Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

Prepared by Prophix

Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

1

Prophix

A major portion of today’s technology relies on the power of the Web and related

technologies, where users access data remotely. However, Web-based applications

have their limits; for example, bandwidth consumption and high server load. The

decision to utilize the best deployment technology has been an ongoing issue

amongst IT decision makers—whether to deploy a web-based application (thin

client) or a desktop application (a thick client). The introduction of smart client

technology has proven that applications can utilize the best of both deployments.

Thick clientThe thick client provided the first intuitive, easy-to-learn user interface. A thick client,

also known as a fat client, is a computer in client-server architecture networks,

which typically provides rich functionality independently of the central server. It is

often characterized by the ability to perform many functions without a connection

and by its requirement to install a desktop application. However, some businesses

steer away from such applications because of their deployment and maintenance

requirements.

Pros and cons of a thick client • Pros: rich user experience, intuitive, easy to learn and use

• Cons: heavy footprint, tough to deploy, DLL hell

Thin clientOn the other hand, Web-enabled clients, also known as thin clients, are computers

in a client-server architecture network, where the server handles all the significant

processing. Many thin client devices run only on Web browsers or remote desktop

software. The thin client has been favored because of factors such as its ease of

deployment and lower hardware costs. However, more than one-third of IT decision

makers from mid-sized and large enterprises who have Web-enabled their core

applications report migrating some applications back to a more client-server-like

rich user interface. Usability issues hamper productivity. With the introduction of smart

client technology, end-users obtain a highly-functional, easy-to-use application, with

the ability to centrally-control the application’s deployment and security. Pros and cons of a thin client

• Pros: extended application reach, simple deployment

• Cons: poor user experience, no integration

Overview of thick and thin clients

Introduction

Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

2

Prophix

Capability MS Office Browser-basedapplications

Smart clientapplications

Internet No Yes Yes

Installation Setup.exe None ClickOnce via URL

User Interface (UI) Great UI Low quality UI Great UI

Security Secure, trusted Secure, not trusted Secure, trusted

Speed / Performance

Fast Slow (reload UI with every click)

Fast

Data Local data / unconstrained

Centralized data /flat (lists)

Centralized data /relational (forms)

Versions / updates Version headaches No versions Auto versions / updates

Exploits local CPU Full CPU Display-only Full CPU (highly scalable)

Web server N/A Powerful / expensive server

Standard / inexpensive server

Development cost Expensive Expensive Inexpensive (3-5x lower cost)

Users Business Consumers + business lite

Business heavy (B2B)

Integration Server only Server only Server and local PC (desktop office)

Offline computing Yes No or pay extra Yes

Bandwidth N/A Med-high Low (minimal)

Scalability N/A Server- and user-dependent

Server-dependent

Standards based No Yes Yes

**Smart client is the cost-effective way to manage your business-to-business needs for data management. Smart client combines the best of desktop office applications with the best capabilities of the Internet and browser-based applications: end-users get a highly-functional, high performance, easy-to-use application, with centralized control of application deployment and security.

Smart client vs. browser applications

Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

3

Prophix

The solution: Smart client technology

Software from Prophix utilizes the best of both deployments by implementing a smart

client application—an application that is ‘occasionally connected’ and mobile, with

powerful computing capabilities. With smart clients, businesses can take advantage

of opportunities to distribute information, streamline business procedures, and provide

better control over operations.

Smart client applications bridge the gap between Web applications and desktop

applications. They provide the benefits of a web application (such as leveraging

the Internet and offering remote access to data) while still providing a look and

feel inherent to desktop applications and taking advantage of local computing

resources.

