Technologies
For a relational database platform, we particularly like working with Microsoft SQL Server, which in
our experience has consistently provided sophisticated functionality, productive tools, easy integration,
reliability, and value for money. In accordance with industry norms of best practice, we use stored procedures
for virtually all programmatic interaction with the database, in the interests of security, performance
and maintainability.
For application development we find the Microsoft .Net platform to be very rich and flexible,
both for Windows and for web applications (ASP.Net). C# is our programming language of choice, combining good
support for object-oriented development and a strong emphasis on safety. We also utilise carefully chosen best-of-breed
components from third-party vendors where appropriate to provide the productivity and integration features that
our users expect.
We continue to support a few older PowerBuilder applications but new development is targeted
to the .Net platform.