6 replies to this topic

[steph03]

Hello, I am about to start a new project and any feedback would be appreciated on it.

I am creating a client-based application that will be accessing a database on a remote web server. It needs to run on any OS. What programming language would be best fit for this and what type of database should I store my data in on the web server? I would personally prefer using a mySQL database, since I will also be accessing it with PHP scripts on a web server.

Thank you in advance for any help/suggestions.


Steph

[Alexander]

C++ is a good cross-OS compatible language which can run on UNIX (HP-UX, IRIX, ...), Linux, OSX and Windows. What you will need to do is ensure the MySQL database allows remote connections, I'll whip up a quick example of a client for you..

#include <iostream>
#include <my_global.h>
#include <mysql.h>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{

  MYSQL *conn;

  conn = mysql_init(NULL);

  if (conn == NULL) {
      printf("Error %u: %s\n", mysql_errno(conn), mysql_error(conn));
  }

  if (mysql_real_connect(conn, "mysqlwebhost", "user", "password", "database", 0, NULL, 0) == NULL) {
      printf("Error %u: %s\n", mysql_errno(conn), mysql_error(conn));
  }

  if (mysql_query(conn, "foo query")) {
      printf("Error %u: %s\n", mysql_errno(conn), mysql_error(conn));
  }

  mysql_close(conn);

}

the MySQL headers should come with the official MySQL package (for example be in /usr/include/mysql/mysql.h)
Info sheets: MySQL :: MySQL 5.0 Reference Manual :: 20.8 MySQL C API

Edited by Alexander, 20 August 2010 - 08:47 AM.

[steph03]

Thank you very much for the quick reply! It's been a while since I've programmed in C++, over 6-7 years. Has it become easier to program a GUI in C++? Will Visual Studios cut it ?

[Alexander]

Some new .NET frameworks came out but it's pretty much remained the same since '02, VC++ for winforms should bunker down nice with this project.

[steph03]

Perfect, thanks again for the help. This will be a great starting point.

[PsychoCoder]

Remember, even if using C++ if you use any part of the .NET Framework in your VC++ application it will not run on anything other than Windows so I would stick with native C++ and stay away from the .NET Framework (Boy from a C# developer that was hard to say lol). Another option you have is Java, which will run on the OS's you listed, and Java may be easier when working with the GUI.

[Alexander]

WinAPI would deal with the networking not .NET