URLyBird questions

[Lee Sunter]

Hi,
I have a few questions if anyone can help?

1. User specifies Alone or Server etc to run the application, has everyone just created a startup class which is what gets called and this then directs the flow of control to either the loc\l client class and its main method or the server etc? As thats the simple way to implement this I think from the command line. This startup class can pass the params from the properties file.

2. The properties file is that just simply a text file that has the database name, port, host listed?

3. I cache my database and the locking etc works, after reading other posts and your replies (thanks ) I am concerned about the create method, I have implemented this within the cached database as this is not called by the client I am not concerned about the data file database being up dated. That said I have added a writeOutData method to my dataAccess file incase the user ever wanted to write out the data file, do I need to include a call to this on method exit (ie as a data back up as none of the booking results will have been saved to the data file)?

4. The 48 hour rule, since the requirments do not explicity say MUST in front of this requirment, so do we have to do it?

[Lee Sunter]

Any ideas?

[Andrew Monkhouse]

Hi Lee

1. User specifies Alone or Server etc to run the application, has everyone just created a startup class which is what gets called and this then directs the flow of control to either the loc\l client class and its main method or the server etc?

I have seen many candidates do it this way, and thats the way we do it in The Sun Certified Java Developer Exam with J2SE 5.

This startup class can pass the params from the properties file.

You could do it this way, in which case I assume you are displaying a dialog box in this startup class as well. Otherwise you would be reading the properties, passing them off to the next part of the application, and possibly modifying them in some other part of the app.

2. The properties file is that just simply a text file that has the database name, port, host listed?

Take a look at the Properties class. It may (or may not) be a simple text file - the format of the file is of less concern than the contents (you do seem to have the right contents ).

3. I cache my database and the locking etc works, after reading other posts and your replies (thanks ) I am concerned about the create method, I have implemented this within the cached database as this is not called by the client I am not concerned about the data file database being up dated. That said I have added a writeOutData method to my dataAccess file incase the user ever wanted to write out the data file, do I need to include a call to this on method exit (ie as a data back up as none of the booking results will have been saved to the data file)?

I would think you would want to either write the data at the time of the update, or (if response time is critical) as soon as possible afterwards. Leaving writing of data until system shutdown can leave you open to loss of data if the system crashes.

4. The 48 hour rule, since the requirments do not explicity say MUST in front of this requirment, so do we have to do it?

I would recommend you handle this rule:

Automatic failure due to 48 hour rule

Failed because of 48 hrs "requirement"

NX: 48 hour Auto failure

Try doing a search on "48" in this forum for some suggestions on how to handle it.

Regards, Andrew
[ September 06, 2005: Message edited by: Andrew Monkhouse ]