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Re: [Fsfe-uk] An ignorant question?


From: ian
Subject: Re: [Fsfe-uk] An ignorant question?
Date: 09 Jun 2003 22:15:46 +0100

On Mon, 2003-06-09 at 20:09, Ramanan Selvaratnam wrote:
> >
> >Saying that SVG files animated using javascript is a replacement for flash
> >is missing the point entirely. Unless the person has a lot of spare time on
> >their hands, how are they supposed to make the SVG file, and animate it?
> >
> Many emerging vector editors save in SVG. Having the capability to edit 
> a text based file is great IMHO.
> 
> >They don't want a programming environment that can do animations (you may as
> >well tell them to write their animations in C). They want to make
> >animations.
> >
> Well, if you tell a Flash animator that s/he is in effect feeding 
> parameters to mathematical equations they might get put off.
> Likewise when the emerging vector editors that can save in SVG are being 
> used we should learn from the way Flash is marketed and hide 'techspeak'.
> 
> >
> >It's like when I say "I need a database front end to replace access" and
> >people tell me to use MySQL. MySQL is useless as a replacement to access. 
> >
> I am sorry...This is a very absurd comparision!
> MySQL is a very fast Relational Database Management System. It's 
> functionalities are fast catching up and threatening the major players 
> like Oracle, MSSQL etc. in the RDBMS market.
> 
> If you want to comparision with MSAccess there are equivalent (probably 
> better) solutios in Staroffice / Open Office.
> 
> If you need a front end for MySQL there are few PHP based web 
> applications plus some other emerging ones on places like Freshmeat.
> 
> If you want such a frontend within an Office software environment then 
> some free software tinkering (because we are free to do it) will lead to 
> a combination like this...
> <http://www.linuxworld.com/2003/0217.barr.html>
> 
> OpenOffice does not only author Flash (as I learnt yesterday here :-).

Just as an aside, we are currently conducting a feasibility study with
Birmingham Uni. paid for by a DTi grant to get a reporting system and
easier integration of OO.org with MySQL/PostgreSQL. If this works we
will get funding to employ a graduate programmer to do this work so
there really won't be a database issue at all with OO.org. The main
thing missing is support for reports and making setting up the database
and links simple. Not sure how long all this will take but there is some
light at the end of the tunnel.

> I do not understand how MS Access can be better in anyway ... I think 
> when you cannot use Access anymore you move on to MSSQL (which is full 
> of security holes) because you are locked in a very bad development model.

Main snag with Access is that it generates massive files and its not
suitable for client server type applications and increasingly this is
the way all sensible databases work. Rather a shame that schools are
still locked into a 15 year old view of relational databases.

-- 
ian <address@hidden>





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