[techtrucker]

I've been asked to develop a solution for a small manufacturing company. There will be about 10 users on an all Mac network (yay!).

Basically it will be an inventory and job order database. They have looked at existing apps but their business really requires a custom solution.

In the past I have almost always defaulted to FileMaker for something like this. It's easy to set up and administer. The size and needs of the company make it a good fit. And the cost is not an issue, not with this particular client anyway!

But I find myself wondering if I should be looking at alternatives. I am comfortable with MySQL and PostgreSQL. The client does like the idea of having a "real" OS X GUI vs a FM layout type screen. And administration shouldn't be all that difficult once set up.

And with FM 9 rumored to include new tools to make it useful as a front end to the various sqls out there, you can't help but wonder if they even see the writing on the wall....

I know I have to make this decision, technically it's not a big deal either way. I guess I'm just thinking out loud, and was wondering what others thought.

[besson3c]

I almost always recommend open data formats such as MySQL or Postgresql. If you need a GUI, you could look at tools like CocoaMySQL, or using any ODBC supported app. You could also write up a web interface.

[zro]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

I almost always recommend open data formats such as MySQL or Postgresql. If you need a GUI, you could look at tools like CocoaMySQL, or using any ODBC supported app. You could also write up a web interface.

Exactly what I did where I work; MySQL with a PHP interface. It's practically as flexible and user friendly as you (or they) would like it to be.

[techtrucker]

Thanks for the replies. I will probably develop this in Cocoa, and I have already developed my own framework for accessing PostgreSQL databases. And yes, having the option of a web interface is nice, they haven't requested that but if they did it would be a piece of cake.