Software Applications, Genetic Database Software

Genial Passport has recently undergone a transformation from the Microsoft Access based version originally developed by a consultant cytogeneticist, to a modern future-proof software platform for genetic data management.

The advantages of Java/SQL are numerous not least because it is an Enterprise scalable database which supports advanced features such as replication and automatic triggers for tracking data changes. Most hospitals/institutions will already have a SQL Server database and the staff required to support it.

We chose Java/SQL because it provides a future-proof software platform while reducing risk and improving data safety. SQL is unrivalled in terms of reliability, whereas Java provides the most secure development tools and support available.

As a mature language, Java increases the safety and the quality of data processing while providing users with full scalability, making it the most suitable technology on which to base the latest version of Genial Passport.

Due to the nature of the Java virtual machine, the managed code running on an operating system reduces the risk of system-wide instability, avoiding the many problems that plague native execution.

In practical terms, Java allows us to easily add functionality; it has extensive Network/Internet features allowing us to easily add on true Web-based functionality; it has an extensive library of third-party components that we can use; it is very stable having been commercially available since 1995 and is still actively being improved; it offers straightforward access to databases; it has plenty of backup support available from lots of sources including Sun and IBM; it allows us to provide a dongle free application; it allows us to develop software more rapidly; and due to the availability of development tools, we can deliver a robust, high quality software solution.

SQL Server 2000 has an outstanding reliability record. An independent study by Aberdeen Group found that nine early-adopter sites had a combined 99.95 percent uptime on Windows 2000.

SQL Server 2000 has attained a C2 Rating from the National Security Agency. SQL Server 2000 has got excellent facilities to manage a database back-up and recovery. One of the main focuses for Sun’s development of Java is enterprise scalability and stability, making it the most applicable technology for our products.

SQL Server is the fastest growing relational database; it is the most popular web database; it has over 2,000 applications available; it has built-in backup tools removing the need to use third-party software to manage back-ups; it is widely used being the most-used database on Windows – many hospitals will already have SQL Server installed (which we can reuse); it has good back-up being produced and supported by Microsoft; it is scalable – users can start with a small installation and grow to larger installations, without performance being affected.