StoreFront 6 AE/XE User Guide - StoreFront Support - LaGarde, Inc.

Access has some limitations. First, an Access database generally has difficulties supportingmore than 25 simultaneous database transactions. There may be any number ofcustomers browsing your site without overloading the database, but if more than 25 performactions that require a connection to the database (adding a product to their carts, checkingout, performing a product search) it will overload the database and have a detrimental effectupon the performance of your site. This database is usually sufficient for a small to medium-sizedstore, though SQL Server databases will always allow a store of any size to runmore quickly.After you’ve chosen the database type you’d like to use for your store, you’ll need tochoose a development environment.Choosing a Development EnvironmentThe location where you build and test a StoreFront web store is referred to as the “developmentenvironment.” There are basically two development environments: local or live.LOCALIn a local development scenario, the server where your web store is hosted during initialconstruction and testing is your local, desktop PC. This is made possible by installing IISand the .NET Framework on the machine, allowing it to emulate a real web server.Some web designers like to develop web stores locally because, in a local developmentscenario, external factors like internet connectivity or the stability of a remote host will notinterfere with the development process.There are multiple disadvantages to developing a store locally. First, a StoreFront web storecan only be developed and tested locally to a limited extent. This is because most desktopdevelopment machines running IIS can only emulate, not duplicate, a true commercialserver. For this reason, web applications like StoreFront may require resources that thelocal environment can not provide. Also, by hosting your own store even temporarily, youare assuming the responsibilities of a server administrator in addition to those of a webdesigner: you must construct and design the site as well as configure and maintain theserver that hosts it.LIVEIn a live development scenario, you develop and test your store on the same web serverthat will host the store when it opens for business.Many web developers prefer this method of developing and testing a StoreFront web storefor a variety of reasons. First, you will be testing against the real thing—a live productionserver—without concerns for any of the limitations that may be encountered when developinglocally. Furthermore, the configuration and maintenance of the server is the responsibilityof the host, allowing you to focus your time fully on the design and development of thestore.26