I was wondering, what server technologies are people using with EWB.

All my servers are Linux or FreeBSD, both ones at work and the hosted environments I use for non-employment purposes.

Elevate’s server is not yet compatible with these Unix infrastructures.  And even when it eventually is Linux-ready, it will probably not be possible to run in most hosted environments where you cannot leave a binary running all the time.  Those are better suited to something that fires up only when a web page calls it.

So, I primarily use PHP/MySQL or Mormot/MySQL.  

I find PHP/MySQL is good because it is compatible with many hosted environments, including cheap paid hosting services that cost only $3 per month.   And, of course, it is compatible with all the PHP-interfaced Unix utilities.  And other people understand and can program PHP, so it’s good for projects I work on with other developers.  PHP is becoming mature enough that they aren’t making as many rapid changes that break compatibility as they did in the past.  The biggest downside is coding errors because I’m switching between Pascal and PHP.  I had to do some initial work because Unicode multinational characters are harder to support in PHP/MySQL, but I’ve got that all sorted out now.

Mormot works well when I control the server and can run an executable.  It’s also a totally Pascal environment, which is convenient for compatibility with coding styles, and the typed variables are a huge plus.  Also, coming from France, mormot handles Unicode well for multinational characters.  Mormot allows me to use the many Delphi-compatible libraries, both ones I’ve written or found over the years for doing PDFs, Excel spreadsheets, etc..  The entry bar is higher than PHP for setting up an application, some initial code template has to be copied to each new project.  I compile for Win64 then run it under Wine, which seems to be compatible and actually faster and smaller footprint than running under Windows server on the same hardware.  But the longer uptimes and more reliable base OS than Windows are big selling features of this approach.

I have a few mammoth Mormot projects, but I’ve been building up some major PHP projects in recent months too and getting more comfortable using it.  

I know some people are using RemObjects.

Are there any other environemnts people are using?  And if so, what are the benefits and downsides.

Erick
EWB Programming Books and Component Library
http://www.erickengelke.com

EWB 3.X while I have EWB 3 - I have not started to try and rebuild the backend I have built for EWB 2.

EWB 2.X

Host on Windows Servers IIS - deployed at ISAPI DLL using RealThinClient componenets.

In the ISAPI DLL I have a reusable report  capabilites, SQL queries managed in a table, email via Clever Internet Suite, Excel ingest or export via TMS Flex Cell, Charts via TeeChart, - anything Delphi can be compiled into the DLL.  I have several flavours of the ISAPI to work with different DB's.  DBISAM, Elevate DB and UniDac for MS SQL (and any other).

Attached is a quick outline and screen shots of how the reporting piece works.  I have a Report Creatro utility to design and save the SQL and Report into a table and the DLL when request can grab the record - execute the SQL and load the report and send it to the browser.  The EWB code has a small foot print.

Attached is a few snapshots of the Report Creator tool.

Walter

Hi Erick,

I'm still using EWB2 with PHP and MySQL.  Not sure what to do about EWB3 yet as I don't really want to have to use a Windows web server, but it looks like I may have to incur the additional cost.

= Steve

On 4/2/2021 5:16 PM, Steve Gill wrote:
> I'm still using EWB2 with PHP and MySQL.  Not sure what to do about EWB3 yet as I don't really want to have to use a Windows web server, but it looks like I may have to incur the additional cost.

You do not need Windows server - EWB3 APIs are available so you can just
adopt the ones you need (database access mostly and optionally auth) to PHP

https://www.elevatesoft.com/manual?action=topics&id=ewb3&section=using_the_web_server

Raul

<< You do not need Windows server - EWB3 APIs are available so you can just
adopt the ones you need (database access mostly and optionally auth) to PHP

https://www.elevatesoft.com/manual?action=topics&id=ewb3§ion=using_the_web_server  >>

I didn't know that.  Thanks Raul!

= Steve

I can confirm that implementing the provided API is worth the time and effort. I have created a series of php scripts on both a windows and a linux server without major issue. The API allows me to connect mysql databases to the EWB3 seamlessly. You can manage and implement your datasets from the IDE as if you were connected to a EWB server.

Big thanks to Tim for providing a API.


Steve Gill wrote:

<< You do not need Windows server - EWB3 APIs are available so you can just
adopt the ones you need (database access mostly and optionally auth) to PHP

https://www.elevatesoft.com/manual?action=topics&id=ewb3§ion=using_the_web_server  >>

I didn't know that.  Thanks Raul!

= Steve
R&D Team
Canadian Meteorological Aviation Centre
Edmonton, AB

Steve,

<< I'm still using EWB2 with PHP and MySQL.  Not sure what to do about EWB3 yet as I don't really want to have to use a Windows web server, but it looks like I may have to incur the additional cost. >>

In addition to what has been mentioned regarding PHP/MySQL, I *will* have a Linux version of the EWB Server available in early fall.  I just need to get the OpenSSL layer working correctly, and then it will be ready to go.

Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com

Erick and everyone,

I should have the beginnings of a hosted EWB server environment completed by mid-Fall 2021.  It will allow you to sign up for small EWB 3.x server instances that are completely managed by us.  This will allow you to concentrate on the coding and not worry about certs, etc.  The hosting environment will be isolated per-customer, so you will be able to run external native code, etc. without issue and the hosting environment will automatically restart your EWB 3.x server process, etc. if it encounters any issues.  I just have some remaining issues that I need to work out re: monitoring and external database access like SQL Server instances, and then I can start beta testing it for customers.  The pricing will most likely be per-month with no terms for existing EWB customers, or per-month with a minimum year's purchase for non-EWB customers (the IDE, etc. is included free-of-charge in the second case).  Initially, at least, we'll only be offering the Windows platform on the back-end (in case you're using native code with your EWB 3.x implementation).

Tim Young
Elevate Software
www.elevatesoft.com