Re: [pilot-db-list] Is there a todo list / has anyone looked 'stealing code?'

[Robert A. <ral...@zi...>]

On Tue, 8 Feb 2000, Tom Dyas wrote:

> Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 09:34:50 -0500 (EST)
> From: Tom Dyas <td...@vg...>
> Subject: Re: [pilot-db-list] Is there a todo list / has anyone looked
    'stealing code?'


> There is a TODO list in the top of the source tree. It is in the file
> called "TODO". :)


	Ok, I hadn't downloaded the source yet.  Probably should have
thought of checking the source tree.



> > 	Nulls and a subset of SQL added
> 
> The ability to have a 'null' or blank file would be okay. SQL would be
> overkill for DB since it is more of a frontend than a backend. I don't see
> a user entering SQL statements on the Palm Pilot.

	The reason I was thinking SQL was to give more flexability.  I can
see entering sql queries, maybe not often but occasionally (more so when
you have multiple tables which contain linked data).  



> > 	Transactions ( with commit and rollback ability )
> 
> Why would this be needed? DB is not running any sort of SQL or scripting
> language that needs to support undoing any sort of changes.

	Once you get into related data you may find yourself in a
situation where you need to edit/add multiple tables and suddenly find
yourself changing your mind or distracted and needing to undo or atleast
recover.  I think this is even more likely on the palm as you may find
yourself using in in a spare moment then get caught up in something else,
and you need to somehow pickup where you left off.



> Sure. My only vision for the project is to see it become a useful
> frontend for databases which store records with fields on PalmOS. I don't
> see it as a full SQL style database system on the Palm Pilot. It would be
> neat though if we had a conduit which interfaced DB with a SQL system on
> the desktop.

	It is definitly usable.  I think most people use databases as easy
ways to keep lists which db does nicely.  Do I expect it to do heavy
database work, no, but I think it would be nice to see how far we can take
it.  

	I was thinking about some of the issues with it linking to another
database and think it would be chalanging to say the least.  

	What I was/am hoping to find/build a database for the palm todo is
keep track of multiple tables all related.  I am not so much worried about
changes as searches.  For example, working for an ISP we have multiple
sites with thier information such as location, co-loc owner, etc..
Each site has various equipment which has various attributes, and ports.
Each Equipment port may have circuits attached which have their
attributes.  Circuits may be in one or more hunt groups, and each hunt
group may be feed by one or more access numbers.

	It would be very common to get a page/call late at night from our
NOC reporting a problem on a certain access number or an alarm on a
certain piece of equipment, or maybe even a report of some trouble
affecting a full site.  And they always want to know what it is going to
affect.  So, if I could build the database on my palm I could query a
circuit and tell you want numbers its affecting, or query a number and
tell you want equipment to check, etc...

	I don't know of you will have many other people trying to cram a
close to full database on their palm but I'm much more likely to always
have my palm than my laptop.

	I'll grab the source now..and read else I missed.  Though I think
I am going to write a "Hello world" for the palm before I start to play
with database code.

-robert

> 
> The latest source tree is always availabe via anonymous CVS on the
> SourceForge site. Current work is: 
> 
> * Flicker-free, fast list view (via my grid widget) [TESTING]
> * Configurable list view [list view can use varying column definition,
> still working on the editor for column definitions]
> * New format for the app info block to be extensible [DONE, TESTED]
> 
> 0.3.0 will be released once the list view stuff stabilizes. Also, DB has
> been changed to use prc-tools 0.5.1b5 or higher. Instructions on what is
> needed to build DB is now present in the db/docs/building.txt file in CVS. 
> 
> After 0.3.0, I'll tackle sorting and filters.
> 
> Tom
> 
> 

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