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How will the Application Web server work?

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    How will the Application Web server work?

    I've read the "Internet Plans for Alpha Five" press release linked off the home page, but I'm a newbie to Alpha 5 and have some questions. Sorry if this is redundant to things asked before.

    1. Will you have to be an Xbasic whiz to get anything done with the Alpha Five Web Application Server? Or can the average (non-programming) Web designer hope to be able to use it, counting on Webbish equivalents of Genies and Action scripts?

    2. Will you have to have your own server to use it?

    3. Or is it something that Internet Service Providers can install for the use of their virtual hosting customers the way they offer, for example, ColdFusion? And if so, does anyone have a ballpark figure on how much extra per month that would cost a Web host customer?

    4. Will Alpha Software itself become a host and service provider, charging a monthly fee to those who want to use it? And approximately how much?

    Thanks,

    -- Lauren

    #2
    RE: How will the Application Web server work?

    Though Xbasic will be supported, the intent is to export existing forms & action scripts to the web as-is (I.e. not require any programming on the part of the A5 application developer). There will be some limitations (I.e. some of the properties of forms cannot be supported using standard web controls). Since all our code currently generates HTML.

    The HTTP server will be built into Alpha Five - this we already have a working prototype of. You will need either your own web server of an ISP who would let you install a copy of the server software.

    I am not aware of any plans for alpha itself to become a host, but thats not my department.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: How will the Application Web server work?

      Cian, will we be able to program workarounds - for example, say "buttons" was one of the properties not supported, could we program for the button anyway? either via xbasic, xdialog, and/or html

      Comment


        #4
        RE: How will the Application Web server work?

        Programming around limitations (i.e. my direct editing of HTML) should be easy for us to provide if you export a form to a HTML web page (and then edit the HTML directly). Also, we have a settings property associated with all objects on a form which allows for addition of new properties defined by xbasic (this was added in version 5.0 of alpha five, and is used to implement stylesheets - so implementing Web Tweaks should be straight foreward as well).

        Perhaps a pane can be added to each object that looks like this:

        +----------------------------+
        | HTML generated for control |
        | +-----

        [X] Override the HTML for this control

        +----------------------------------------+
        | |
        | |
        | |
        +----------------------------------------+



        What would be good to have as well is 'placholders' for
        object positions so that your override HTML will update
        correctly.

        Comment


          #5
          RE: How will the Application Web server work?

          Thanks - sounds like by the time we get there it'll work.

          Comment


            #6
            RE: How will the Application Web server work?

            Thank you for your response.

            I've tried looking at ASP/Access and PHP/MySQL solutions for serving up dynamic sites, but they really aren't solutions unless you're a programmer, and I am not. So being able to take an Alpha 5 database to the Web would be a definite draw for nonprogrammers who want to build database-driven sites.

            The HTTP server will be built into future standard retail versions of Alpha 5? Nifty. I hope Alpha will someday post a list of Web hosts who are willing to install the server software for their virtual hosting clients.

            Best wishes,

            --Lauren

            Comment


              #7
              RE: How will the Application Web server work?

              The HTTP server will be built into future standard retail versions of Alpha 5? Nifty.

              The Server will be built into Alpha Five, but not necessarily the standard retail version. The Web Application Server will require a separate license which will have a separate price. The standard Alpha Five may include a limited version of the server but that has not yet been decided.

              -Lenny

              Lenny Forziati
              Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
              Alpha Software Corporation

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