PowerBuilder GUI to web application - best options?

views:

618

answers:

+1 Q:

PowerBuilder GUI to web application - best options?

Does anyone have any opinions on the best options for converting a PB GUI application that I sell to users to be a web app? (The web app would be run on my servers, not the clients' servers.)

It seems there are a number of options. One is to use PB 11's ability to retarget an app as an ASP.NET WebForms app, but I really don't understand yet what its limitations are.

Then there is Sybase's solution, Appeon.

And then there are a host of companies that do conversions to either .NET or Java web solutions, including Metex, BluePhoenix, EwakSoft, MainTrend, TeamCTI, Nexaweb, ...

+1 A:

Go with Appeon if you have existing large size or PFC application. It is easier to migrate. If you are writing a new application, PB11.5 WebForm is a better choice.

HoHo 2009-11-02 21:01:06

The fact that you don't get that many answers shows the declining of powerbuilder. Powerbuilder is now very exclusive to those who possess advance knowledge of programming. It is no longer for the newbees and not even for those with intermediate skills. The learning curve has become too steep for any newcomers. This is scary if you are thinking about maintaining these applications long term.

zzak 2010-01-17 15:29:21

Or, this indicates that there are only two basic options to convert an existing PowerBuilder app to a web app. (There *are* other rewrite options.) As for "advance knowledge" and "steep learning curve", if anything PB has been and continues to be *too* easy to learn, resulting in people that have no business behind a keyboard and couldn't program their out of a paper "Hello World" bag being able to produce "results" that don't stand up. In other languages, they wouldn't have gotten past "Hello". (Not being able to produce basics, they never get a chance to write a bad logical unit of work.)

Terry 2010-01-17 22:49:04

Hi Dan,

We have an automated tool to convert your PB application to .NET or Java automatically.

If you are interested to know more about how we help companies to move their PB applications pls call us @ 732 284 4109 or email to [email protected].

Thanks,

Bernard.

Bernard 2010-03-29 19:05:24

My problem (which I should have stated at the beginning of this thread) is that I would want to maintain the PB GUI app as well as the web app. (It's a commercial app, with over 4,000 users. They aren't all going to want to switch!) Given that, it actually seems that Appeon is the only realistic choice, because it lets you continue working in PB, and just virtually auto-magically runs your PB app as a real web app (with some limitations). Otherwise, the maintenance on two completely different code bases, if I used one of the translation type tools, would be prohibitive.

Dan Cooperstock 2010-03-30 11:35:18

ansaurus

tags:

views:

answers:

PowerBuilder GUI to web application - best options?

related questions