Whats the best way to query an online database server (from a desktop app)?

Question

I'm building a small dynamic web form that connects to a database. I also want to create a small desktop application that allows users to query and update the database.

what is the best language to code an application (that will sit on the users home computer) to send and receive data from the database on the web server?

Any tips or how tos?

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible to interact a 'Web app' with a 'Desktop app' but besides the programming language, you will also have to purchase/setup a third-party 'NetWare' for this and that you'll have to make some few tweaks on your network addressing and some more 'inter-network issues'.

As of right now I haven't seen yet a .NET-based program that has this capability, for this could raise many communication loopholes and security breaches.

But if you are familiar with Microsoft's "decieved" language, VisualFoxPro, it has this automation feature called 'FOXISAPI' that can be utilised both in web apps and desktop apps.

I'm not sure though that VFP's FOXISAPI is what you need.

Also, Microsoft already made a statement that they will not continue on with VFP and that they will support it until 2015 only. That means no more patches for errors and bugs will be created for it after that year.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I would use C#, but any .NET language would be well suited for this. Break out the common code into a separate DLL project that both the desktop app and web app can use. You'll need to be careful to keep all UI related stuff out of this library. You could look at using Silverlight for the web app. You might get more code reuse that way, and both Silverlight and desktop UI's can be be written in xaml. But Silverlight is still very immature, and it's a small subset of the API available for the desktop.

Answer 3

On GNU/Linux, I've heard Python is great for writing those sorts of apps. Very fast to code, and fast to run, along with great GTK+ bindings.



What's that you say? Windows? No clue. There is no such thing as a best language in which to code a Windows application because there's no such thing as a good Windows application. Bye.

Answer 4

In windows, I would recomend VB.net or C#. They are full of controls for making database connections and easy to make an interface. Also sort of depends on what kind of server you are running. MySQL, SQL, etc. Chances are you find some code on PlanetSourceCode.com that you can modify to meet your needs.

Answer 5

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