Concept 16
| Concept 16
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 CONZEPT 16 development environment under Windows 10 |
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| Basic data
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| developer | vectorsoft AG |
| Current version | 5.8.12 (November 29, 2019) |
| operating system | Server Windows / Linux Client Windows |
| category | Database management system Integrated development environment Programming language |
| License | proprietary |
| German speaking | Yes |
| www.vectorsoft.de | |
CONZEPT 16 is a commercial software development system with its own programming language based on C / C ++ , a compiler , debugger and design tools for user interfaces and printouts. In addition to the development environment, the product integrates a relational database system ( RDBMS ) and enables fast prototyping as well as efficient software development via Rapid Application Development (RAD). The provider is vectorsoft AG. The program was developed from 1979 to accelerate software development. It has been sold commercially since 1985 and appeared for various operating system platforms (including DOS, Windows, OS / 2, Netware, Unix, Linux). Version 5.5 of the software was released in October 2009. In the current version, various Windows platforms and Linux (for the database server) are still supported.
The software is based on a client - server architecture and is platform-independent and scalable . The system supports various database clients, such as Windows clients or ODBC drivers, and is therefore very versatile. In addition, the applications developed with the program package offer several application interfaces, such as the Component Object Model (COM) and the possibility of integrating external DLLs ( Dynamic Link Library ), so that comprehensive communication with the local software environment is made possible.
philosophy
The software integrates all tools and functions that are required for developing applications in the area of database applications. The database system , the development environment and the user interface merge completely with one another. Data structure , surface and source code can be defined in a common designer. Therefore, data fields can be easily placed in the user interface as well as in the source code using drag & drop . Due to the merging, data fields can be addressed at any time like global variables . An interface layer is not necessary. In addition, the associated overhead for data transmission and development is eliminated .
By linking the database and application, developers, administrators and users only need to use and manage one product. This also applies to the product support on the part of the manufacturer as well as the maintenance of the computer systems.
Interfaces
The software offers a large number of interfaces on the database and application side. On the application side, this includes ODBC , COM / DDE , OLE , DLL , TCP / IP sockets and e-mail . and TAPI ( Telephony Application Programming Interface ). These can be used to embed the database system in an existing IT infrastructure.
On the database side, the software offers several clients that can be served by a CONZEPT 16 database server. In addition to the self-developed user interface, ODBC clients, PHP scripts and external applications can connect to a CONZEPT 16 server via the program's programming interface. The product also has an integrated web solution that can create web pages directly from the database, as well as an SOA client that, for example, performs job server tasks in a database or in response to requests via a TCP / IP- based protocol responds.
With the help of the software's own printer driver, software printers can be set up company-wide, the print jobs can be sent to the procedural processing of a CONZEPT 16 application and optionally forwarded to a hardware printer in parallel .
Installation and database administration
All components of the product can be installed or set up using an automatic routine. Maintenance of the database is not necessary, since diagnoses and backups can be carried out automatically and during operation. In the event of an error, the administrator is automatically notified by e-mail or SMS .
Application maintenance
All developed resources are stored directly in the database, which means that the developer does not need to organize resources externally. This procedure also enables the product's database server to carry out a fully automatic update of an application based on the development version. For this purpose, a corresponding update file is generated from the original database on request.
Security and high availability
A hot standby solution ensures the security and high availability of the database. The system consists of two self-sufficient computers, both of which serve as database servers and on each of which the original database is available. Completed transactions in the primary database are automatically transferred to the secondary over a high-speed direct link. The computers can be configured differently, both in terms of hardware and in the operating system used. If one computer fails, the second computer takes over immediately. The link between database and application means that not only all data, but also the entire rest of the database system are immediately available again and users can continue working without delay. With this system, maintenance can also be carried out on the server during normal business hours without affecting the user .
