[aplusdev] Article on A+ and Linux

[Derek Neighbors]

> Saying "most popular" I didn't mean _most fancy_. I meant that it is the
> must,

We can agree to disagree. :)  I really mean that I think wx is becoming 
the most popular.

> So, you consider OLAP as an engine you may use with _any_ car
> (=application).
> It is not a familiar point to me. To me OLAP is a car itself. An application
> ready to go
> on the decision making road. I probably misunderstand something. May you

Well I am torn here, yes I think you could make an the OLAP engine fully 
self contained, so Im not saying that would be a 'bad' thing.  Perhaps A+ 
wxWindows(or TCL/Tk) would allow this for xplatform.

 > describe
> (in brief) in what kind of Python application you'd like to put in OLAP part
> written in A+?

I guess in many ways I envision OLAP data store to be like a 'database'.  
For example I can use Oracle w/ its 'tools' as an 'application' (the whole 
car) and that is all well and good, BUT if I want to start 'changing' 
things its not all that easy.

However, If I write an application (car) just using the oracle database 
(engine) I can do what I like to it in ways Im familiar.  I think there  
is value in making OLAP datastores some what more like databases that can 
be separated from the UI.  However, in some ways perhaps I need to redo my 
thinking, as perhaps thats not practical.

My view is that from outside, so please be patient.  I have to use APL 
programs regularly but I have done no APL programming.  The current 
arragement has MANY faults, BUT I think most of those are vendor related 
and not APL architecture related.

For GNU Enterprise I need analytical abilities and I have been impressed 
with what OLAP brings, but there are not any free as in libre 
implementations.  I have started to look at SAP DB (which appears to bolt 
on some OLAP) and is GPL, DB2 w/ aquiring Hyperion also seems to have some 
'non-free' offerings.  I have heard some 'but little' mention of Postgres 
venturing down this road.

Some one had offerred to talk off list and perhaps this weekend I will 
take them up on that.  I realize my 'need' for OLAP isnt necessary 
'directly' related to aplusdev. :)  So, I mean not to clutter the list 
with such discussion.  I just was impressed with A+ and think that if A+ 
were wanting to gain acceptance especially on GNU/Linux the best way to do 
so is to create applications that people are needing. :)

-Derek