(1) What is LittleSteps?
LittleSteps is both an RDBMS application development tool and
an enterprise information portal software product combined.
For more specific information, see one of the product
information sheets, such as the one for SQLServer, at:
www.mountainman.com.au/software/LittleSteps/SQLServer/product_information.html
(2) Which RDBMS are supported by LittleSteps?
The Microsoft SQLServer RDBMS will be supported at the product
launch, as will the Oracle RDBMS by Oracle Corporation, so long
as it is accessible via Microsoft. Shortly thereafter, other
products supporting Oracle on UNIX, and the IBM RDBMS product,
DB2, will be supported by LittleSteps. In subsequent
releases LittleSteps will provide support to all other
major RDBMS vendors, independent of operating system platform.
(3) Why is LittleSteps different?
These software products will be revolutionary in their potential
to change the manner by which Information Technology business is
conducted on the production floor of practically every modern
large organisational establishment on the planet.
Whereas the contemporary database applications environment is
normally populated with some of the most complex suites of
database application software products ever conceived in the
short history of computer programming, LittleSteps
will be strikingly simple and yet distinctly empowering in
its operation, administration, management and change
management.
(4) What organisational groups can utilise LittleSteps?
Whether your organisation is administrative, such as governments,
whether it is scientific, such as specific research institutes
and universities, whether it is a business organisation trading
goods or services, if it is over a certain size then more than
likely it relies today quite heavily upon an RDBMS. And any
organisation which stores its data today within an RDBMS will
be able to utilise and leverage the new technology afforded by
LittleSteps.
(5) Why is it to be described as New Technology?
The technology employed within LittleSteps is new to
Information Technology as at August 2002, but to understand this
in more depth, a short history of the field is often a great
assistance. For a brief review of IT History, click here.
(6) What does this software do?
This software when delivered, will do nothing, exactly like a shovel
or any other tool of trade. It depends on how it is used, and to what
ends it is turned, that will define the limits, if any are ever found,
for this series of products.
(7) Who will use this LittleSteps Tool?
The DBA, IT Manager or nominated parties internal to an organisation,
nominated contractors and consultants external to an organisation
(provided access is granted by the DBA). In general, the folk whom
this tool will most empower will be those who have the greater
understanding of the native programming language and utilities of the
RDBMS, known in the trade as Structered Query Language (or SQL).
(8) What is the name of the initial product?
Little Steps is the flagship RDBMS client product
for the SQLServer and Oracle (via Microsoft) environment from
LittleSteps. This product will be available from this
website after the product launch, on a schedule yet to be
advertised.
(9) Is Little Steps an Application Development Tool?
Yes. The Little Steps RDBMS client product will empower the
rapid and cost-effective development of applications within the
RDBMS environment.
(10) Why develop database applications in Little Steps?
Why not use Java or C or VB or any other 1001 program
development tools available today?
The are a number of benefits in using the Little Steps product
from LittleSteps. However in order to understand the
nature of the benefits, and thus their real cost-benefit to your
specific organisational requirements, it is better to examine
in detail the current methodology (and costing) of what is known
in the trade as Change Management. An excursion into
this field is available here.
(11) Is Little Steps available to Application Developers?
Certainly. Why use any other product to develop applications
in the database environment? There will be unique and distinct
benefits and rewards in developing applications using Mountain Man
Software. Those with vision will perceive these advantages, and
in time they will become very realisable.
(12) What are the costs of the LittleSteps products?
The costs associated with licence agreements in the use of the
LittleSteps products range will be advertised separately
on the main product website, and will include the option of annual
subscription costs. Annual subscriptions will provide free upgrade
pathways, and the periodic distribution of updates to the basic set
of default application development templates.
It is envisaged that the pricing structure will be processor and
server based.
(13) Does LittleSteps run a Help Desk Service?
YES ... for our valued clients there are options to have rapid
technical response to technical questions.
(14) Will the software be distributed though the web?
YES ... The software will be available from the Mountain Man
domain according to the release schedule.
(15) Will the sale of LittleSteps attract commissions?
YES ... There will be a manner by which suitably qualified companies,
organisations and individuals can register as distributors of the
LittleSteps range of products. Sales accredited to such
associates will attract commissions at a rate to be advised.
(16) Why is the Little Steps product unique?
The Little Steps application development product
is unique in one very specific factor. All development
work conducted in relation to the Little Steps product
is conducted internal to the RDBMS (SQLServer, Oracle, DB2, etc).
Applications are created and deployed direct from the back
office ... the Little Steps product is a true RDBMS portal.
(17) How does one find out more about LittleSteps?
As the Research & Development of LittleSteps continues
information concerning product descriptions, RDBMS vendor support
and non-Microsoft operating system connectivity to RDBMS will be
comminicated via the main software directory:
http://www.mountainman.com.au/software/
(18) Further questions about LittleSteps?
Please send further questions to:
mtm@mountainman.com.au
