[cumbria_lug] Bespoke software job

[Ian Linwood]

avantman42 at users.sourceforge.net wrote:
> A colleague at work has asked if I know anyone that could write some
> bespoke software for her father's business. He currently has a package
> written about 10 years ago, which runs in DOS, but the writer is going to
> retire next year, so he wants to replace it.
> 
Ok, but this doesn't tell us how the application was developed. Is it a 
native EXE (C/C++, a Pascal flavour, Basic, Clipper) or an interpreted 
language (Basic, Foxpro, DB3+, any mutitude of others)

Some C/Pascal can be easily be ported, with little effort.  Others will 
require a complete re-write.

> He makes picture frames, and the software will need to keep track of the
> materials, costs, etc. Apparently a local company has suggested linking it
> to Sage Line 50 (accounting package) but they're not too sure about that.
> 
Aargh, Sage...I feel the pain already  :-(

> If anyone is interested, let me know & I'll pass contact details on, and
> you can talk to the guy direct. He's going to be away until after the
> weekend (as am I), so you'll not be able to contact him until next week.

As you can tell, I'm not interested. But it does sound like it would be 
an ideal project to port to Java or Perl. This will allow the 
application to run on either Linux or an Microsoft environment. The 
source could then be easily maintained my any multitude of competant coders.

This would rely on the original copyright owner releasing the existing 
code base to either the company that uses it or the new developer.