VB) programs. Choose ASP if you need a technology that is easy to understand and learn, but keep in mind that Microsoft's current focus is on .NET technologies, thus you should strongly consider using it sooner rather than later. It is also possible that ASP will be slowly phased out and not available in future versions of Windows. If you're already familiar with any object-oriented technologies, then .NET is probably the best choice for you anyway. C# is derived from C++, while VB.NET is derived from Visual Basic but adapted to support object-oriented programming constructs similar to C#.

Database

If you already have an existing database and want to create a web interface for it, then your technology decision may be related to the type of database. For example, if you use a Windows compatible database, such MS Access or MS SQL, you should probably consider using the ASP or .NET technology on a Windows-hosted IIS server.

If your existing database is MySQL, then you are probably already familiar with Linux and you may want to consider using it with PHP. If you do not have a database yet, then you should first become familiar with the database concepts and create your database for use with CodeCharge Studio. Choose MS Access if a visual interface and ease of use is important to you, or choose MySQL if you need better scalability and don't mind learning a little bit of SQL.

See also

Getting Started: Setting up the work environment


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