Re: GUI question

On Sun, 10 May 2009 02:51:31 -0000
"quills566" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi all, 
> 
> Non-programmer here... Can a programmer tell from the interface what
> language a database application was written in?

"Language" or "Platform"?

Under the right circumstances, you can make an educated guess.

If you happen to work with a web frontend, there might be telltale
signs in the URL (path extensions or a certain way of cryptic urls).

On a "multi-crop" system like Linux or *BSD, all bets are off
for desktop applications. Similarly for client apps for "large"
multi-user systems on Windows. I've seen GUIs on Win2k systems
which I'd never have expected to be done in Cobol... or Forth.

For small-scale DB apps,in the pre .net-era the market was mostly
divided between Access/VBA and Paradox/Delphi with a few "exotic"
integrated solutions like, say, Alpha 5 or the still interesting
Suneido platform.

Each platform had characteristic behavior or widgets, which you
could use to guess at what you were working with.

I can't really tell you what's "hot" nowadays, as my main focus
has shifted a bit.

HTH,
s.