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Hi Folks,
ALPHA 5
Alpha 5 does succeed with an active link to the existing database very nicely through localhost. And looks very nice, you get the excellent Alpha 5 type of control panel. Now i have to figure out which features are actually intrinsic to the MySQL database (ie. will show up in Navicat et al .. such as adding fields, etc.) and which are specific to Alpha 5. The interesting issue is keys and linking, which presumably is built into MySQL. Which then allows for Alpha-specific multi-table browse and updates with popups etc. Even if I just set that up for myself for now, it is nice to have.
This type of hot link mysql access is available in V. 10, I think not 9. ... I am using the PC Utilities #23 6-month trial version (normal trial is a month). If I want to actually put it on the web for external public access I think I would need the server version. However since V. 10 would have allowed me to enter the IP# etc. rather than local host, I possibly can access my own data on the Net server with V. 10 with the Alpha nice stuff. (Although I would be more likely to work at home and then FTP the new version .. if the database is not shared and there is no sync concern.) So my sense is that this non-Server version is sufficient for database manipulation, but not actual production end-user visibility (front-end to external users). Yet the Alpha database manipulation is far slicker than Navicat so it has a purpose for myself even if I do not yet opt for a server version.
One point of interest. My historical problem with Alpha (post-DOS Alpha 4) is a windows programming event-driven paradigm that tends to put code snippets here and there and make it very difficult to have a solid code repository where you know where to find everything . (The experts develop their own schemas.) Compared to more integrated tools like Clarion, Magic, WinDev and more. However, ironically, this would be less of a problem in many web devs, which often will be much simpler than a complex inventory - accounting app. Many web applications would be "code-simple".
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Here is the overall status.
I'll try to have it set up within a week for y'all to see what works production wise.
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SERVER
WAMP works fine.
XAMPP had a little problem and I would like to try again. theoretically I would like to have 2-3 servers on my disk with a control toggle as to which one is on. (So I do not have to turn off the services by hand.) I wonder if there is a little control for services-for-server manipulation, I probably could do it with AutoHotKey, batch file, etc.. yet I wonder if there is a tool created.
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MYSQL
Navicat and Alpha V seem to work fine on my local server. There are other programs to consider as well. Very pleased.
The real question is what I will eventually use for the end-user front-end to a shared Database. One of the two tools above, or something else ? And will I end up using the same tool for read-only as for update shared.
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BLOGGING
WordPress loaded excellently.
Are there others to consider, or simply stick with 'ol faithful ?
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CMS (Content Manage Systems)
Cushy and Surreal and others considered, yet for now that is not needed since needs are being covered by the other sections here. Wouldn't mind an install to get the feel of how it works.
To a certain extent these seem to have a different purpose, when the developer wants to help the end-user to know how to add to his own website, so it might not be very relevant to my purposes.
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WEBDEV
(Remember my goal here is not to muck around too much in coding, although I hope to pick up more skills a little later.)
SiteSpinner - works fine with publishing to the web. Next I want to use it to publish first to localhost, before going to the web.
Website Baker is my new tool of choice. Designed to be worked on at the server level, I think, a bit different. Interesting question, since the server environment is more involved, why doesn't Website Baker allow a simpler publish-and-send alternative. Why does it need to be installed on a server.
On the higher level, Dreamweaver of course gets consideration, however I do not think I have a trial period left.
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OTHER NET - PUBLISHING TOOLS
Your suggestions here.
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PUBLISHING to the WEB
Stay tuned. I do have the website I most want to use, a little raw at the moment. Mostly this is planned to be straight FTP. It seems like that is the proper dual-pane file manager level, using the built-in tools is the alternative , e.g. SiteSpinner does publish to the web nicely. However since the idea is to mirror the home system with the remote, straight FTP from local host region to Web is the pure way.
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Your thoughts welcome.
Shalom,
Steven
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