Re: Building Enterprise Web Applications with Maypole

[danb]

Another web application framework to consider is Interchange.

[iguanodon]

I looked into Interchange a couple of months ago and I found it very painful to install and set up. I finally got it running because I was too stubborn to give up but the experience made me reject Interchange for the project. I figured if it was that difficult to install and configure, maintenance wasn't going to be any better. My point here is that I don't think Interchange meets Ovid's description of Maypole as "designed to allow you to write complex database driven Web applications very quickly".

[danb]

I'm glad you have already looked at Interchange. I'm sorry you had trouble with it -- a lot of people share your frustration. Specific suggestions on improving it are welcome, we have had a hard time getting such feedback.

In my experience, it is difficult to have complexity of features without a steep learning curve.

If you are doing a one-off web app, lesser tools may do the job faster, since they do not require the initial learning investment.

But if you will be spending years and years on web apps, then the initial investment in Interchange will pay off in the long run.

[iguanodon]

If you are doing a one-off web app, lesser tools may do the job faster, since they do not require the initial learning investment.

I agree. My immediate needs didn't require the heavy-duty capabilities of Interchange, but at the same time I was trying to think long term. I really wanted to use it, but like most people I'm busy and at some point I just have to move on.

I'll be glad to provide some feedback - I'll even start over and document where I run into problems. /msg me if you're interested and we can correspond outside of perlmonks.