Re: Servoy
Good LORD - where to start, wish I had seen this forum thread nearer the beginning.
I have been a Filemaker developer since version 2.1 in 1994. I regard myself as fairly proficient and have come up with my fair share of workarounds to FileMaker's Perennial Built-in Limitation System (tm).
I continue to develop existing solutions in version 4.1 (most of my clients use 3 or 4 because there is entirely no reason for any upgrade, it would be an expensive exercise in aimlessness). Ebay is great for FMP 4. I also own and develop in 5.5 developer for standalone fmp app development. I cannot see how or why it is better than 4.1 apart from OS X nativeness and XML - which doesn't affect me in FMP (please don't flame me with a list of later-than-4 improvements, I know they exist, it's just that to do real work stuff that my clients need, the additional stuff doesn't make a dot of difference). We currently host a few Filemaker driven (cdml) websites for which FMP 4.1 is a definite benefit (over anything later) as Filemaker moved the goalposts on something that they originally offered, when they realised that people could buy one copy of filemaker and host to many clients (I've done it with an architectural firm using an NT server with fmp and cdml/explorer on 50 LAN clients). It may be unfair, but I didn't make the decision to make it possible, and Filemaker changed the file format with v. 5 - and I can't see any other reason that they might have done this than that they wanted to eliminate what I was doing (well, not me personally). They really had no reason to change formats than to encourage upgrades. Bottom line, 4.1 does an admirable job for us for web serving.
In September 1999 I heard about a couple of Dutch guys developing a "Filemaker written in Java" from the CEO of Stratisoft. I kept a vague eye on the project and finally got my hands on a release version in March 2003. To say I was blown away is a fantastic understatement. What I got my grubby developers hands on was much much much more than "Filemaker written in Java"
Servoy is the most extraordinary answer to every Filemaker developer's dreams: It is as easy to use as filemaker (arguably a lot easier and definitely quicker to develop in) but supports pure java, javascript and html in it's interface design capability (you can use html code for the text on a button or layout text for e.g. - as it is scriptable, you can make an html based button change colour using javascript on some action (entering a layout, exiting a layout, entering a field etc. etc. etc.) Servoy doesn't use some of these terms (layout for example, I am translating - the paradigm is the same though). You can design your own navigator (the strip down the left in FileMaker), it is just another Servoy layout (form) so can have buttons, fields, html, forms, javabeans, javascript, graphics etc. etc. etc. Once you develop one solution with a custom navigator, you'll NEVER use the default (filemaker like) one again. EVER...
Servoy uses
any SQL backend you would like. I am currently developing a (local based) crm solution using MySQL. I am also, just now beginning a TV audience management project using a remote MicrosoftSQL back end which was created purely for the web with no kind of local access ever thought of or planned (the developers suggested we download a tab delimited text file to import into the existing local FMP solution once a week...) I am also developing a (really simple) marking system for my wife who is a distance university lecturer using the built in Firebird SQL (which is invisible (unless you're a Linux user - I'm still struggling with my Redhat 9 Athlon and Firebird...)). Servoy is effectively, a really cool Filemaker-like Java based front end to ANY SQL back end (sybase, oracle, mssql, mysql, firebird etc. etc. anyone) You want to use every single different remote or local supported SQL database in a different related portal in the same layout at the same time - go ahead.
