Question Which is the better dev option? - store in memory or to a data store

[ballybeg]

Hi all.

I am looking for opinions on the best way to tackle my current project. It is a racing based win form app that obtains its data (in xml format) each day via calls to a remote web service. The datastructures are known and well defined, with only a few of the data elements being updated throughout the day.

The data does not need to be stored beyond the day of use, as it is refreshed with each new day.

I currently have an msaccess db that is is used by a number of users on a terminal server, but I now what to develop a stand alone app that does not require the user to have msaccess installed.

My question is this - should I develop my new application with database focus, ie: define data stores and tables etc - then load the XML into the store and display the data based on that OR,

should I use the XML directly in my app, by holding the data in memory as required and only displaying what needs to be seen be repeated calls to the web service?

Any ideas on the best and or simplest approach greatly appreciated

ballybeg, Canberra Australia

 

[jmcilhinney]

You could go with either approach. If the data is only being used for one day though, I'd be inclined to just use the XML as is.