The basics of the platform

Nios4 is a platform for creating management software. It is a program that allows the user, through tools and functions, to create their own data management.

These data can be of any type. Whether you have to manage mom's cookbook, or the production of mechanical parts, Nios4 can be easily adapted.

The platform provides for a gradual learning curve, to allow both novices and more experienced programmers to start using it immediately, beginning with the creation of data records and then managing more specific calculations and automatisms.

Supported operating systems

The platform is available for four operating systems, in addition to the web version. Currently, the most complete version is the one for Windows.

This site will use this version to explain how the various commands work.

This program contains all the database modification and management tools. Also, being the main development version, it always contains the latest features.

For Apple, there is the version for computers running the OSX system, that more or less replicates the Windows version.

The web version, again developed based on the Windows version, allows the use of the system from any computer with internet and a navigation browser.

As for the mobile sector, there is a version for Android and iOS operating systems. Mobile systems have a deliberately reduced number of options because they are mainly used as data reading and writing terminals through the Cloud or in a Standalone version.

The company's goal is to bring editing tools to both the OSX version and the web. In this way, users will be able to modify the system using the tool best suited to their needs.

Use in the cloud or locally

With the exception of the web version, the whole system is designed for use on the device both in the cloud and locally.

Local use means that the data is stored in a database on the device, which can be a PC or a phone. These data are not sent via the internet and are not directly accessible by the user.

If the user loses the phone or formats it without first making a backup, the data would be irretrievably lost.

If the user loses the phone or formats it without first making a backup, the data would be irretrievably lost. Use in the cloud works fundamentally works in the same way as local use - the data is read and written in a database located inside the device - but the difference is that this data is sent to an internet server. This procedure allows you to have the same data on multiple devices. In fact, data written on the phone will be automatically backed up on the PC through a procedure called "synchronization". In this way, the user can continue to use the system even without an internet connection since the data will be saved locally. When a connection is available, the device will proceed to exchange information with the central server.

In this case, even if the user loses all his devices, he could still recover his data through a new installation and synchronization.

Fundamentals of synchronization

Synchronization is the process of exchanging data between a central server and programs. In practice, it allows you to update and homogenize data from one database on all user devices.

When the user enters a new contact on the phone, it is saved in the local database. During synchronization, the phone informs the central server of new data and the server checks if it is already present. If not, the phone sends it to be saved. If the data has been modified, a comparison is made between the values on the phone and those on the server: if those on the phone are more recent, they will be sent to the server, however, if the data on the server is the most recent, the phone will download them by overwriting those in its local database.

This comparison of the information is possible thanks to two fields inside each table of the database.

The first is a text field called GGUID which contains a unique and global key generated by the device when creating new data. Given the complexity and length of the key, it is practically impossible for two devices to generate two identical keys within the same database.

The second field is a numeric value called a TID. This value represents the date and time when the data was last created or modified. The value is read using the time on the device.

Let's go back to the previous example: the program, starting from the last synchronization date and time, extracts the data that have been created, modified or deleted. It sends the list of GGUIDs and their respective TIDs for all data to the server. The server checks if it has these GGUIDs: if they are not present, it writes the new data, if they are present, it checks the TID of the data received compared to those it already holds. Based on the comparison, it decides whether to overwrite currently held data or to inform the device to overwrite those present in the local database.

This procedure is valid for system management tables, and user tables, but also for files and images.

Since synchronization is based on the comparison of the creation and modification dates, it is essential that the devices have dates that are as identical as possible.

Online resources

The Nios4 system is constantly being changed and updated; for this reason we advise you to consult the reference sites in order to be stay updated on the latest news, or send us an email to request more information.

Platform site:

www.nios4.com

info@nios4.com

Manufacturer's website

www.d-one.info

info@d-one.info