CONCEPT APPLICATION SERVER

Understanding the Logic Behind the Technology

     Technology in and of itself is, at best, a tool toward the implementation of a goal.  One need not understand the inner mechanisms of a car's engine and transmission to drive, but a basic comprehension of the components enables a driver to best utilize the functionality of his automobile.

     Composed of two "virtual" parts, CONCEPT is a set of three elements: a programming language (the Concept Programming Language), a framework (the Concept Framework), and the business-part server. Designed with end-user operability in mind, CONCEPT applications are fully portable to almost all operating systems used today.  Further, CONCEPT includes a simple, easy-to-use graphical interface.

      RadGs Software designed the CONCEPT programming language in a traditional manner, incorporating all of the most current language features found in leading software.  The logic behind this strategic decision was that, for CONCEPT to be most readily assimilated and understood by most programmers, it needed to be familiar and readily useable. The syntax is based on C/C++/C#/Java/PHP, so if any programmer who is familiar with even one of these languages should be able to implement that CONCEPT programming language in a matter of a few days.  RadGs Software believes that it is more important for business functionality and technological implementation to bring language closer to the programmer rather than attempt to educate programmers on whole new languages (regardless of a new programming language's "bells and whistles," which often have a "wow" technology factor that never reaches bottom-line financial benefits.)

     Another easy-to-appreciate aspect of CONCEPT is the framework designed by RadGs Software. The entire collection is property-based classes and libraries, similar to the .NET framework or VCL (The framework used by Borland's Delphi/CBuilder).

     Where CONCEPT truly differentiates itself and demonstrates its innovative ingenuity is in how CONCEPT treats the client / server model. If one considers, for example, PHP, it is known that there is a page generated by a script behind the page.  This script runs on a server, but its product (the result) is shown on a client machine (the client, for example, being an Internet browser.) 

       CONCEPT runs a code on a server in a similar manner, but employs user input and output from the client.  Therefore, if an application with a window and a button is created, all the code is running on a server, but the interface is on the client computer. This is somewhat similar to a database server, except that rather than databases the server holds applications.

     Using a simple case study will better demonstrate the power and functionality afforded by CONCEPT.

Using CONCEPT for a Chat Program

There are two possible solutions available for a Chat Program: the Web Service Approach and the Desktop Client/Server Model.

Web Service Approach

When engaging a Chat Program with a Web service, a script is created that runs on a server.  This server runs the script (which manages messages from users of the Chat Program) and may, in some instances, add such messages into a database. Then, users, via a timer or a button (with or without Ajax) can check for these messages. The drawback to this system is that the client machine needs to reload at a given interval some information (like the messages from the other users). However, an advantage is that this mini-application can be rapidly created.

Desktop Client/Server Model

The central issue with the Desktop Client/Server Model is that it is a time-consuming creation process.  Assigned programmers must create two distinct components: the client and the server (which manages messages received from users and forwards these messages from one user to another.) This is more "user-acceptable", in that its lack of timers (such as are required in the Web Service Approach) makes it faster, being faster, but its central flaw is that one must install the client version of the chat on every machine as well as on the server.

The CONCEPT Application Server Solution

RadGs Software engineers and designers are known for their creative solutions for business benefit, as is evidenced by the ingenious CONCEPT Solution. CONCEPT creates an application, using the speed and simplicity of the Web Service Approach, but multiplies its scope and processing capabilities by connecting these multiple clients to a singular high-speed Concept Browser, a general purpose client that enables the end-user clients quick, reliable application access and use.  This Concept Browser makes:

• Better "Feel" for Users than the Traditional Web Service Approach
• Briefer Creation and Design Cycles for Programmers (Having Only One Component to  Implement)
• More User-Friendly Interface
• Eliminates Any Need for Timers
• Seamless and Simple De-Bugging Process

Perhaps one of the easier ways to describe the comprehensive benefits of the CONCEPT Solution is the following simple fact: a basic Chat Program employing database technology requires less than 15 lines of active code when implemented using the CONCEPT Solution.

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