[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Staff client software vs. web-based interface

[Thomas Berezansky]

At this point I believe we are packaging Linux clients.

Mac clients are harder, as I don't think we can currently build them  
on Linux easily. A lack of test machines for those of us working on  
client building is another problem.

Also, when building Evergreen itself later versions do custom client  
building, which includes a generic "works with pre-installed  
XULRunner" packaging in addition to the Windows and Linux clients.

The majority of the benefit to an actual client compared to a web  
based interface is in printing. Web browsers don't allow web pages to  
control the printer. Beyond that we get our own menus and toolbars,  
for example.

Note that the client is a XULRunner app, which means that in many ways  
it is similar to Firefox in general. Many of the admin interfaces can,  
if you know where to go, be used from within a web browser as well.

Thomas Berezansky
Merrimack Valley Library Consortium


Quoting "Lazar, Alexey Vladimirovich" <alexey.lazar at mnsu.edu>:

> Hello. I was browsing the http://evergreen-ils.org/downloads.php  
> page and some linked areas, looking at all the different staff  
> clients that are available and not available, and it got me  
> thinking...
>
> Based on the fact that the Evergreen project releases come with the  
> staff client only for Windows, does that make Evergreen Windows-only  
> software? I see that there are some instructions for Mac and Linux  
> on the downloads page in various states of freshness. I also see  
> that Sitka provides pre-built clients, which is great, thanks. In  
> terms of answering prospective customer questions, I think my answer  
> is Windows-only, right?
>
> What is the reason for lack of "official" releases of staff client  
> software for Mac OS (and Linux)?  Is it strategy, because there is  
> no need, or like with some other things, not enough volunteers?
>
> I was also curious if anyone could outline for me some benefits of  
> using staff client software vs. a web-based administrative  
> interface. I can easily think of some disadvantages, like lack of  
> cross-platform compatibility, maintenance overhead, additional  
> dependencies, but I'm guessing there are some advantages as well?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alexey Lazar
> PALS
> Information System Developer and Integrator
> 507-389-2907
> http://www.mnpals.org/
>
>