Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ll-xn!ames!oliveb!bene!itkin From: itkin@bene.UUCP (Steven List) Newsgroups: comp.databases Subject: Re: Controversy over commercialism in comp.databases Message-ID: <489@bene.UUCP> Date: Tue, 2-Jun-87 00:11:24 EDT Article-I.D.: bene.489 Posted: Tue Jun 2 00:11:24 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 3-Jun-87 04:48:06 EDT References: <2700@blia.BLI.COM> <851@rtech.UUCP> <11872@aero.ARPA> <488@bene.UUCP> <332@bty.UUCP> Reply-To: itkin@bene.UUCP (super-user) Organization: Benetics Corporation, Mt. View, CA Lines: 110 In article <332@bty.UUCP> yost@bty.UUCP writes: >My company has been developing applications with the Informix database >and C programs for the past five years. I want to trade this environment >for a newer, more productive one, namely a 4GL. I have been evaluating >4GLs and have tentatively decided on ACCELL from Unify Corp. Some of the >others I looked at were Informix-4GL, Progress, Pro-IV, APPGEN, and even >FilePro-16. I went through much of the same kind of process during the past year. As I said in my previous posting, we've been working with Unify (since they were NAT - North American Technologies) and have been consistently satisfied. That doesn't mean that I don't recognize that there are other systems and that it behooves us to be aware of them. >My evaluation methods are basically reading the manuals and trying demos >if available. I'd be happy to post my opinions about these products. >... >I'm especially interested in hearing about ACCELL and Unify. Steven, are >you listening? Of course I'm listening! How could I possibly pass up a command performance like this. The culmination of my latest research into DBMS systems, with particular emphasis on 4GL's, application generators, and user interfaces, occurred at Unix Expo in New York City (my natal city, unfortunately) in October of 1986. Before, at, and after UnixExpor, I've reviewed/read about/worked with: Progress Pro-IV APPGEN Informix Z-Four Unify Accell Oracle DataFlex Zanthe ... Here are some very brief impressions and opinions (mine - not my employers or coworkers). Please note that since I'd seen ACCELL first in my search, and been VERY impressed, the others were evaluated by comparison. Progress - very flexible database, good interface, but lacking the zip and flash of ACCELL. No pop-up windows, nor anything like the ZOOMVIEWtm feature. Their own proprietary language, as opposed to SQL, which is pretty well accepted as the standard. Pro-IV - VERY primitive user interface. Good application kernel, but single threaded through one process (or am I wrong here?). I was very concerned with the appearance of finished applications, and this just didn't cut it. APPGEN - much the same comments as with Pro-IV. Primitive user interface, and not all that much to recommend it. Informix - I'll only comment on a couple of areas here. 1) Separate files for tables and indexes. Our application has over 200 tables. That's a lot of file opening and closing. 2) As with Progress and several others, a flexible database structure allowing for the dynamic modification of the schema costs in performance. Unify's (and therefore ACCELL's) "file system" was designed for high performance. Yes there are some costs associated with the fixed block approach of UNIFY, but if your need is performance, it can't be beat. 3) User interface - as of UnixExpo, they were about to release a windowing capability in Informix-4GL. I have no experience with this. 4) Everything is programmed. Windows, help text, menus, and so on. One of the goals in looking around was to find a better way to produce applications. I WILL NOT rehash the dispute between Unify and Informix about "application generators" versus "true 4GL's". Suffice it to say that Informix-4GL is more powerful in a number of ways IF YOU ARE A PROGRAMMER. ACCELL has great advantages in that you can truly build a simple to moderate application without any programming. Z-Four - a different and interesting approach. As with Progress, they have invented their own language. Here, the language is screen driven - you fill in the blanks. Everything from schema design through interface and report design is done this way. Another flexible file system. Oracle - I'm not very up on Oracle. Their application generator interface was very similar to ACCELL's in the visuals and apparent power. The drawbacks with which I'm familiar are that it's single threaded through a kernel and fairly slow. The rest didn't compare enough to be memorable for me. Obviously, these are my impressions. I am still a loyal Unify and ACCELL fan. The ACCELL interface is slick, snazzy, and reasonably easy to use. Of course, I'm a programmer, and find it very comprehensible. Our Executive VP originally built our entire GL/AP/AR system using Unify and their Enter program. He redid it using ACCELL with very little help from me. While the appearance is not what I'd have designed, it works very well and HE DID IT ON HIS OWN. And he is definitely NOT a techie! Well, that's it. I'm willing to carry on debates, discussions, or just exchanges of information with any/all of you that have an interest. And yost - I hope this helps. If you want to exchange mail, I can get into greater depth about Unify and ACCELL. Or give me a call at (415) 940-6312. Steven -- {cdp,garth,idi,oliveb,opusys,pyramid,tolerant}!bene!steven