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From: mikek@krt.com (Michael Kranzdorf)
Subject: Re: alternative DB development systems
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Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 13:58:01 GMT
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In article <38p39v$4ro@nnrp.ucs.ubc.ca>, gburian@unixg.ubc.ca (Geoffrey
Burian) wrote:

> A while ago I asked people to respond regarding alternative database
> development tools (especially on the Mac), i.e., those other than
> 
> My original question:
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Does anyone out there have any experience developing database
> applications (particularly on the Mac) by using tools other than
> the standard 4D, Omnis, FoxPro, Helix, etc. relational database
> development kits?  I'm thinking of libraries of database functions
> for use with the languages C, C++, and Smalltalk.


I didn't see VisualWorks (VW) from ParcPlace in your list. Given your
problem description and Q&A with QKS, it might be worth a look for you. VW
is smalltalk/80 with a gui builder and a database access tool for Oracle &
Sybase called ObjectLens. VW runs on Mac, Windows, unixi. ObjectLens maps
tables to classes with appropriate accessors (inferring foreign key
relationships) that you can add your own functionality to, keeps track of
collections through the foreign keys (one to manys), and transparently
implements joins for selects and inserts. Queries get built for you
automatically when you draw a screen, even when you embed one screen
inside another. You get a smalltalk/SQL language for queries, or you can
use any of the OCI calls, which have all been turned into methods. The
downsides are that it's expensive,  slow (PowerMac is in Beta), the
resulting app is large, runtime fees are required, and your app won't be
really mac-like (but I haven't found any db environment that feels totally
mac-like anyway). I like STA better than VW, but it doesn't have
ObjectLens and it's not portable.

You can get a 30-day demo with all the docs for $100. 800.759.7272

Mike Kranzdorf                   mikek@krt.com
