ABSTRACT
Given the focus of this book on creating and loading databases, the current chapter gives a brief comparison of software that can be used to build user interfaces to review or update the database tables. Topics include
Microsoft Access used as a graphical user interface
Microsoft’s .NET Framework
PHP to build web-based interfaces
Java
The general capabilities, advantages, and disadvantages are reviewed for each.
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Over the past 40 years, I have been heavily involved with supporting database design and development projects and providing database support for both local and remote data centers. For more than half that period, I found myself doing rapid prototyping of database applications, most of which restricted me from using software tools embedded in that customer’s desktop computer platform. When developing such a prototype, a key issue was always how to provide an effective user interface to the user so they may effectively access and use the associated data elements. The following is a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of tools I have used.
