July 30th, 2010 Steve Frizzell
Today we will make APPX 5.0.3 Beta 1 available for download. This marks the beginning of a new approach for us with regard to beta releases. In the past, we have only made a beta release available when a release had progressed to the point where it was essentially complete. We now plan to release a new beta every week or two, each one with a new group of bug fixes and other changes. So, APPX 5.0.3 will have several beta releases which will eventually be followed by a final production release.
We are taking this approach for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is that it is easier for us to fix and test a small number of bugs and features. As we release each beta, the number of bugs and other changes will be relatively small and more manageable compared to the number that will be in the final release. This approach will also give customers access to some bugs fixes sooner than they would have otherwise been available and they can provide feedback to us at an earlier point in the release cycle.
I must remind you that beta releases should not generally be run in a production environment.
Steve
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July 15th, 2010 Steve Frizzell
Yesterday, we released APPX 5.0.2. While patch releases are not usually noteworthy, this one is because it includes the new APPXODBC service and the new APPX Source Code Control System (SCCS) is much improved.
Our ODBC interface has been completely re-engineered and now incorporates an ODBC server that runs as a service on a Windows system. Individual desktop users who want to use third-party desktop products such as Excel, Crystal Reports, etc. now connect to the ODBC server which in turn connects to the APPX server. One advantage of this is that asql is now run by a system administrator and all file definitions are only imported one time into the shared database which is managed by the ODBC server.
The new APPX Source Code Control System will add a new dimension to your application design efforts. We recently started using it on an internal project at APPX Software and have already begun to see the many benefits that it offers. After you upgrade to 5.0.2, give it a try. I think you will like it but, if you don’t like it, you can always turn it off.
Steve
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