Is there a future for desktop applications.

[glenschild]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

Is cheaper tu encrypt 1 hard drive than 1,000.

That is very true and for those in that position fine, but many are individually registered and use laptops as they are needed.

Nevertheless this is getting away from my main point which was that desktop requirements will be around for a long while yet.

Kind regards

Glen

[mmaisterrena]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

Is cheaper tu encrypt 1 hard drive than 1,000.

[glenschild]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

This wouldnt be necesary if all the info was on an internal server

Sorry you are wrong. A recent case of a stolen server resulted in a very hefty fine because the data was not encrypted.

[mmaisterrena]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

I agree that the cloud isnt for every one. but that doesnt means that they wont be using servers or clusters of servers internally (intanet) and that they will be using Web Based software on their browser OS, I think that Is just a matter of time (not much time)

*Google might be the next Microsoft

On a related note there have been several instances over here in recent times of laptops and disks/usb sticks being stolen containing sensitive personal data (often from public/government organisations. ) As a result of this we are being practically forced down the road of having whole disk encryption on all hard disks. That is not a cheap option at all!

This wouldnt be necesary if all the info was on an internal server

[glenschild]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

In my view the "cloud" environment has a major major drawback for some businesses as a result of which I can see it never working in some if not many areas.

I am talking about that dreaded legal and often "stay in business" issue known as data protection.

The legal requirements for the control of personal sensitive information means that in some industries they will NEVER store data somewhere where they do not have complete control.

Take the financial services industry here in the UK. Recent legislative changes require the storage of records for LIFE. It used to be that records had to be kept for a few years after a contract or policy ended. The immediate effect of this is that the sheer volume of physical storage of paperwork is going up and up. It is however allowed for records to be stored electronically BUT the responsibility for the security of the data (in ANY format) lies with the registered individual or firm that sold or services that client.

I am a registered individual (licenced by the Financial Services Authority) and there is no way am I gong to place myself in a vulnerable position of having data somewhere in internet land (and I have not even mentioned the other legal issues over storage of such data outside the borders of the European Union!)

The document archive system I am developing therefore needs to be as secure as possible and involves the ongoing scanning and electronic storage of a massive amount of data. Yes this could be done via a web based system within an Intranet environment. But many such licensed individuals do not operate in such environments, working on stand alone systems. There is plenty of scope and life yet in desktop based systems.

On a related note there have been several instances over here in recent times of laptops and disks/usb sticks being stolen containing sensitive personal data (often from public/government organisations. ) As a result of this we are being practically forced down the road of having whole disk encryption on all hard disks. That is not a cheap option at all!

[mmaisterrena]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

I think hardware vendors will concentrate on potable stuff like smartphones, netbooks etc (isnt this all ready heppening?) and the other side is that more powerfull servers will be needed.

[Steven P.]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

Hi,

If computing power will be less important, what business model will there be left for chip companies like intel and AMD where faster is better. The lifecycle of computers in companies will increase from 3 to 15 years since the browser is all we need ?

I honestly think with this kind of premise, the hardware world and inevitably the software world, will shoot itself in the foot. I don't believe in Cloud computing, since I want to have control over my data instead of leaving it in the hands of some corporations (such as google) that can use it for their purposes whatever they may entail.

Time will tell I would say but if computing power will only be necessary for playing games like Crysis 2 or Prototype, the future for hardware will surely be bleak.

Cheers
Steven

[mmaisterrena]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

Sorry but there's no long term future for desktop applications, Browsers will be our Operating Systems by 2016, so we better act upon this. Software will depend less and less on the power of our Personal Computers and more on the power of servers , clusters of servers and the infamous Cloud,

Its a new way of thinking.. to putt it simple: why have the same "Word Document" on 1000000 different hard drives when we can just share that 1 Document and even interact collaboratively with it.

I even think that alpha5 will be web-based by version 13 (how ever its called). they will use their own technology to do this in the same way they used xbasic to make the current version of alpha.

[FrankR]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

There needed to be at least one more choice to the poll:

1. No, keep the desktop alive and increase the development at it.
2. Yes, stop desktop development and focus entirely on Web based solutions.

