VB Programing support Access Database Microsoft Office VB.Net & SQL Server nev@NevVB.com.au Sydney, Australia (612) 9453-0456 Contact Details 23/02/2012
Microsoft has just announced the advent of LightSwitch. LightSwitch is a Rapid Application Development (RAD) software application, and provides easily created business automation solutions – previously the domain of Microsoft Access software. It has the ability to be deployed to the desktop, the Web and the Azure Cloud.
LightSwitch is targeted at the technically skilled end-user – creating professional and functional business applications, with predefined screen templates. LightSwitch uses the free SQL Server Express for its Back-End database – Microsoft Access as the Back-End database may eventually become available.
Extensive training in LightSwitch will be needed before attempting to create any project.
The programs can be built without any programming knowledge – although the odd bit of code could be written in Visual Basic.Net. The structure of LightSwitch is constrained, preventing the spaghetti code that usually is the result of amateur programming.
LightSwitch will replace Microsoft Access and the outdated Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), for new and simple applications. Complex Corporate Administration systems will not be easily handled by LightSwitch. In these cases, VB.Net with an SQL Server database is the best option.
Unfortunately there is little prospect of "Access.Net" software becoming available.
The "cheapness" and speed of the LightSwitch solution may be illusory, and the VB.Net option may well prove more cost effective. As has happened with many Microsoft Access applications, small systems have a habit of growing. And becoming more complex. And requiring additional functionality. The screen templates do not have the flexibility of a Visual Basic designed screen.
It should be possible to convert LightSwitch to VB.Net at a later stage. However the style of programming used may not be acceptable to the professional programmer and not conform to Company standards.
LightSwitch applications should be limited to simple and discrete solutions.
LightSwitch is just out of its Beta phase, and will take some time to mature. A huge array of bugs will need to be fixed. It will be wise to wait until the dust has well and truly settled, before the product is released for departmental experimentation.