RE: [HACKERS] web-based front end development

On 29-Jul-99 Thomas Lockhart wrote:
> Hi. There is interest at work in doing some fairly simple inventory
> control using a database. We've already got Postgres up and running
> (for obvious reasons) and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions
> for a good approach to app development for brower-based user
> interfaces.

You begin the star war ;-))

I use three different interface for different tasks

Firstly, I use php3 to make web based interface
http://www.piter-press.ru is an example (not the best, but the only public
available)
PHP3 code looks like

$qu = pg_exec($conn, "select * from users where (uid = '$uid');" );
$nm = pg_numrows($qu);
if ($nm > 0)
{
$data = pg_fetch_object ($qu, $i);
$xpin = crypt($pin, $data->pin);
if ($xpin == $data->pin)
{ BlueEcho("PIN of user '$uid' is valid");
}
else
{ RedEcho("Sorry, you enter incorrect PIN for user '$uid'");
}
}

pg_close($conn);

and seems to be very convenient for sambody familiar with perl or C

Secondly, I use Perl every time as I need write anything for five minits
just because I use Perl about five years.

Perl code looks like (I skip any error check, usually doing inside runSQL)

my $connect_args = 'dbname=voip host=nymph.wplus.net user=dms';
my $conn = Pg::connectdb($connect_args);
my $query = "select uid from users where(opstatus=1 and manstatus=1 and units
< $insure)

$result = $conn->exec("BEGIN");
$result = $conn->exec("DECLARE killer001 CURSOR FOR $query;");

open(EMP,"|$empress");

while( ($result = Voip::runSQL($conn, "FETCH FORWARD 1 IN
killer001;")) )
{ while (@row = $result->fetchrow)
{
runSQL($conn, "begin");
runSQL($conn, "update users set opstatus=2 where(uid = '$row[0]');");
print EMP "update its_user set acctstatus=1 where(userid =
'$row[0]');\n";
runSQL($conn, "commit");
print "User $row[0] disabled\n";
}
}

runSQL($conn,"CLOSE killer001;");
runSQL($conn, "END");
$conn->reset();

Third, I use C++ for really hard tasks (By historical reasons, I use my own
library, not libpq++)
C++ code looks like

pgs = new PgSQL(listdb);
pgs->trace();

sprintf( (char *)qbuf,"select id, email from %s where( msgid < %d );",
(char *) list, msgid);
pgs->openCursor( (char *)qbuf);

while( pgs->fetchNext() )
{
sprintf(update,"update %s set msgid=%d where( id = %s);",
(char *)listn, msgid
send_proc(qbuf, (char *) (*pgs)["email"], fm, (char *)
update );
} // while

pgs->closeCursor();
delete pgs;

I also try to use Java but I find no appropriate task for it.
Main disadvantage to Java - is lots of incompatible browser versions,
for example Lucent made java interface works only on 2 MS Win based
workstations and 0 of UNIX based from about 80 comps. All other have
fonts, security manager or other problems ;-))
(but it's my opinion - any of Java gurus may be completely disagree with me
;-)) )

IMHO, PHP3 is the best choice for Web it self, but bakground programs
should be written in C/C++

So, make your choice and good luck ;-))

>
> There are other applications which would be of interest, so something
> with some growth potential would be helpful.
>
> We have a bit of expertise in Java servlets, etc, so that is one
> option via the jdbc interface.
>
> Are there any options which are particularly "approachable" which
> would allow newbies to get something working if they have some
> existing code to look at?
>
> TIA
>
> - Thomas
>
> --
> Thomas Lockhart lockhart(at)alumni(dot)caltech(dot)edu
> South Pasadena, California

---
Dmitry Samersoff, dms(at)wplus(dot)net, ICQ:3161705
http://devnull.wplus.net
* There will come soft rains ...