RE: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Capita SIMS - School Admin Microsoft Only?
I just wish they didnt tie themslevels down to Microsoft Products. "superSTAR" (as claimed below) is Microsoft .NET, FMS is some wierd SQL implementation, Most of our SIMS is wierd old DBASE files, and frankly its an utter mess.
As is Capita Mentor. Many applications with lots of strings with knots in holding it together. They did that by buying up Dolphin, SIMS and so on.
Especially when there really isn't an excuse not to have it. For a company the size of Capita, why does it take 10s of years to develop a fairly straightforward SQL data base that is technically well-documented?
Capita promise new versions of all products, SQL compatible. All their plans are MS-specific. Their stuff will be web-based, and I know they were at one time looking at Java for the client - but didn't like the GUI - insufficiently controllable. Thus the move into the MS camp. If you are developing MS-platform software now, it's almost impossible to avoid .net, unfortunately. Blame Microsoft. I think you'll find they have a high turnover of programmers and this can't help the development cycle. And where was it that Capita was in the news recently as having screwed up somebody's database? Ah yes, checking that teachers weren't paedophiles. Too many developments, too many people running around, it would seem. Scapegoat or not, it can't help.<opinion> One of the problems is their databases are not straightforward - they are providing structures which cover a wide range of tasks.
Because its only in the customers interest not theirs to do it
Too true. When you get their documentation, you get descriptions of data structures, but as seen from the user's perspective. Little about underlying tables. However most of their *current* products provide an ODBC interface and this makes it easier to delve. Even if the databases are platform-specific at least some compatibility can be provided through ODBC. However I don't expect they will ever provide 'open' documentation. Another problem is that when Capita look at requirements for future developments, they seem only to ask their current user base. If they were interested in getting it right they would be asking a lot of non-Capita users why they didn't buy the products. -- ******************************************************************************** All mail sent and received may be examined to prevent transmission of unacceptable material. Wellington College does not accept responsibility for email contents. Problems to postmaster@wellington-college.berks.sch.uk. Website: http://www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk ********************************************************************************
I just wish they didnt tie themslevels down to Microsoft Products. "superSTAR" (as claimed below) is Microsoft .NET, FMS is some wierd SQL implementation, Most of our SIMS is wierd old DBASE files, and frankly its an utter mess.
As is Capita Mentor. Many applications with lots of strings with knots in holding it together. They did that by buying up Dolphin, SIMS and so on.
Especially when there really isn't an excuse not to have it. For a company the size of Capita, why does it take 10s of years to develop a fairly straightforward SQL data base that is technically well-documented?
Capita promise new versions of all products, SQL compatible. All their
They have already changed their plans at least once, NOVA was ment to be the all singing, all dancing replacement for STAR, COVER and EXAMS.
plans are MS-specific. Their stuff will be web-based, and I know they
Even though there is no real reason to make something web-based be anything specific.
were at one time looking at Java for the client - but didn't like the GUI - insufficiently controllable. Thus the move into the MS camp. If you are developing MS-platform software now, it's almost impossible to avoid .net, unfortunately. Blame Microsoft.
I think you'll find they have a high turnover of programmers and this can't help the development cycle. And where was it that Capita was in the news
This might explain why they keep starting things and never finishing them.
recently as having screwed up somebody's database? Ah yes, checking that teachers weren't paedophiles. Too many developments, too many people running around, it would seem. Scapegoat or not, it can't help.<opinion>
One of the problems is their databases are not straightforward - they are providing structures which cover a wide range of tasks.
Because its only in the customers interest not theirs to do it
Too true. When you get their documentation, you get descriptions of data structures, but as seen from the user's perspective. Little about underlying tables. However most of their *current* products provide an ODBC interface and this makes it easier to delve.
Even if the databases are platform-specific at least some compatibility can be provided through ODBC. However I don't expect they will ever provide 'open' documentation.
Another problem is that when Capita look at requirements for future developments, they seem only to ask their current user base. If they were
Where the licence is held by the LEA I wonder how much of the user base actually gets asked. Let alone the tricky issue of if the right questions get asked.
interested in getting it right they would be asking a lot of non-Capita users why they didn't buy the products.
-- Mark Evans St. Peter's CofE High School Phone: +44 1392 204764 X109 Fax: +44 1392 204763
participants (2)
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Grainge, Derek -
Mark Evans