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Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

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    Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

    I currently have Alpha Five v.11. As a county government agency, all of our database programs are desktop-based and are run in-house only. I currently have between 8-10 different Alpha Five applications that are working quite well for us. Now for the dilemma . . . over 20 years ago I wrote a rather complex dBASE IV application that tracks Home Improvement Program clients from the inquiry phase thru the settlement process. I need to rewrite the application so we can finally part with the old XP computers that we are just holding on to just so we can run dBASE.

    I know I am capable of creating an improved version of the program in Alpha Five in dbf format; but since the release of Alpha Anywhere, I am gun shy about spending months developing an application in ver. 11 that may all too soon face a similar fate as my dBASE program. I do not need any web or mobile capabilities, nor do I anticipate needing them in the future. After searching thru the forums, I cannot find a clear consensus on whether it is prudent to continue to create desktop applications in Alpha in light of their focus on web- & mobile-based applications.

    Any insight would be very much welcomed. Also can I run my version 11 desktop apps in Alpha Anywhere without any conversion or modification.

    Thanks in advance,

    Krystal

    #2
    Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

    FYI -
    Just like you (and many others) am just using the desktop applications and don't need the web & mobile applications (and the additional cost).
    Today I received a sales email that offered the
    "Alpha Anywhere Developer Edition Which includes all updates, new features, and improvements automatically for 1 year. You can continue using the software after the 1 year is up"
    - price is quoted as $399 unlike the price permutations previously offered.
    Stan

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

      Originally posted by StanLisica View Post
      FYI -
      Just like you (and many others) am just using the desktop applications and don't need the web & mobile applications (and the additional cost).
      Today I received a sales email that offered the
      "Alpha Anywhere Developer Edition Which includes all updates, new features, and improvements automatically for 1 year. You can continue using the software after the 1 year is up"
      - price is quoted as $399 unlike the price permutations previously offered.
      Stan
      Check if that includes runtime. I think I paid the same, including runtime that was quoted directly with a salesperson not off the site at that time, month and a half ago.
      Answer to Krystal - my early testing of two complex apps current in v10.5 ran as expected - only on a testbed AA developer - not in distribution yet.
      I'm confident going forward to v12 (AA) in the next weeks. My only delay was that my notebook currently is falling over, I can't re-install v10 (unusual situation) on the new NB and had to finish the current project.
      Done that now, ready to switch over.
      I also expect that the ongoing work in v12 will run on users' v10 runtimes, until I get those users to V12 runtime. If not I will just gear up a bit.

      I firmly believe , althoght there is not much new going to be offered by AS on desktop, it will not be dropped - that would just be silly.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

        silly of me to participate and express an opinion when I have no experience in building desktop, but
        over 20 years ago I wrote a rather complex dBASE IV application that tracks Home Improvement Program clients from the inquiry phase thru the settlement process. I need to rewrite the application so we can finally part with the old XP computers that we are just holding on to just so we can run dBASE.
        dbase died long time ago and the program still runs and the only reason to get to new database program is the xp computer line according to the post. I have a commercial program written in FoxPro that runs good still in windows 7 pro.
        if the program is written in alpha version 11 and runs for 20 years ( I am sure it will ) that is good return on investment. 20 years is considered lifetime in many industries!
        why version 12 when there are no or negligible improvements on the desktop side?
        thanks for reading

        gandhi

        version 11 3381 - 4096
        mysql backend
        http://www.alphawebprogramming.blogspot.com
        [email protected]
        Skype:[email protected]
        1 914 924 5171

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

          I keep lamenting that Alpha has no interest in adding new desktop features. If you are in desktop mode only, and if you have v11 (or v10 for that matter) I can't see a compelling reason to pay extra $$$ for v12. OTOH, I wouldn't hesitate to build a new v10, v11 or v12 desktop app. It remains a solid & very powerful program.
          Peter
          AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

          [email protected]
          https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


          Comment


            #6
            Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

            The reasons I upgraded was two-fold
            First the v10 I have was bought in an entity of which I was a partner, split at the end of that project and I would rather own lic. to both dev copies.
            Buying V11 now is pointless , v12 ill has a possibility of bug fixing (and enhancements? on DT)
            The WCD, as coined by Marcel in V11, was a flash in the plan that doesn't continue into the future IE (I'm open to correction) and v12 is still future proof so far.
            The new Dbase is out and compiles into an EXE nicely, though lacking the advanced features list of Alpha - direct data access is easier, but a lot more long coding is required.
            I'm sure I can get away with saying that here because its good for A5 no?

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

              The argument for moving to V12 is that when there is a new version of Windows, V10-11 will likely not run on it, and tell you "not licensed for the OS."

              V10 will not run on Windows 8
              Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
              972 524 8714
              [email protected]

              ____________________
              "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                Originally posted by martinwcole View Post
                The argument for moving to V12 is that when there is a new version of Windows, V10-11 will likely not run on it, and tell you "not licensed for the OS."

                V10 will not run on Windows 8
                Oh. Good point.
                Peter
                AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                [email protected]
                https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                  And what's the assurance that when a new version of Windows is introduced that v12 will run on it?
                  There can be only one.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                    Originally posted by Stan Mathews View Post
                    And what's the assurance that when a new version of Windows is introduced that v12 will run on it?
                    Hence the "subscription"
                    Peter
                    AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                    [email protected]
                    https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                      No Guarantees, but if I were betting on the come, I would bet that writing a new app in V12 vs earlier versions is the best bet. Since the "won't run on this OS" was built-in to V10, you can bet it is also built-in to V11.

                      Unless they drop the desktop completely they will likely bring it along for new OS's. Although I do think they will eventually drop it, entirely.
                      Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
                      972 524 8714
                      [email protected]

                      ____________________
                      "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                        Well let's hope they don't drop the desktop without first offering it for sale to someone willing to maintain it. I have old versions of Quickbooks that Intuit still keeps up to date. But they also sell their SDK so others can offer specialized modifications. If a company doesn't want to lose entirely a customer base they have spent years building, it seems that will be Alpha's eventual choice too.
                        Robin

                        Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                          I agree, Robin. It would be absolutely foolish of Alpha to completely kill off its own customer base. It's bad enough that there are no new desktop developments which I believe has diminished their traditional user base.
                          Peter
                          AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

                          [email protected]
                          https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                            Peter,
                            I could care less about new developments than I do about fixing bugs and updating the documentation. Eventually it seems a version ought to work as advertised before going on to the 'new and improved'. Maybe it's just me...but have we not seen recently that v11 is still being offered for sale? To me that means support ought to be continuing.
                            Robin

                            Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Do I want to continue using Alpha for desktop only applications?

                              Originally posted by MoGrace View Post
                              Peter,
                              I could care less about new developments than I do about fixing bugs and updating the documentation. Eventually it seems a version ought to work as advertised before going on to the 'new and improved'. Maybe it's just me...but have we not seen recently that v11 is still being offered for sale? To me that means support ought to be continuing.
                              They are still selling V11. You can see it here: http://www.alphasoftware.com/older.asp I think it comes with all the Addins (that I paid for) free. I called sales about the $399 for the V12 deal. This was how it went - You can buy the V12/AA for $399 but that is desktop only. No web stuff works (ie Google Maps, ect). I could have bought the runtime for V12 but that was another $100. Both good for 1 year. If I wanted the server (so I could run Google Maps) on the desktop, plus the V12 developer and RT it was $699. Still too much for my budget. I'll just have to stick with V11, Bing Maps, and V11 RT. Oh well. Feels the world is passing me by.

                              Comment

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