Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Creating desktop or client-server database solutions?

Moderators: FourthWorld, heatherlaine, Klaus, kevinmiller, robinmiller

Post Reply
jalz
Livecode Opensource Backer
Livecode Opensource Backer
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:04 pm

Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by jalz » Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:10 pm

Hi Guys,
Im playing around with Live Code and want to create an database app the works both on the iPhone and Mac/Windows platform. My question is I want my application to synchronise the data between the desktop version and the mobile version. I want the user to only be able to synchronise when they have both machines next to them, so Im not looking for any 'fancy over the waves' kind of thing. Has anyone created something similar and what pitfalls did you encounter? I'm thinking about record conflicts and what the best way is to get the records across to both platforms? Im a long way from doing this as Im still planning my app, but just really interested in your thoughts :)

Thanks
Jalz

FourthWorld
VIP Livecode Opensource Backer
VIP Livecode Opensource Backer
Posts: 9802
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:05 am
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Re: Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by FourthWorld » Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:57 pm

I had a similar need and for my purposes I decided to do field-level comparison rather than the record as a whole, since it allowed more flexibility at a relatively small cost. For some fields (e.g., notes) differences are appended to retain data as much as possible, but for others I've had to resort to last-one-wins. My data store timestamps records, so at least I have the opportunity to know which record was modified more recently.

True, this does allow the possibility of data loss, but seems to contain most obvious forms of loss to a level I can live with for my app.

Good luck. Synch is a sticky issue, and it seems that no two apps handle it exactly the same, always something new to discover....
Richard Gaskin
LiveCode development, training, and consulting services: Fourth World Systems
LiveCode Group on Facebook
LiveCode Group on LinkedIn

kdjanz
Posts: 300
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:12 pm
Location: Fort Saskatchewan, AB Canada

Re: Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by kdjanz » Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:05 pm

Would it be possible to just have a data stack that lives in the user Dropbox folder? I know you don't NEED cloud access, but if both apps worked off a common database and were not accessed simultaneously, it would do away with the whole sync issue. I do this manually with certain files, but don't know how I would do it in LC in a mobile app with the sandboxing.

Just a thought,

Kelly

FourthWorld
VIP Livecode Opensource Backer
VIP Livecode Opensource Backer
Posts: 9802
Joined: Sat Apr 08, 2006 7:05 am
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Re: Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by FourthWorld » Thu Feb 02, 2012 5:29 pm

kdjanz wrote:Would it be possible to just have a data stack that lives in the user Dropbox folder?
That's a very good idea.

And it just got easier this morning - Andre Garzia leaked a teaser about his forthcoming Dropbox library:
http://lists.runrev.com/pipermail/use-l ... 67518.html
Richard Gaskin
LiveCode development, training, and consulting services: Fourth World Systems
LiveCode Group on Facebook
LiveCode Group on LinkedIn

jalz
Livecode Opensource Backer
Livecode Opensource Backer
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2008 11:04 pm

Re: Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by jalz » Mon Feb 06, 2012 2:47 pm

Thanks for the insight guys. Really appreciate it, will give it some careful consideration when I create the module for the mobile version. Ive had some experience with record level synchronisation with a past project in FileMaker but to be honest it never really worked efficiently - might give the drop box idea a go or might even look into cloud solution

BarrySumpter
Posts: 1201
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:17 am

Re: Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by BarrySumpter » Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:01 am

I've just had a friend ask me about drop box.
any news?
All my best,
Barry G. Sumpter

Deving on WinXP sp3-32 bit. LC 5.5 Professional Build 1477
Android/iOS/Server Add Ons. OmegaBundle 2011 value ROCKS!
2 HTC HD2 Latest DorimanX Roms
Might have to reconsider LiveCode iOS Developer Program.

lowland
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 8:23 pm

Re: Data synchronising between desktop and mobile

Post by lowland » Sun Oct 07, 2012 6:14 pm

Richard how did you go about this (‘I decided to do field-level comparison rather than the record as a whole’) would you care to share.

Stephen

Post Reply

Return to “Databases”