What platform to design real time scheduling software?

Question

I'd like to design (or have designed by someone else) web based software where people could schedule appointments for a doctor's office--I would like to have it be in real time so my receptionist could see the appointments as they fill in. Also, I cannot have more than 1 patient fill a spot. I know software like this exists...but I'd like to create it myself. Do you know what platform I should use? How difficult would this project be?

Answer 1

I would use a MySQL database and PHP scripting on a Linux server. This will keep it real time, since when one user schedules an appointment using the PHP form, it is sent directly to the database, and the next user will see that spot blacked out, based on the data existing in the database.

It is hard to say the level of difficulty without knowing your programming knowledge. It is definitely advanced if you have never done any type of database administration or programming. But if you do have these skills, then it should be a rather simple, straight-forward application, as really all you need is a calendar, a script accessing the database (writing to and reading from), and a table or two in the database holding the information.

My company designs applications like this on a daily basis, so to me it sounds like a piece of cake. If you'd like more information, please feel free to email me. Hope this helps a little bit.

Answer 2

First I would Differ with you on the use of the word "Platform" since the definition of it is:
Platform : The basic technology of a computer system's hardware and software that defines how a computer is operated and determines what other kinds of software can be used.


In other words the Platform is the combination of your Hardware and O.S., not the development tool or applications.

Now back to your question, as we all in I.T. know there are two types of transmit methods for a message (in this case the appointment) "Asynchronous Transmit" and "Synchronous Transmit" a simple example is e-Mail and Instant Messaging where as the e-mail is " Asynchronous" and the I.M. is Synchronous

What I gather from your question is you need Synchronous relay of data, though you can achieve that using any Development tool or environment. such as .Net IDE or PHP builder coupled with any Data base management System (D.B.M.S.) such as My SQL , Oracle or SQL Server . the Question is what is the best development environment to use .

For your specific needs I would say using JAVA (J2EE) with SQL Server 2005 should do the trick. Since Java has a very powerful handling on both web based applications and networking and SQL Server is almost perfect for small to medium biz (with the ever continues low reliability of Microsoft products).

Deferent rules may apply it all depends on the COST if you have low budget . I would go for PHP and My SQL (No licensing needed) though that may risk the reliability and security of you data

One last thing I worked on Clinical Systems before . and to say the truth the time needed and the complixty of the Software you wanna develop depends on the requierments. for example : How many MDs are ther , Deferent Clincks Exist , 24/7 Service , Emergency Services, IT ALL DEPENDS

hope this helps:)

I hope this helps

Answer 3

somewhat NO WYSIWYG in any admire! on the minimum, you will possibly be able to desire to code employing (X)HTML, javascript, Hypertext Preprocessor, mySQL, AJAX, on a LAMP server, (greater on a window server), and strengthen your code employing a basic text cloth editor like Notepad++. Any attempt with Dreamweaver, Frontpage or different IDE will regrettably fail. internet layout IDEs are made for amateurs to make statics websites, no longer the rest. you have an extremely long thank you to bypass, so, initiate coding! sturdy luck!

Answer 4

I would use the microsoft .net platform.