Database, Web Application, Custom Software & Software Customization terms and what they really mean

Simply put, there are two kinds of Web sites: those that are like magazines where you read stuff; and sites that are like software where you can DO stuff. Web Application and Database driven sites allow you and your business to DO stuff. Custom Software is designed specifically for you. Software Customization is software that is customized to meet your unique requirements.

An Application is the use of a technology, system, or product – and is a simpler version of an application program. An application program is a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user, or in some cases, for another application program. Examples of applications include database programs, Web browsers, development tools and communication programs. Applications utilize the computer's operating system and other supporting applications. The formal requests and means of communicating with other programs that an application program uses are called the application program interface (API).

Application Integration is the process of bringing data or a function from one application program together with that of another application program. When these programs already exist, the process is sometimes accomplished with the use of middleware.

An Application Program is a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user, or in some cases, for another application program.

Best Practice is a technique or methodology that through experience and research has proven to lead to a desired result.

A Bug is a coding error in a computer program.

A Database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed and updated. Databases can be classified according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric and images. In computing, databases are sometimes classified according to their organizational approach. The most prevalent approach is the relational database, a tabular database in which data is defined so that it can be reorganized and accessed in a number of different ways. A distributed database is one that can be dispersed or replicated among different points in a network. An object-oriented programming database is one that is congruent with the data defined in object classes and subclasses. Computer databases typically contain aggregates of data records or files, such as sales transactions, product catalogs and inventories, and customer profiles. SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard language for making interactive queries, or for updating a database such as those from IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Sybase and Computer Associates.

Debugging is the process of locating, and fixing or bypassing bugs (errors) in software programming code or hardware engineering.

Information Architecture is a set of ideas about how all information in a given context should be treated philosophically, and in a general way, how it should be organized. This is laid out in an information architecture document.

Information Design is the detailed planning of information that is to be provided to a particular audience to meet specific objectives. In a hierarchical model, information design follows the information architecture and information planning stages.

Localization is the process of adapting a product or service to a particular language and culture. Ideally, a product or service is developed so that localization is relatively easy to achieve. For example, creating technical manuals in which the text can easily be changed to different languages enables internationalization. An internationalized product or service is significantly easier to localize. The process of enabling a product to be localized and then localizing it for a specific audience is sometimes known as globalization.

Migration is the process of moving from the use of one operating environment to another operating environment that is thought to be a better one. Migration is also used to refer to the process of moving data from one storage device to another. For example, moving from Windows 2000 Server to Windows Vista Server would be considered a migration because it involves making sure that new features are utilized, old settings do not require changing, and ensuring that current applications continue to work in the new environment. One can migrate data from one kind of database to another kind of database. This usually requires converting the data into some common format that can be output from the old database and input into the new database. Since the new database may be organized differently, it may be necessary to write a program that can process the migrating files.

Outsourcing is an arrangement in which one company provides services for another company that could also have been provided in-house.

Peer Review is a process used for checking the work performed by one's peers to ensure it meets specific criteria.

Portal is a term generally synonymous with gateway, for a web site that is or proposes to be a major starting point for users when they get connect to the Web. SunNet offers portals on the Web for our clients. Most portals have adopted the Yahoo! style of content categories with a text-intensive, faster loading page that visitors will find easy to use and return to. Companies with portal sites have attracted a lot of stock market investor interest because they are viewed as able to command large audiences that will view advertising. Typical services offered by portal sites include Web site directories, search features, news, weather information, e-mail, stock quotes, and access to phone numbers, maps and community forums. Portals can often be tailored to a user’s individual interests.

Risk Management is the process of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the activities of an organization in order to minimize risks that would affect an organization's capital and earnings.

A Server is a computer program that provides services to other computer programs (and their users) on the same or different computers.

User Interface is every aspect of an information device with which a user may interact – including display screen, keyboard, mouse, light pen, desktop appearance, illuminated characters and help messages – and how the device invites interaction and responds to it.

Web Services are services made available from a business's Web server for Web users or other Web-connected programs.

Web-based Applications have several advantages over their more traditional downloadable software programs cohorts. Here are the key advantages:

1. Cross-platform compatibility. Web-based Applications have a much easier path to successful cross-platform compatibility than downloadable software applications. Several technologies including Java, Flash, ASP and Ajax allow effective development of programs that support all major operating systems.
2. Updatability. Web-based Applications are updated to the latest release without requiring users to take pro-active action, and without prompting users to initiate new downloads or install updates (which often are not allowed for users in a large organization.)
3. Immediacy of access. Web-based Applications don’t need to be downloaded, installed and configured. You access them online and they are ready to work regardless of what your setup or hardware is.
4. Ease of use. There will be no more obstacles to easy access, and try-outs of tools and applications before having to charge your credit card. Today, especially when we talk about expensive software, there are still great deals of functionalities and small details that are not fully tested and discovered before money is committed.
5. Lower memory requirements. Web-based Applications have far more reasonable demands on end-user RAM memory than locally installed programs. By residing and running off of provider servers, they use little memory of the computer they run on in most cases. This leaves more space for running multiple applications at the same time without encountering frustrating computer crashes.
6. Fewer bugs. Web-based Applications are less prone to crashing and technical problems due to software or hardware conflicts with other applications, protocols or custom software. With Web-based Applications, everyone uses the same version and all bugs can be fixed as soon as they are discovered.
7. Pricing. Web-based Applications do not require the distribution, technical support and marketing infrastructure required by traditional downloadable software. This allows online applications to cost a fraction of what their downloadable counterparts do, while offering additional components and premium services for an optional cost.
8. Data moves online too. Of course with the move from local applications to Web-based ones, the data we create and access will need to undergo some profound changes. Nobody likes not being able to access their own email when traveling, or not being able to retrieve a particular document when connecting from an Internet cafe 10,000 miles away from their office. "Clients shouldn't store data; they should be like telephones. In fact they may become telephones, or vice versa. And as clients get smaller, you have another reason not to keep your data on them: something you carry around with you can be lost or stolen." (Paul Graham - The Road Ahead, 2001)
9. Multiple concurrent users. Web-based Applications can be utilized by multiple users at the same time. No more need to share screens or send screenshots for multiple users to view and edit the same document. Web conferencing and online collaboration companies are in for some transformation, and users need to explore what it really means to work effectively and co-edit documents.
10. Data is safer. While hard disk crashes will not disappear, it is likely that users will hear a lot less about them. As companies take over the storage of users’ data, highly reliable redundant data storage farms will become the norm rather than the exception, and users will have much less of a risk of losing their data due to an unforeseen disk crash or computer virus. Companies providing Web-based Applications will provide extensive backup services as either an integral part of their basic service or as a paid option. You can imagine that a commercial company that loses client data could be easily brought to its (financial) knees in a matter of days.

In summary, localize applications and develop them in the language you prefer. Once applications have been severed from local computers and specific operating systems they can also be written in just about any programming language. Since Web-based Applications are essentially a collection of programs rather than a single program, these can be written in any programming language out there. While with desktop software you have to use the same language as the underlying operating system, this is not the case when the software application is independent of the operating system.