Advice for future job's requirement <-- Got the position!

hi guys!

I really need an advice regarding my future intern's project.....

basically, this internship position is dealing with a project where I have to create a proprietary software for the company which fetches data from prospective customers and store em in a database.......

here's the job's description:
"The software will take input about a potential customer's needs & situation and use the input to configure and suggest an OGSI solution. The software will then create an extensive documentation package including basic mechanical drawings, a Bill Of Materials, a sales proposal, etc. All required documentation will be provided. (I.E. the student will not have to create CAD drawings, BOM's, etc.)

This project will likely take the student's entire summer. He/She will essentially be creating a virtual salesman. The student can begin as soon as he/she pleases but the project will need to be finished by the end of the summer."

I went to the interview today and my prospective employer said that I'm free to employ this software with different approach...however, the program is not an executable files that we can run on a computer.....

it's actually something similar with Dell's Computer Configuration system or Apple's New Computer Web Proposal that you use when you're building a computer configuration...so the sales people can use it to get various different datas from customers....

he suggested using Microsoft Access with a Visual Basic front end. This means that I probably need to use VB.NET + ASP.NET...

the PROBLEM is...i don't really have any experience with VB or ASP.net..... Well....I learnt VB 6 in highschool....but that's it.....this means.....even with any approach I'll have to learn everything from books/friends....

My programming experience in college are Java (OOP and data structure), C++ (algorithm), and Assembly with Metrowerks (ARM)......so this situation confuses me..... :cry: and a very exciting jump! :eek2:

Based on my study, it seems like I can also use Java Servlets, JSP and all those to create the same thing........and it seems to be a better idea since I have experiences with Java..... or NO...because it's more complex and harder?

can somebody help me? maybe a pointer to a good learning site?

what do I need to learn to create a Web Application similar to Dell's Configuration website?

FYI....i've 3 months to deploy this web application....

1st -> in my computer.....test, debug and presentation..
2nd -> in company's intra-net......let the salesman use em..
final -> in company's website....so all distributors around the world an use it..

I'm a junior entering my senior in SUNY Buffalo.. :p

thanx!!! :thumb: :thumb:

help me.................please........ :cry:

i need some light........................... :cry: :cry: :cry:

bumped up for today. I will consult this too with my CS professor.... :)

guys.........no comment? suggestion? help? :wave:

i just talked to a friend of mine...he said that it's actually do-able just by using access and vb-script....and....ASP....hm..

let me first tell you i am no whiz in programming and i am basically writing this to consolidate you. well i couldn't root out your problem first: its vb, its the pressure or is it the time well whatever it is. you can do it man. vb is no problem at all. you can learn to use and code in vb in just one night maybe not proficient but you will be once you know that you know this thing. you may not be solving the problems in the most elegant or efficient of way but you will be solving it anyway. don't dwell much over it and start off. take help from friends get some books and you will work out fine. let me tell you when i was in college we got too smart and chose to build an app in linux platform though we had no idea how. we promised that we would build a GTC a graphical version of TC. which meant we had to code in qt for front end and bash shell scripts in the back end. we coded till the final morning of the presentation and got the program working. later after the presentation and the demonstration we got praised for trying something new. but only we know how we did it. so you see you first try and then call for your luck to save you and maybe thats all you will need. see ya'

hi!

thanx very much for the reply! :bigyello:

actually, i just got call from them this morning...and I was accepted for the job! hehe...

good news is that.....along two final candidates, he accepted both (that guy an I) to work on the project...however, for two different companies.......the other one is actually a division.......so it's still the same company...

thanx for the support, man....i hope some other people will be glad to give me some suggestion! thanxxxx =)

Well, you've certainly got yourself a good learning project for the summer.

Tell us some more about how the project is supposed to work, and you'll get great feedback here.

Does the application need to be a website, or does it need to be a desktop application? In other words, do customers need to be able to access it, or is it only for internal salespeople?

thanx again for the interest of helping me..

well.....the application will be web-based. Like i said, it's pretty much going to be similar to what Dell Computer Configuration System looks like..

so, we will pretty much gather the customer's requested data on how the product should be.......and then, generate a customized documentation for them alongside the $$$ needed for it.....

the application will be developed in 2 stages....the first stage is to develop it on Intra-net...so insider salesman will be able to use it..

final stage will then deploy it to the internet....so distributor around the world can access it and get quotes immediately.....

a friend of mine from other forum said that java/servlet/jsp might also be a better way to approach this application.....................however.......it seems to be harder to deploy and maintain....

any other suggestion?

ok...now im confused..

my friend (^) explained to me again why java is a better approach..

he said coding won't be that harsh and just need windows pc with tomcat build to run the app over the internet..

meanwhile....using .NET....the company need to acquire a special license to run it over the net....is this true?