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An Omnis-greybeard’s comments
Greetings to all you folks just getting started with this great language! So glad to see it is still alive and kicking.
I began working with Omnis 3 in 1985. Was new to database design and applications software in general. Was building a sales management system for a family owned bridal business in Pennsylvania, US. We started with one Mac (no hard drives – floppy only). After a couple years ( working alone) the system grew to about 10 Macs in 3 buildings all connected with… APPLESHARE! We had a MacII as the “server” for the database and I think it had a SLOW 20 MEG HD attached to it.
Went on to do a number of contract jobs over the following years, and then build a complete sales management system with accounting, inventory, sales and the whole magilla. I really think it was the amazing capabilities of Omnis (V7 by then) that allowed one person to tackle such a complex project.
Omnis may seem a bit obscure to new users, but once you get the ‘hang’ of the style it is SOOOO powerful and capable of nearly anything. I think the early days it was very poorly marketed and managed, and many inferior languages prevailed (Where is PowerBuilder today?). And there was so little documentation – David Swain, a VERY sage and knowledgeable developer produced the first of any sort of manual/training for the language.
All the best wishes to you all and I really hope Omnis “rises from the ashes” and get the recognition and use it deserves.
=Alan Reinhart
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