Getting started with desktop

[CharlesParker]

I am considering building a desktop application. I am very familiar with web applications but not really sure how to get started in regards to the DB portion. The end result would be a local DB with each install that then syncs to a cloud base version of the same via a button click or at a particular time of day. I want to use a cloud based DB preferably MySQL (for both) so that I can build an app for field work that can be synced back to the desktop.
So I guess my question is how do I get started? How do I deploy it? Is there anything I can read that will help me transition into the desktop side of AS?

[Ted Giles]

I have done a few of these Charles.
I would suggest trying the following approach;

Create a test Db in the cloud in SQL
Enter some data
Create a test Workspace on the DT
Create a New Table - it will need to be either and Active or Passive link (read up on the differences)
You will need the connection string for this
You should now see the same data on the DT and through your chosen cloud front end.
All the other features of the DT should be available to build the Forms/Reports/Queries etc

Depending on whether you need to update or search large sets of records FROM the DT - an example might be tidying up or adding information - this may dictate the type of synch you need.
SQL on a DT can be slow, but there are ways around this if necessary.

[Roland]

You can create a desktop application using pure web components and then create connection string for your MySQL database. From there, you can use AlphaDAO to select, update, delete, and insert record. I attached a sample workspace which uses an MsAccess database but you can simply change that with named connection string. This example shows how to select, update, delete, and insert record using AlphaDAO which is fast and so flexible.

[CharlesParker]

Thanks for the ideas and tips guys! I am tabling this adventure for now as I am working heavily on improving speed, adding new features and my normalizing current database for my web application. I am pretty excited about all the new stuff AS has been putting into the latest releases (pre included) with pusher and GraphQL - awesome stuff!