I've seen it argued that Servoy (or at least Apple's Java implimentation) is slow on the Mac. This is usually from people who haven't used the product on the platform (much) regurgitating stuff that other people who haven't used the program on the platform (much) have said. I am thoroughly a Mac user. I use a 1Ghz 17" Powerbook mainly and a Dual G4/500 when at my desk. Servoy is ABSOLUTELY no slower than Filemaker on either of my Macs, or on my Athlon (1.6Ghz) running as a client (yes in Windows 2000 pro as I'm still struggling with Redhat 9). It is just simply not slower. Arguably these are quick machines, but I've heard that Servoy flies on the G5, I can't imagine how quick it would have to be given my experiences. I don't think that even the developers are completely aware of Servoy performance the G4. Perhaps it's my lack of awareness of Filemaker performance in Windows (I couldn't really be bothered with all that). As for Filemaker's support for or promotion of Mac OS X, If I were Steve, I'd have Dominic writing on the blackboard 500 times "I will never again be such an idiot". Filemaker 5.5 Server does not work in Mac OS X Server (Perhaps you all knew this by osmosis or something, I discovered it to my cost - on site - with the client in front of me, after I had spent a number of hours of chargeable time both recommending and installing OS X Server). Perhaps I should have done my homework better but I had assumed that the latest version of OS X compatible Filemaker Server was compatible with the latest version of Mac OS X Server - especially considering Apple own Filemaker (Steve, kick his ass..)
Back to Filemaker. What is v. 7 going to offer me?? Well, I gave up on upgrading FileMaker a number of years ago because they kind of got it right with version 4.1, there was nothing more to do REALLY, apart from migrate it seamlessly to SQL and OS X and Linux - they really could have done it. I am sure that there are plenty people who would argue that 4 doesn't do anything that their dev's require. For what I know of Filemaker, it hit the nail with 4.1. What is 7 going to do for me, nothing, I am simply not going to continue to allow Filemaker to charge me money to "upgrade" an app which doesn't need it, doesn't provide value for upgrade money and uses forcible upgrade tactics to protect revenue. If your argument is about Filemaker's newfound fantastic multiple tables per database idea, I would be VERY dubious that they could have invented a good implementation of this so quick. SQL does the job. Servoy = Filemaker 7 and then some. If you want to continue to "recover" your files, or live with the fact that the design, data, graphic elements and data structure live in one proprietary format file controlled by a company who are, historically liable to change this format in another rev or two, or if you want to tell your own 50 architects to stop working on their detail databases while you quickly (yeah right) take down the server to upgrade the system (I suppose you could charge extra and do it on a Saturday or Sunday - pity your kids are missing out) - go right ahead. I'll stick with Servoy. I have been underwhelmed by Filemaker for years. Yes it is a great application for what it did. If you want something which is grown up and is not different like 4D (which is sTILL not SQL), Servoy is the only option.
To defend Filemaker is similar to defending Microsoft (or Windows) over Apple. The underdog in each case is by far the better option. Created and struggling to show how much better it could be if only the monopoly (within FileMaker development circles in this case) could be shown to the masses that it is in hard fact/reality, less than perfect.
If I sound a bit hot in the collar about Servoy/Filemaker, it is purely because of what Servoy is, promises, and can do. I would not be enthusiastic if it didn't do the job. I am not a Filemaker hater, I am mostly annoyed by their lack of evolution (which I gather extends to some extent into v.7), I just want to use the best tool for the job and cannot see any single tiny reason for suggesting or beginning any new development in Filemaker for any of my clients - ever ever ever again... it would be a step backwards. Even Servoy pricing structure leaves FileMaker looking a little doped up.
With Servoy, you snooze, you lose. Hint, have a look at how many <reallyimportantpointtext> BIG </reallyimportantpointtext> filemaker development companies (I really do mean a lot bigger than probably most of us) have joined the Servoy Alliance Network (SAN on the Servoy site). Nuff said.
PS, If you are in the UK, we're organising a free Servoy Seminar (1 day) hopefully toward the end of September, register at
http://www.servoy.com/generic.jsp?taxonomy_id=286 (also a number of other international locations).
For what its worth, and in case you're wondering, and no matter what it looks like, no I don't work for Servoy - nor am I affiliated in any way with them apart from being a SAN partner.
attached: my in-progress crm system for a Hi-Fi reseller. The sale and service layouts (forms) have some great portals. Tab Panels - don't get me started, with tab panels you can show another whole layout, from a different table, as a pseudo related database-in-a-window within your layout - this stuff couldn't be made up by a Filemaker developer. Try it out.....
