[GTALUG] programming system questions

[ac]

On Fri, 12 Oct 2018 10:44:45 -0500
o1bigtenor <o1bigtenor at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 8:54 AM ac via talk <talk at gtalug.org> wrote:
<snip>
> > sheepbytes.ca is cool, the local code looks neat and tidy.  I am not
> > sure about the security thereof. And just imho S/R would not be
> > optimal to remake this specific java app.. just from playing with
> > the demo and reading the tech doc, if you do decide to remake this
> > in java/whatever it will be a lot of work, even with a fw and/or base. just
> > saying :)  
> If I was going to add the monte carlo portion, I'm not at this time,
> there would be a lot more complexity under the hood. At present I'm thinking
> something like maybe LibreOffice's dbase for a front end and a
> postgresql back end. I feel no need to totally re-invent the wheel.
> If there is another 'kind' of 'frontend' where with some python (also to be learned) needed for glue and
> calculations well I'm looking.

Python rocks :) I had to learn it myself a few years ago. Although
for what you want to do (sheepbytes) maybe try to use what you know?
what are you fluent or semi fluent in already? Java/PHP? 
imho, many languages will easily do what you need :)
drawing from my own experience, something like sheepmates is not so
much about what you dev it in as the design and structure will take
90+% of the time and the coding will be very easy and very simple. 
The design and structure will anyway highlight the tools you need, so it is
not really so much about gut feel as it is about what you want/need.  

> > a lot of what sheepmates is and does is also data related...
> > If I were making this, for myself and for local use, I would
> > probably enter the formulas into a spreadsheet and calculate my feed
> > requirements, etc from that...(yes, I am quite lazy - plus this way
> > I can give my spreadsheet out to my sheep mates and get free beer)  
> 
> I will look into if there is a way to use spreadsheet stuff but part
> of the issue is that there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that brings up
> notices/warning > and gets connected. What you see is over a bunch of other logic and
> some of that is where more flexibility is needed than in the present iteration.
> 
indeed.
which is why a spreadsheet will work so well, as the flexibility is
only limited by the users ability and skills (to use Calc and design a
spreadsheet that uses sheets, macros and other toys effectively :)
 - afaik spreadsheets can also have popups (dialog) that can be 
used for warnings and notices, etc.)

So, a stock standard Calc will probably do the required job quite
easily, if it is designed and used effectively. It is also easy to
distribute, can easily be customised and chosen/selected/required data
could also be exported to a later S/R and from multiple sources :)

> I was going to offer the modified back to the previous as I don't
> really want to 'own' it merely to extend the present offerings.
> 
cool :)

Andre