platform

Traditional Desktop Application Development

In the past the economies of scale needed to build a traditional desktop application lead to a self-perpetuating cycle of bloat. SGC uses new platforms and frameworks to solve this issue of the past. Many of these solutions are packed with every conceivable feature before it is even built upon which leads to a better desktop application. Many of the solutions we have provided our clients are so complex with so much diversity that major upgrades are not needed. In this way, we all end up with the features we use rather than some options that are not needed.

In the world of web apps, almost anything is possible and it is platform indifferent. A start-up firm can have a web app built by at SGC that performs specialized functions for their niche market and not be tied to how it is being visited. The economies of scale, with the simplification of development requirements make these niche tools possible. The movement in website applications is not the best for all clients. Web applications are not the most effective solution is every case. We can create your company a specialized and installable application with your desired functionality with the same cost savings that we have passed on to many of our website customers. If you've been catching any of the buzz around “widgets", "APIs", "gadgets" or "Apps" these days, this is exactly the place to look for your solution.

Our Desktop Application Solutiuons (Java & Air)

Today, the top desktop platforms are built to work on Windows, Mac, and Linux which has changed the way software is built. Windows dominates the desktop market and there is a vast number of applications built specifically for it. These type of apps seriously limit the usability of a software package and this is not something we like to do for our clients. Linux has a secure foundation while it is also a free open source platform. It is also harder to use than Windows and provides limited support for the average user. Macs are easier to use than Linux and they don't have a target on their back from for hackers like Microsoft products do. The main issue with Macs are the hardware and software driver limitations as compared with what is available for Windows and Linux.

The above reasons are why SGC provides development services in more than just .NET. We offer solutions in Adobe Air and JAVA to work across the most popular platforms at the same time.

Companies and individuals choose their operating systems depending on many factors. Cross-Platform support is the reason we chose to offer JAVA and Air which run on all relevant operating systems. These OS' include Windows, Mac and Linux. These are the most effective desktop development platforms for any organization that wants to be able to migrate from one operating system to another without having to port their application. One day, another desktop operating system could emerge. Air and JAVA are the safe bets to mitigate this because their owners/designers will be sure a run time environment is built to make your software work just as SGC built it originally.

Linux | Apache | MySQL | PHP/Perl/Python

The LAMP is most often used to create dynamic websites with immense databases such as Facebook. On a website like this, one script can drive multiple pages of content. Additional scripts are used here to process form data and mail content. That too could be done through the main script using included files.

LAMP projects can include social networking integration, forums, forms, uploads/downloads, payment gateways, communities of users, management tools, calendars, shopping carts, mailing lists and all sorts of useful applications. The source code for many of the open source projects on the web are built using LAMP stacks and most are free, while advanced projects often require a registration fee for commercial use.

PHP

Using PHP scripting and MySQL database enables us to create applications that will run on just about any computer environment, regardless of operating system. PHP has thousands of programming functions to facilitate almost any task and working in conjunction with the most popular database in the world leaves SGC endless programming options.

If a computer can run the Apache web server application, then PHP & MySQL will function fluidly in the environment. This means we can develop a project on my Windows PC, and send it to a hosting partner that runs Linux box. The combination of these four tools leaves us with the LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL, PHP/Python/Perl) platform.

PHP is a multi-purpose scripting/programming language that is suited for server-side web development. PHP generally runs on an Apache Web server, however it can also run on Windows IIS machines. PHP is available free of charge, and the PHP Group provides all of the source coding for users to build, extend and design applications for their own use.

PHP primarily acts as a filter, taking input from a file or stream containing text and/or PHP instructions and outputs another stream of data. Most commonly, the output will be HTML. Since PHP 4, the PHP parser compiles input to produce bytecode for processing by the Zend Engine, giving improved performance over its interpreter predecessor.

MySQL

MySQL is the world's most popular open source database software, with over 100 million copies of its software downloaded or distributed throughout its history. With its superior speed, reliability and ease of use, MySQL has become the preferred choice for Web, Web 2.0, SaaS, ISV, Telecom companies and forward-thinking corporate IT Managers because it eliminates the major problems associated with downtime, maintenance and administration for modern, online applications.

Data can be exported from MySQL for use in spreadsheets or databases on your PC using many tools that are readily available. Similarly, data residing in existing PC spreadsheets and databases can be imported to an online database. This portability of data opens up all sorts of uses, especially for workgroups and for those who need to access data from both home and work.