Version history
| year | version | Significant innovations in the version |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1.0 | Market launch of the database system. The system provides functions for managing tables and for configuring the database. A programming in the modern sense is not possible. The system can run under Wang-PC and MS-DOS . |
| 1986 | 1.3 | First network-compatible version. Support of additional systems: IBM-PC , Sirius I , Siemens PC-D and Microsoft Xenix 286 . |
| 1989 | 2.4 | New surface with text-based window technology. By programming functions, complex processing becomes possible. The MS-DOS and OS / 2 operating systems are supported. |
| 1991 | 3.2 | As an alternative to the existing menu navigation, CUA menus are introduced. The first 32-bit version is released. |
| 1993 | 3.4 | The first client-server version. The clients are available under the MS-DOS, OS / 2 and Unix systems, the server initially only runs under NetWare . Further server versions for OS / 2 and Unix will follow later. |
| 1994 | 4.0 | Client and server version for Microsoft Windows . A semi-graphic version will be released later (the user interface remains text-based, but Windows-like elements can be created). |
| 1996 | 4.1 | Client with complete graphical user interface for Windows and OS / 2 systems. More and more platforms ( DEC Alpha , Sun SPARC , IBM RS / 6000 , ...) are supported on the server side . Access via ODBC is possible. |
| 1999 | 4.2 | Complete support of the graphical user interface will be removed, as support for different systems (Windows and OS / 2, X-Windows was prepared) is no longer required. A new programming language is introduced. The web interface is released. |
| 2000 | 4.3 | The revised support for graphical interfaces specially tailored to Windows is introduced. An external debugger can also be used to check the functions that are called by interfaces for errors. |
| 2002 | 4.5 | Support of the COM interface. Access to the COM server is possible. |
| 2006 | 5.1 | New process structure of the server. Support of 64-bit architectures of Windows and Linux operating systems. The PHP interface is released. |
| 2008 | 5.3 | A new user system allows the creation of a non-hierarchical user system . The administration of the server can be done via a web browser . Selections can be made on the server. |
| 2009 | 5.4 | The programming language is expanded to include objects with which XML , JSON and PDF formats can be processed. The service client existing up to this point will be replaced by an SOA service. The language is extended by an HTTP object for simple implementation of communication via HTTP . Virtual servers are supported. |
| 2010 | 5.5. | The data structure supports temporary tables. A module for generating business graphics is added to the client. |
| 2011 | 5.6 | Storage of alphanumeric field contents in the Unicode character set. Support for asynchronous replication of databases. File-based access to database contents via virtual drive. All components support version 6 of the IP protocol IPv6 . New ODBC driver with 64-bit variant. |
| 2012 | 5.7 |
Support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 . Dynamic creation of graphic controls . |
| 2015 | 5.8 |
Windows 10 support . |
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Florian Lapp: Emailing with Concept 16 . In: Toolbox No. 1, 2010, pages 26-27
- ↑ Michael Dudenhöffer: Telephoning with Concept 16 . In: Toolbox No. 1/2009, pages 60–63
- ↑ Damir Petecin: SOA for Concept 16 In: Toolbox No. 3–4, 2009, pp. 72–75
- ↑ Florian Lapp: Web Services with Concept 16 . In: Toolbox No. 6, 2009, pages 32-36
- ↑ Andrej Mücke: With a net and a double bottom . In: Developer magazine No. 2/2008, pages 84–87
- ↑ Thomas Glörfeld: Increase availability and avoid downtime costs . In: Toolbox No. 5/2002
- ↑ Interview with Andrej Mücke, co-founder of vectorsoft AG and the main developer of the system
- ↑ Fraunhofer tested 16 of the most important programs for the PC for you . In: Impulse 9/1988, pages 186-197
- ↑ Max Winkler: unusual concept . In: c't 7/1992
- ↑ Peter M. Radebach-Opitz: Network capable . In: c't 6/1993
- ↑ Kerstin Kloss: Concept 16 in a new look . In: Toolbox 3/1995
- ↑ ODBC-SQL-Interface for Concept 16 . In: Database Focus 4/1995
- ↑ Thomas Glörfeld: Smart solution . In: Toolbox 3/1999
- ↑ Michael Dudenhöffer: Business graphics with concept 16 . In: Toolbox No. 2, 2010, pages 14-18