3. Going forward, focus more on the web side than the desktop side

[FrankR]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

The ability to do the desktop side shouldn't go away tomorrow.
It has a place. But, no doubt in my mind - as the days and years pass,
the web side becomes more important, while the desktop side becomes less important.

And I would make the same argument for - embedded, file-based databases.
As time passes, less and less solutions make sense with an embedded, file-based database, and more and more solutions - even small ones - make sense with an actual database engine.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

This is all "browser based" and that does not mean that it needs to be used on the web. Apps created for an intranet will offer similar functionality to the "desktop" applications that you now think are being forgotton about. It allows one to much more simply create multi-user applications that can now run on any machine or OS that you want - Windows, Mac, Windows Mobile, Linux, Unix, iPhone, etc. And if you decide to you want portions of your app visible to the outside world, by altering your security settings and not your app then it can be.

Great point(s), Doug. One could have a single user browser based app - if you want. The web or browser based applications may not be the be-all/end-all of computer functionality, but they do provide a lot of advantages (as you state).

... Printing HTML reports ? Where is the pagebreak ?
oh, there is none... hopefully you're using the A4 format in your printer.

Well, sure, but you would probably print to PDF, which Alpha does automatically in v10.

Do we need to mention the technical difficulties of users modifying the same data ? Keeping track of state with connection-less software ?
...
The same methods still applied but it's much more error prone. Users closing the browser without saving ... no message will be displayed when you close the browser. Locking of users on an application level is virtual impossible since you don't know what the actions of the user will be in a internet browser ... etc...

No, still the use of desktop application should be stressed but maybe more in a hybrid way.

Steven,

You make good points too. The desktop is far from "dead" and may never be. Who knows? But one thing is clear, the computing world continues to rapidly evolve, and for now, at least, the web is in the forefront of that - and so is Alpha.

[NicholasWieland]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

All are correct!

I believe that the "INTRANET APPS" are hybrid in nature.

• deployment is easy
• updates one place
• allows workers to work from home without - logmein, gotomeeting fee.
• allows any operating system to use, windows, linus, unix, mac etc.
• connects smart phone technology to use Alpha

The major players in the industry are betting on offsite computing and datacenters to be off site and you will be paying for the use of an app by month no updates smaller IT departments etc.

Does that calculate to the small and medium size businesses?
Not really but they would save money too.
Intranets Applications are where we all need to go.
Desktop in decline. I see the desktop maybe for ftp downloads file transfers etc.. and that will make some areas that maybe needed to be easier but browsers are going to be the future!

Those on desktop only better come over to the Intranet side and Alpha has given you just that ability, so start in.

Liquid Forms! Oh baby.

Good Luck
Nicholas Wieland

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

The enormous amount of time invested in web based utilities in version 9 and the new codeless ajax for the web based version 10 gives me the feeling that the desktop is some what "under developed" and more or less dead.

Hi Marcel,

I haven't opted "in" to your poll. I feel you posed the questions a little one-sided. There is an inherent bias embedded in the questions. You are suggesting an "either/or" scenario. Maybe you didn't mean it that way, but that's the way the questions are stated. I think a more objective way to state the questions would be something like this:

• Would you prefer that Alpha focused most of their effort on desktop applications and functionality?
• Would you prefer that Alpha focused most of their effort on web based applications and functionality?
• Would you prefer that Alpha more or less evenly divided their effort between desktop applications/functionality and web based applications/functionality?

I'm not criticizing you, just pointing out what I see as a polling flaw.

P.S. I would be curious to see Alpha's sales statistics. It may be that the majority of new sales are web based interests?

[NoeticCC]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

I am much more on the web based side than desktop but I do believe a good mix of well-interacting hybrid apps is the way to go, especially more interaction between desktop and web components of the same project.

[rleunis]

Re: Is there a future for desktop applications.

I think the poll is too black and white...

Hybrid apps, at least for the near future, are a big selling point for Alpha.

For certain I would like to have the Alpha developer program as a PC program. I would never like to develop on a program in the cloud (like wavemaker). I can now develop on my laptop when I am in a plane (me in the clouds).

There will certainly stay a need for Desktop applications (f.i. heavy processor demanding apps), but for all the rest, I think web based apps are the future. No hazzle anymore with PC installations and roll out.

regards, Ron