Web-based engineering software

[EngWade]

All,

Looking for any insight here, and I apologize for the vagueness, but there is a gag order on the project. I'm tasked with researching the feasibility of a web-based program that will utilize a GUI and reference a database that will perform calculations, and spit the results back to the web-based program. Any ideas on what software language might be best for this? I've been looking into Visual Basic so far, but would like some opinions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[IRstuff]

Why wouldn't you use Java, which is the programming language of choice for tons of existing on-line apps?

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I think either would work. You might check over at the sister website - TEK-TIPS.com.

The computer geeks live there.

 

[IRstuff]

People are more likely to already have the Java Runtime installed, compared to those that might have the VB Runtime installed.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[EngWade]

Thanks for the replies. I think ideally, this program would be web-based, but might have the option of being downloaded, so it could reside on one's local harddrive to speed up computations. After which, the results would be returned back to the web for storage and archiving on "our" server. That's an option being debated at the moment, anyway. Java wouldn't be able to accomodate this, right?

I will check on Tek-Tips, too. Thanks for the tip.

 

[IRstuff]

Why not? I've got lots of apps on my PC that use Java. And again, VB requires the VB runtime package, so installation is just that much more complicated.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[IRstuff]

The other thing to consider is, considering the thread just below this one about iPad apps, is that Java is way more portable than VB, so you could run your app on any computing platform that supports Java, including smart phones, iPads, etc.

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[EngWade]

IRStuff, you seem to be a pretty good resource, thanks for all the responses. What you say makes a lot of sense, and I know that one of the ultimate paths for this project is to end up on mobile devices. Apparently I will need to do more research on the capabilities of Java. I assume Java can communicate with databases (Access, Excel, etc.) and support graphical user interfaces?

 

[beej67]

Java is what you want. No need to ask more questions. It was built from the ground up to do exactly the tasks you're asking about.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East -

http://www.campbellcivil.com

 

[IRstuff]

Java runs many video games on various platforms; so...

TTFN

FAQ731-376
Chinese prisoner wins Nobel Peace Prize

 

[FrancisL]

MS Visual studio would be an option

Francis

http://www.controldraw.co.uk

http://www.s88control.blogspot.com

 

[atook]

It sounds like you want a page (mobile or standard) to take input, then run the calculations(on said input) on your server and output results to a webpage (mobile or standard) Since the calculations run on your server, many technologies can be employed: .NET would work on a MS based server, and perl, python, java(server-side) or C++ would be good choices for a *nix based server.

Keep in mind that any runtimes (such as java) that run on the client machine are easier to compromise or copy.

Tim Grote - The Irrigation Engineers.

http://www.irrigationengineers.com