Device adaptability

Heavy footprint

Tough to deploy

‘DLL hell’

Network dependency

Poor user experience

Complex to develop

Web services offline/online support

Rich user experience

High developer productivity

Responsive

Broad reach

Easy change management

Easy deployment

Thick clients Smart clients Thin clients

Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

4

Prophix

A smart client application combines the following ingredients to provide a responsive,

rich, and compelling experience to its end users:

• Use of local resources and rich user experience. Smart client applications

come in many shapes and sizes with varying degrees of functionality. One

trait that all smart client applications share is an ability to exploit local

resources such as hardware for storage, processing, or data capture such

as compact flash memory, CPUs, and scanners. Smart client solutions offer

hi-fidelity end-user experiences by taking full advantage of all that the

Microsoft Windows platform has to offer. Smart client applications live on

your PC, laptop, tablet PC, or smart device.

• Connected. Smart client applications are able to readily connect to and

exchange data with systems across the enterprise or the Internet. Web

services allow smart client solutions to utilize industry standard protocols

such as XML, HTTP, and SOAP to exchange information with any type of

remote system. Visual Studio, the .NET framework and the .NET compact

framework make consuming Web services easier than ever.

• Intelligent deployment and updates. In the past, traditional client

applications have been difficult to deploy and update. It was not

uncommon to install one application only to have it break another. Issues

such as ‘DLL Hell’ made installing and maintaining client applications

difficult and frustrating. The release of Visual Studio 2005 and the .NET

framework 2.0 offered simplified smart client deployment and updating

capabilities known as ClickOnce.

ClickOnce makes deploying a Windows Forms-based application as easy as

deploying a web application. With ClickOnce, running a Windows Forms application

is as simple as clicking a link in a web page. For administrators, deploying or updating

an application is simply a matter of updating files on a server, with no need to

individually touch every client.

ClickOnce applications are fundamentally low impact. Applications are completely

self-contained and installed per user, meaning no administrator rights are required.

Users don’t have to worry about a ClickOnce application breaking other applications.

Overview of the Smart client

Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

5

Prophix

Citrix environments

Citrix Presentation ServerCitrix NetScaler SystemCitrix Voice OfficeCitrix GoToAssist

Citrix Access GatewayCitrix Password ManagerCitrix Application Firewall

Citrix GoToMeetingCitrix GoToMyPC

Any applicationAny resources

Any networkWired or wirelessPublic or private

HomeMeetingTravelOffice

Single point of security and control

Applications

IP phone

PeopleDesktop

Tablet

DataVoice

Support

Deploying Prophix’s smart client technology in a Citrix environment offers a fully Web-

enabled application. Citrix Presentation Server, built on top of the Windows Terminal

Services platform, is a remote access/application publishing product that allows

people to connect to applications available from central servers. One advantage

of applications using Presentation Server is that it lets people connect remotely, from

anywhere outside of their corporate networks. For example, the Microsoft Remote

Desktop Protocol is based on Citrix technology. Citrix utilizes advanced virtualization

technology to take traditional browser-based or thin client applications to the next

level. Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 aims to be a complete solution for delivering

applications to a broad range of users. Applications can be run on the server or

streamed to the client for better and wider support of end users and applications,

giving IT shops a single solution for application management.

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Smart client technology: The integration of Web-based and desktop solutions

7

Prophix

Head office350 Burnhamthorpe Road W.Suite 1000Mississauga, OntarioCanada L5B 3J1Telephone: 1-905-279-8711Toll-free: 1-800-387-5915Email: info@prophix.com

Prophix UKGrove HouseLutyens CloseBasingstokeHampshireRG24 8AGEnglandTelephone: 01256 338611

Prophix EuropeOrestads Boulevard 73 2300 Kobenhavn Copenhagen, Denmark Telephone: + 45 7023 2375

About Prophix Prophix Software is a leading developer of innovative performance management

solutions designed to automate financial and operational processes, making

companies more profitable and reducing their risks. Thousands of finance leaders in

nearly one hundred countries use Prophix to empower their organizations and gain

valuable insight into business performance.

Prophix and its partners deliver superior value by combining high-end functionality

with low cost-of-ownership and fast implementations. With powerful and adaptable

solutions built entirely on the Microsoft SQL Server stack, Prophix streamlines

budgeting, planning, reporting, consolidation, and more.