🚀 go-pugleaf

We now require a database design case study in our database course.
The case is typically described in 10 to 15 pages of text and figures.
Currently we have the students design an entity-relationship (ER) and
then a corresponding relational database.  We also have them design,
but not implement, some of the reports and/or forms for the associated
application.  We would like to have them actually implement the
application in a 4GL since we think they will feel much better having
actually built an application.  It will also probably be helpful to
them to have been exposed to a 4GL.

The question: what 4GL would you recommend?  The requirements are:

1. It must interface to Ingres and/or Sybase.

2. It should run on Suns interfacing to the database server running on
a Sun or a DECstation.  Sun SLCs and ELCs are our standard client
computing environment.  We also have some DECstations.  We have both
Sun and DEC servers.

3. It should be easy to learn.  We don't want to spend much time
getting the students up to speed.  Students in the class are typically
senior computer science or information science majors with quite a bit
of programming experience, but no experience with a 4GL, except
possibly on a job.

4. It should reinforce the students' understanding of SQL.  They will
have had some SQL practice before embarking on the case study, but
they certainly won't be experts.

5. Price is a consideration, as it always is for universities.
However price is not the dominant consideration.

6. It's not clear whether a terminal interface or a graphics windowing
interface would be better.  The potential problem with a windowing
interface is that it may be more complex and thus harder to learn.

I will appreciate any suggestions and reports of related experience
and summarize any comments back to the net.

-- 
 Douglas S. Kerr, Department of Computer and Information Science
 The Ohio State University; 2036 Neil Ave. Columbus OH USA 43210-1277
 doug@cis.ohio-state.edu                    614/292-1519