Re: Browser enablement

 "Interpretive runtime environments like Net.Data and PHP are very
seductive from a developer's point of view."

I find that statement to be SO TRUE.  Net.data currently handles our
modest Intranet/Internet requirements very efficiently.

-----Original Message-----
From: web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Nathan Andelin
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 11:24 PM
To: Web Enabling the AS400 / iSeries
Subject: Re: [WEB400] Browser enablement

Others are heavily user interface oriented - gather inquiry 
parameters, process the inquiry, present the results and offer a

printing option.



For purely inquiry and reporting applications I'd suggest using IBM's
Net.Data, which is automatically bundled with the HTTP server, and is
probably already installed at your customer's sites.

Some people may question a Net.Data recommendation in light of IBM's
recent promotion of PHP, which is architecturally similar, and has huge
worldwide use and recognition, and is officially supported by Zend.

Some people speculate that IBM will withdraw support of Net.Data, but my
gut feel is that IBM will continue supporting it for perhaps 10 more
years.  Net.Data is supported on OS/400 releases prior to V5R3.  PHP
requires V5R3 or higher, if that's a consideration.

Both Net.Data and PHP files are interpreted at runtime.  There's no
compilation process.  Just type in a URL that references a file on the
IFS that contains Net.Data or PHP script and HTML, and you're rewarded
with an immediate response.  Interpretive runtime environments like
Net.Data and PHP are very seductive from a developer's point of view.

Net.Data runs under the native virtual machine while PHP runs under
PASE.  From an end-user's perspective, Net.Data appears to perform
better than PHP, but that's just a personal observation, not supported
by any real benchmarks.

For software products that support a lot of data entry, maintenance, and
transaction processing, then interpretive runtime environments like
Net.Data and PHP are a poor choice, in my opinion.  A framework that
provides more structure, is critical.

A few people accepted my offer from a different thread a couple days ago
to forward a whitepaper about AJAX design patterns and best practices,
which features a System i centric model for data entry, inquiry, and
maintenance.  If something like that would be helpful, then the offer
still stands.  Just send me a private email.

Nathan.





 
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