C# Windows application - run at client but database at webse

Jaimy John

I have a windows database application in c#. Database is sql server. It has 4 layers 1. UI Layer 2. BLL 3. DAL 4. Data Models

My client has 3 branches in different locations. So, I want to host the database at a web server and install windows application at clients multiple branches. I know, windows applications are run at client while web application is run at server. So, to achieve the above, i know that some rework is required in my windows application design, like, - using json for fetching and sending data to/from server etc. No i am fetching all required data in each form's load event. suppose 5 combobox are to be filled with data, 5 different datatables are being created and used as datasource of each combobox, while if the data is from web server, this approach may affect the performance of the application (i guess). so need to fetch all necessary data for a form at one time (i guess).

These are my doubts and blank ares. Any experts detailed advise is highly appreciated in this regard so that i can dig into it and move on.

After doing this, my plan is to develop a parallel web UI and some android modules for this application. I heard RESTful web api can be helpful for this.

pls give your expert opinion.

Thanks in advance Jim

9 Replies

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Nitin Sontakke9y ago
Accepted answer
Not sure if "expert" or not but here is my advice:

First, with respect to db connectivity, you don't have to change a bit. It is possible to connect to sql server over a network.

In above scenario, there are security concerns. To minimize those,

1/ change the default port sql server listens to, 2/ Create a separate user for your application and that user SHOULD NOT be in sysadmin role. 3/ Give minimum permissions to this user. 4/ User stored procedures everywhere. 5/ Do not grant permission to this user on tables, instead stored procedure only.

After above, you can "side by side" start developing the WebAPI and start utilizing it in your Windows application.

Believe me, unless absolutely necessary, you don't really need web ui. If all your clients are going to be on Windows, it is perfectly okay to have a Windows Form application which consumes WebAPI. It is best of both the worlds because you can use full power of client box.

For deployment, look into something like ClickOnce and you are done.
Jaimy John9y ago
Thanks alot Nithin
Nigel Fernandes9y ago
hey try this for GoDaddy hosting

https://au.godaddy.com/help/do-your-hosting-accounts-support-mvc4-and-mvc5-applications-8999

as well as this in your web.config
.....
Nitin Sontakke9y ago
I think you are better of taking the ASP.NET MVC WebAPI path than older classical WebServices path.

I believe that web api can be hosted without iis.

Unfortunately, so far I have not deployed web services in shared hosting environment. Looking at the answer provided by ISP, it seems to me that they are misguiding you. There might be few configuration things which should resolve.

You may have to investigate a bit deeper. I am of the opinion that the IIS has tried to remove much of machine based configurations and they are now moved to web.config. Few security related configs cannot be overridden, though!
Jaimy John9y ago
Hi Nithin,

Btw one more clarification required.
As suggested, i created a sample web service and published in IIS in the local machine, it worked well.
But, when i published it to the web site folder, and tried accessing from the site folder,
its not working.
i hosted my site with godaddy windows shared plan. When approached, they told, to work with web services, i need to buy VPS/Dedicated server options which costs lakhs per year.

Is that the only way to host web services over internet ?.
What are other cheaper options to host web service over internet?
Thanks
Jaimy John9y ago
Thanks alot Nithin
Nitin Sontakke9y ago
Everything except UI. The UI is your Windows Forms Application.

The WebAPI should be such that should you decide to create a web-site or Android or iOS app for your application, all the developer have to do is write a separate front-end suitable for the target platform.

So your WebAPI will have all the models (classes to pass the data from front-end to WebAPI), business logic, database access layer and actual database (as a storage) layer.

Hope it helps.
Jaimy John9y ago
Thanks alot Nithin Sontake,

When i start developing webAPI, which project areas to be covered in webAPI.. only the bll project ? or anything else too?
Nigel Fernandes9y ago
You can use windows application in the branches if there is a lot of processing required and can save server load.

Else use a web application.

You can create a Web API application for communication with the database.