Is SpiderBasic still alive/supported ?

[vmars316]

Hello & Thanks ,

Last year ago or so , I wrote a Browser program in js/Enchant, here:
http://liesandcowpies.com/BenghaziGame/ .

And I would like to rewrite it in SpiderBasic ,
if it is still supported , and plans to continue .
I registered at http://forums.spiderbasic.com/ weeks ago
& also sent an email to alphasnd@gmail.com
to try and get registered on the forum .
But still no reply .
Hence this topic .
Thanks..Vern

[Andre]

As far as I can tell, SpiderBasic is of course still alive (even if Fred focussed last month on PureBasic development), sold licences are handled, etc.

But sorry I can't tell more about the mentioned forum topic (don't use it myself).

Fred is on vacations until mid of November. Maybe he can tell more about actual state of SpiderBasic after his return...

[the.weavster]

I imagine the new CGI commands added to PureBasic have been implemented especially to complement SpiderBasic.

I shall certainly be buying SpiderBasic once this has been sorted.

[fsw]

Last time I looked there was no possibility to access any database.
(like a corporate MS-SQL database)

Is this still the case?

If so it's no use to me

[Thorium]

Last time I looked there was no possibility to access any database.
(like a corporate MS-SQL database)

Is this still the case?

If so it's no use to me

Of course you cant access a database. This is obvious for security reasons.
You need to use a server side script or program to do this. Thats the reason PureBasic now has CGI support.

[Paul]

Of course you cant access a database. This is obvious for security reasons.
You need to use a server side script or program to do this. Thats the reason PureBasic now has CGI support.

This currently seems to be the "go to response" for not supporting database functions but this makes no sense.
PureBasic supports Postgres natively which is designed for network access...

Code: Select all

UsePostgreSQLDatabase()
  If OpenDatabase(0, "host=localhost port=5432", "username", "password")

I have a number of apps that clients use on their personal computers, which access a Postgres DB at a remote location.
This should not be any different than a webpage (spiderbasic app) running on a personal computer which would access a Postgres DB at a remote location.
Then instead of designing 3 of the same app in PB and having to deploy to different platforms (pc/mac/nix) and customers, you would only have to design a single SB app, which users would instantly have updates whenever the SB app was updated.

[Shield]

You guys seem to be unaware of the obvious limitations a JavaScript app has.

Portability and compatibility aside, client-side JavaScript currently has no way to
access databases like native applications. There are some ways to store information
on the client in HTML5 though.

Accessing a database server directly from JavaScript without a Web Service is absolutely stupid.
Do you really want to hand out your MySQL / PostgreSQL password to everyone in the world
that's running your app? I didn't think so...

[Paul]

Accessing a database server directly from JavaScript without a Web Service is absolutely stupid.
Do you really want to hand out your MySQL / PostgreSQL password to everyone in the world
that's running your app? I didn't think so...

Only clients would have access to the web page app, just like currently only clients have the app that is installed on their desktop.

I am fully aware of how things currently work.
It would just be nice to have these limitations overcome, making life much easier.

[Thorium]

I have a number of apps that clients use on their personal computers, which access a Postgres DB at a remote location.

This is a very high security risk.
You should never connect directly to a remote database with client apps. The only apps that should to that are administrative apps to configure and manage the database.

Protection against unwanted database accesses can only be done by a server side application.

[the.weavster]

PureBasic supports Postgres natively which is designed for network access...

Code: Select all

UsePostgreSQLDatabase()
  If OpenDatabase(0, "host=localhost port=5432", "username", "password")

I have a number of apps that clients use on their personal computers, which access a Postgres DB at a remote location.

If you're doing that beyond the confines of a secured LAN you might want to read this.

[bbanelli]

If you're doing that beyond the confines of a secured LAN you might want to read this.

IMO, this is a PITA.

There is a reason that most databases have remote access disabled by default and it should only be used for development and testing.

Since PB provides very simple way of handling many things, I believe it is easiest and most secure to create simple application layer between client and database and save much security trouble with that approach. At least that's how I handle my applications that use remote DB access and so far it has worked flawlessly (especially owing to the fact you can deploy same code on 3 different platforms with any CompilerIf directives!).

[Thorium]

If you're doing that beyond the confines of a secured LAN

Even then, your security relys on the trust to all clients in the network. Not only to people operating the clients but also to the security of the clients. If only one of the clients gets compromised, your database is compromised.

I know it's a lot more work to develop server and client sides of applications. But i can't stress enough how important it is.

[the.weavster]

@Thorium & bbanelli
I wasn't really advocating it as the right approach, just pointing out some necessary precautions if you're intent on taking that route.

I actually prefer Web server (I use Lighttpd) + CGI/FastCGI + DB as a solution and not just for security reasons, I like creating an API that can work with multiple front ends. I'm really pleased PureBasic has now got CGI, FastCGI and JSON commands.

[Dude]

if it is still supported , and plans to continue .

It was released on 17 Mar 2015... of course it's still supported. It's not even a year old.

[juror]

If I remember correctly, in one post Fred mentioned a special introductory sale price for existing PB users, but I don't remember ever seeing such a promotion. Is it in full release status? Did I miss the promo?