In fact, Google isn't completely dominating this concept. One company that has an impressive array of SaaS programs is Zoho ( http://www.zoho.com/). Zoho offers free or very inexpensive applications, including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, Web meetings, email programs and more. These programs are highly functional and offer more than many people would ever need in these areas.

Zoho's newest offering was exactly what I (thought I) needed for my project. Called Zoho Creator, it is an application that allows nonprogrammers to create database applications for simple business use involving the entry and viewing of data. Without worrying about database design, the Zoho user simply drags the particular type of data entry fields onto a form (dropdown boxes, text boxes, checkboxes, etc.) and voila: Automatic database entry screens and reports are created.

With similar drag and drop validation elements, it is very easy to do range checks and logic checks on and between fields. In literally minutes it is possible to have a working data entry form with underlying database. These forms can be very easily inserted into Web pages, creating the look and feel of a professional Web form. In fact, some companies and organizations are using Zoho forms for simple surveys, course signups, and other simple tasks.

And here my troubles began.

From hours to days

Within the first 30 minutes of using Zoho, I had built the form I wanted and tested it on a Web page. I was actually amazed at how easily and quickly the application came together. Despite this, I knew I had a few hours of tweaking and developing range checks to make sure the application would collect clean data. I began to enter some scripts, and the minutes turned to hours as they always do when programming. I added, tested, and modified in iterative cycles. Some of the features that made the Zoho application easy to use became annoying, as they took more steps and longer than a real Web development tool. Despite these minor annoyances, the tool was fast and easy to use.

At some point during the evening I entered a snippet of script that prevented my application from working and issued an error message. Not knowing which validation script item it was that caused this, I spent an hour or two taking pieces of script out of the application, each time restarting and entering data. Over time, the application became really slow and funny things began happening. I couldn't enter data. I couldn't delete data. I couldn't even delete the application itself. Finally, in exasperation, I tried to delete my entire account and start over. After going through this same cycle three times, the entire Zoho Creator "execution engine" choked on two lines of my script. Apparently, nobody, including me, could log in for a period of hours. Through the whole process, I had several calls to the help desk with friendly responses and rapid problem solving.

Before I knew it I had spent about 12 hours over two separate days developing a simple Web page that I could have done in about three hours with a variety of well-tested Web development tools.

Of course, going in I understood that all Web 2.0 applications are in "beta" for months to years (take a look at the Gmail logo!) and Zoho Creator 2.0 was only one month old. I reasoned that all software had bugs and recently launched beta software would have a bunch, but somehow I thought I would be the one to avoid all the obstacles.

The next morning the entire development team from Zoho Creator called me from India. It seems that a bug in their code caused my little program to bring their application server to a grinding halt, preventing me and anyone from logging in. They were incredibly helpful and very responsive, fixing the problem on the spot. Zoho Creator, they explained, was a work in progress, still young and prone to these sorts of problems. Although it looks great and does exactly what I want it to, it isn't the robust timesaver I hoped it would be today. By my next project, I am sure it will be robust and reliable.