How to deploy MySQL and Xataface application as standalone

[ibyalex]

Hi there,

Many thanks to Steve for sharing this wonderful tool. I have been learning it for a week now and this is my first post on this forum.

I am developing a MySQL stand-alone application and using Xataface as its front-end. My development platform is WAMP on Windows 7. Though the database is intended to be used as a stand-alone application, soon there will be demand to integrate it with the organization's website hence the choice of WAMP.

I can figure out how to get the application running on the web via the website but my primary concern is deploying it as a stand-lone application so that several computers in the office can use the application. How do I deploy the application from my local machine where it is developed to end-users Computers? I will be grateful if you can explain how to go about it or direct me to where I can find useful information regarding this deployment issue. Thanks in advance.

Cheers

[shannah]

This is more of a networking issue than anything. You are likely accessing it from localhost right now. You need to make it so that your computer can be accessed over the network via an IP address. Then you can access your application via that IP address.

[samhans]

hai friend,

your query is not about xataface but to use it in your office network.
if your.office has its own network then migrate your database and application folder from your current computer to the webserver of your office. it takes minutes to backup your database .

or
if you want your computer could be accessed for the application then give a static ip address to your computer and link it via your office website. moreover you must check your application so that non of your link actually points to local host. it must use the static ip address to link.

thats it. feel free to ask anything more.

-samhans

[ibyalex]

Thanks Samhans and Steve for those replies which I find very useful and handy from the point of view of networking or hosting the application online.

My query actually boarders on how the entire application can be packaged as a single installation (Complete set of setup files) that can then be deployed on machines that are not on any network but just stand-alone (Like desktop applications). I am thinking from the way MS-Access produces a single file which can be copied to any computer. I am not sure if I have made myself clear here but in another way, I am wondering if it is possible to package the application, burn it to CD as a set of installation files for use in stand-alone computers. These computers must not be on a network.

I do appreciate your earlier replies.

Cheers

[samhans]

hai,
i have understanded your point. but what i probably want to know is why you want it like this.

if you want your application to be installed on other machine just you need to copy and paste the entire folder that's it. since it is a service orient application where users are just like client you need not to be need it to be installed in every system.

but if the question is this that i want it like this then just make a installer package. which after executing extract the folder to a desired location also you can integrate your database files with it which when executed as a sql query installs all the database and tables required on the specified system.



samhans

[samhans]

some more to add is that you are telling about ms access. this is a wrong comparison of xataface or let any other application with ms access. because xataface is made to actually manage your database efficiently from web i.e if a programmer want to make a web form where he wants people post certain information then he has to write a lot of code. xataface saves you here. it gives a ready to go app framework. with the ability of more user customization.

similarly if the thing is only standalone then why to use xataface, instead use ms access. database environment in odbc, mysql or oracle are made essentially to be used in a networked environment. if you are interested in standalone then use ms access.

hope you could understand my point.

samhans

[shannah]

Deploying desktop applications is a full topic to itself. The technical hurdle you'll face is that you're installing a web server and a database server which listen on various ports. If you have full control over your environment, you may be able to produce a package that can be installed quite safely across multiple machines. I think the easiest approach would be to distribute your application in two parts:

1. Target it to a particular distribution of XAMP or MAMP and have your users first install that.
2. Create an installer script that copies your application to the correct folder in your XAMP install and sets up permissions and your database appropriately.

For the database portion, Xataface versioning can be used http://www.shannah.ca/blog/?p=144 (but you could also just run a MySQL script).

Creating your install script can be done using many different strategies including:
1. A script (e.g. php, python, shell, batch)
2. A GUI installation tool (there are lots of these around but most cost money....)
3. Using version control and a build script (e.g. ANT, Make, or Maven).

My usual strategy for preparing an application for easy deployment is to:

1. Use Xataface versioning so that the update_1() method will build the database from scratch.
2. Use subversion to store and distribute the source code for the core application.
3. Add a build.xml file (for ANT) to set up the application from source (e.g. check out latest version of xataface and modules from SVN, set up config files, set permissions on directories, etc...).

Making a good build script can save you a lot of headaches down the road when it comes time to migrate your app to a different server and you can't remember all of the things you need to do to set it up.

-Steve

[ibyalex]

Thanks guys for the latest contributions. I believe I can run with them especially Steve's latest contribution. Loads of useful information to get me going. My query has been addressed and am set to forge ahead. I really appreciate.

Best Regards
Ibyalex