How to Get Halfway There Before You Start: Thunder

In traditional industries, efficiency is gained by streamlining efforts that are repeated with each project. For example, door manufacturers used to saw, drill, cut, and route each door by hand in order to meet the various specifications imposed by the different types of hinges, knobs, and bolts. But in modern times these procedures have become more and more streamlined. Now a metal template is machined for each size and shape of hinge, knob, and bolt. When an order is received, special wood cutting machines are set up with the set of templates that corresponds with the hardware that the customer wishes to use with the doors. These special machines follow the templates to cut each door with unparalleled precision and unparalleled speed.

In modern times, programming has also become more streamlined, and in a similar fashion. But the templates now available to programmers are called “frameworks”.

It’s only possible to build a true framework with a programming language that is fully object oriented (such as Visual FoxPro). That is to say that the language must fully support such things as inheritance (subclasses) and encapsulation. You don’t necessarily need to understand what these words mean, but it is good to understand their importance as many language products on the market today claim objection orientation when, in fact, they are really only partially object oriented.

One of the many features made available by Phelps Computer Services is our exclusive Thunder framework. Written in Visual FoxPro, Thunder provides the functionality that is common to most custom database applications. By locating such functionality in Thunder, we can make it available to each new client…instantly!

For detailed information on the Thunder framework, ask for a copy of our New Client Orientation booklet.