Is a framework really necessary?

[thatguy]

Hey all..

Lately I've been looking in-depth into the Codebook framework, and I'm wondering -- is it (or any framework)really necessary to make a "sturdy" program?? Besides forcing you to use the 3-tier model, I'm not sure what other advantages there are. Can anyone shed some light on this? Maybe provide a pro/con list?


thanks
-- michael~

 

[ramani]

HI

If the code book helps your situation.. then... you dont have to recreate what is available. (Dont reinvent the wheel again ! is the concept).

But it is not necessary that you need a framework. Especialy, if you can buid your own such thing .. But frame works can be taken in and the code modified to your need, if that suits you.

It is all upto you...
Why a client needs your application and not the readymade one.. OR why he needs the ready made one? Put it the other way... why the client needs your application when other standard ones are available.. So it is the matching of the needs.......... and so on.........

ramani :-9
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[jpugh]

Michael,

My 2 cents:

For all but the simplest apps (like a single form) I would recommend a 3rd party framework.

PROS: (a short list)

1. Standard routines/classes that are (relatively) bug free.
2. A team of really good programmers constantly improving the base of your applications.
3. 3-tier design (there is at least one I'm aware of that is not) - the value of this should NOT be underestimated.
4. Typically forces better design and code implementation.
5. Cost - will save you money (time) on your first significant project (anything over 400-500 hours)

CONS:

1. Learning curve.
2. Cost - If purchased for a single small project, won't return your investment of time and money.

And one last thing. I recently took over maintenance of an application written by a relative VFP novice using one of the 3-tier frameworks. That project would have never been completed without the framework.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Jon

 

[weedz]

Jon is right.

Depending on the size of your project and the fact that if it is a big one, future programmers will have to do maintenance, a framework is recommendable.

If you lay a good basis, it will save you large amounts of time in the future, and time is money.

i know of some companies, that invested the time to invest in building their own framework. Most of them are adding new features to their applications very fast because of the framework.

So, besides the learning curve time investments and possibly a small financial investment, it will return you your money and more...if it concerns a large project.

Despite the fact that a framework can have lots of advantages, I myself had to dig through a good framework, that had some $%#$%$#% programmers, coding in it.
They totally misunderstood the spirit behind the framework and made it less easy, costing a lot of time and money in the end.

So it is very important that poeple not only work in a framework, but that they understand its workings and what applications it was meant for.

HTH,
Weedz (Wietze Veld)
My private project:

http://www.crowncap.demon.nl\info\crwnbase

Download the CrownBase source code !!

 

[thatguy]

Thanks for the replies!

now I'm wondering if anyone has worked specifically with Codebook (I think the latest version is 6.1, right?)... I can't really afford a commercial framework right now, so I've been looking thru Codebook and I'm wondering if I'll run into the same problem as you weedz: "Despite the fact that a framework can have lots of advantages, I myself had to dig through a good framework, that had some $%#$%$#% programmers, coding in it."

Any opinions? Thanks again!

-- michael~

 

[ramani]

Hi
Code Book 6.1 is the latest. The step by step guide relleased on 10/11/01 is available for download. If you need this you can download it from the link...

http://www.leafe.com/cb6dl.html

Hope this helps you ramani :-9
(Subramanian.G),FoxAcc, ramani_g@yahoo.com

 

[weedz]

Hi -- michael~,

In fact, I am currently working in an application that was based on CodeBook version 3.0. Many of the programmers I have spoken that have been in the project since the beginning, tell me that in the beginning they had good ideas of how to implement things, but as the team got bigger and other programmers (with other languages as background) joined, the framework did not live up to its reputation because the framework had been violated many times in various places ending in what I would call a disaster...

So if you are using CodeBook, you could try to find the CodeBook 3.0 manual (which you can (if I am not mistaken) download at the site of Ed Leave (

http://www.leafe.com)).

If you will be using it, be sure that your fellow programmers undestand the framework as well, and that you set strict rules of programming within the framework. If you do not, you'll end up experiencing what I have experienced...there is a standard, but everyone has got his own standard...=> disaster.

Good luck,

Weedz (Wietze Veld)
My private project:

http://www.crowncap.demon.nl\info\crwnbase

Download the CrownBase source code !!