Question

program concept - which language is best

Asked by: DrZaius

Hello, this is probably a difficult question as different people will find different programs better than others. but i will explain.

I have a concept that i want to start trying to implement.

It consists of a database backend, with an input section and an output section.

The output section needs to render 3d shapes next to certain data.

I also want to have buttons to control the view in a simple way. i.e the user will need to zoom and move around easily. Also i want radio type buttons to hide/show certain data.

Functionality like clicking on areas of the shapes will pull out more info.

Another fuction of output will need to be a publish option. Either to pdf or to web. It would be good to output the fuctionality of the 3d section (like a flash exe file) without the input section.

I cant program, im a designer. So ill either have to learn to program :P or subcontract

I dont know how the 3d part can be made. The basic database end could be done in anthing i guess, but they need to be rolled into one program.

Would love to hear a range of answers and reasons why.

Greatly appreciated.

DrZ

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Asked On
2003-04-28 at 20:53:39ID20599420
Topics

Miscellaneous Programming

,

3D Graphics Software

,

3D-Studio 3D Graphics Software

Participating Experts
2
Points
300
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: jjacksnPosted on 2003-04-29 at 00:10:15ID: 8417920

Considering you don't know how to program, then doing this on your own will be very difficult.  If you are going to contract out the program, having it coded in C# will be the easiest to look at and understand what is going on if you ever so choose.  C# code, however, must be run on the .NET Framework, which means any client who is using the software must have it installed(the installation file is around 11 megs-not horrible).  

Using C++ or C# both have their advantages and drawbacks.  I personally am a bigger fan of C# if you want to learn how to edit the program, because its easier for newcomers to try to understand what is going on.  You can look at C++ or C# code form a good, experienced programmer and have no idea what is going on.  However, I think the odds are higher that the C# will make more sense to you.  

If you don't care about ever editing the code, and you are hiring someone to do the work for you, you can probably find cheaper people to do it in C++ than C#.  

Another option would be to do it in Java.  However, finding good people to do 3d modeling in Java is probably more difficult than C++ (that's an opinion, I have no idea if it is true).  

The backend is easy to do in any language using any database that supports SQL operations.

 

by: DrZaiusPosted on 2003-04-29 at 00:28:03ID: 8417990

Thanks jjacksn,

The coding really wouldnt be that hard. Tell me if im wrong but i dont think it would be worth coding it all in c++ at least, not money wise.

The emphasis im looking for is visuals. For example, Say a range of numbers from 1-30. Each number is represented by a 3d box (or 2d box, doesnt have to be 3d - but 3d would look so much better)

You can click on one box that will take you into addition info on that number (and have an animation on the box clicked on)

You could also click on an option that runs a rule, like filter all even numbers. and the boxes that are represented by even numbers would highlight a different colour.

Could simpler programs be used to do this? Like Shockwave or flash that might have a 3d plugin or something?

 

by: jjacksnPosted on 2003-04-29 at 00:58:14ID: 8418135

DrZ,

You might be able to do it in Shockwave or flash, I'm not too familiar with them.  (are you putting this onto a website?)    

I'm sort of getting an idea of what you want to do now.  The reason I initailly stated that you should use C++ is because it will have the best/easiest graphics engine (DirectX) that you can use.  

I would still say that you should use either C++, C#, or Java, but this is because I don't know the capabilities of other languages.  The basic Application would be very easy to create.  You just need to spend a lot of time doing the graphics code.  Direct X allows you to do tons of stuff (easily if you know how to use it), but it would take a person a long time to get up the learning curve.

What are you developing this for?

 

by: VGRPosted on 2003-04-29 at 01:14:26ID: 8418223

well, as you don't require an Internet-wide access tothe program but a local use, I would recommend Delphi, of course

You may even use it with .Net and aspx scripts written in Delphi/.Net are beautiful (I mean readable, efficient, concise... Like Pascal).

 

by: jjacksnPosted on 2003-05-01 at 18:33:10ID: 8439815

If absolute optimality isn't a neccessary thing, than I think you should do it in C#.  Its something that you would probably be able to look at one day and change if you really wanted to.  Let me know if you have any particular questions.

 

by: DrZaiusPosted on 2003-05-01 at 18:37:22ID: 8439822

Thanks for your help guys, i think this is one idea thats not getting off the paper very soon.

I might grab a book tonight. C++

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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