Knut said I've just noticed that the version of the C++ redistribution package deployed with Uniface 9.7.03 and higher is still (named = based on?) Visual C++ 2005. Given that there has been numerous improvements to overall performance in the C++ compilers and various libraries used by Visual C++ over the years (since 2006/2007) - are these changes not accessible / used by the current version of Uniface? If they're not available, what is the timeline for a release of Uniface using the latest version of Visual C++? Knut  

The reason why we have been tardy with compiler versions was the requirement to maintain support for legacy technologies, for example Windows XP and Windows CE. Uniface 10.3 is based on a newer version of MS Visual Studio.  I would be surprised if there is any tangible performance benefit. Generally our experience has been the opposite, with new compilers usually coming with additional baggage. We did carry out quite a detailed compiler exercise a few years ago, switches, versions, etc, the findings didn't give us much. 

Hi Adrian, Appreciate the quick answer - and, sure, that makes sense. Regards, Knut

To refer back to Knuts question.  We have decided to rebuild Uniface 9.7 with a newer version of the MS Visual Studio compiler. It will be Uniface 9.7.05, delivery is still being figured out.  More info will follow. 

Adrian Can you tell which version you have used? So we can inform the customers to install the new version on all there client computers?

VS 2015

Thanks

Visual C++ 2005 is no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore no longer updated.  Qualys rightly shows the presence of the redist as a security vulnerability.  We've been asked to remove it from our desktops. We logged a ticket with our software provider who leverages Uniface in their product and we've been told the following: "The vendor has advised that Uniface 9.7 was built with VS2005 as it relates to Windows XP support." This doesn't sound right to me, as even VC++2010 runs on Windows XP.  With regards to 9.7, I hope that Uniface aren’t encouraging anyone to stay on Windows XP, as Microsoft Extended support finished for that OS 3 years ago, and VC++ 2005 would be the least of their worries. Anyway, to the future... when is 9.7.05 due for release, and is it confirmed which VC++ redist it requires?

GT said Visual C++ 2005 is no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore no longer updated.  Qualys rightly shows the presence of the redist as a security vulnerability.  We've been asked to remove it from our desktops. We logged a ticket with our software provider who leverages Uniface in their product and we've been told the following: "The vendor has advised that Uniface 9.7 was built with VS2005 as it relates to Windows XP support." This doesn't sound right to me, as even VC++2010 runs on Windows XP.  With regards to 9.7, I hope that Uniface aren’t encouraging anyone to stay on Windows XP, as Microsoft Extended support finished for that OS 3 years ago, and VC++ 2005 would be the least of their worries. Anyway, to the future... when is 9.7.05 due for release, and is it confirmed which VC++ redist it requires?  

The info given to you by your vendor is correct. We stayed on MS VS2005 to maintain XP support.  There are still sites out there using XP, either with or without support agreements with MS.  We have been encouraging customers to move off it for a number of releases (not encouraging anybody to stay on it).  I can't give a firm date on when Uniface 9.7.05 will be released. It was not a simple 'recompile and off we go', it's caused a lot of refactoring work, and for us to change versions of multiple 3rd party libraries, technologies, etc that we use under the hood and a whole bunch of other stuff. We're hoping it's a couple of months max. We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  We are using MS VS2015. 

Hi, Now as the Uniface 9.7.05 is gettiing ready, it would be necessary to get an explanation from Uniface about why Uniface 9.7.05 was built. I mean some kind of advice about the right path to go for a customer using an older 9.7 version eg. 9.7.04 of Uniface. Should one migrate directly to Uniface 10, or when is it better to first migrate to Uniface 9.7.05. Regards RogerW.

I don't think many customers want directly migrate to Uniface 10. Also because it is not yet finished, I have read that U10.3 isn't compatible with 10.2. (the dict is changed again) there are still imported stuff missing in U10 that now exists in U9. I think we at Xperthis will wait for I think at least still 2 years before moving to U10.

It's perhaps more a question about which version of 9.7 you should be at to migrate to Uniface 10. For the time being I see no immediate need for us to migrate to Uniface 9.7.05. The migration containing a Uniface update is usually hard to do (many customers have to be updated).  The fact that "Visual C++ 2005 is no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore no longer updated", would not necessarily be something that should cause an Uniface update. And after all 2020 is soon here. But of course it depends on Uniface, perhaps we have to wait to 2025 for Uniface 10.... Regards RogerW. 

Stijn Courtheyn said I don't think many customers want directly migrate to Uniface 10. Also because it is not yet finished, I have read that U10.3 isn't compatible with 10.2. (the dict is changed again) there are still imported stuff missing in U10 that now exists in U9. I think we at Xperthis will wait for I think at least still 2 years before moving to U10.  

I doubt the Uniface 10 IDE will ever be finished. We intend to continually enhance it, plus with the user defined menus and plugins and opening up APIs, expect the development community to extend it.  Dict has indeed changed (and is finalised) since the last changes and requirement to migrate, which was between Uniface 8 and 9. 

rogerw said It's perhaps more a question about which version of 9.7 you should be at to migrate to Uniface 10. For the time being I see no immediate need for us to migrate to Uniface 9.7.05. The migration containing a Uniface update is usually hard to do (many customers have to be updated).  The fact that "Visual C++ 2005 is no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore no longer updated", would not necessarily be something that should cause an Uniface update. And after all 2020 is soon here. But of course it depends on Uniface, perhaps we have to wait to 2025 for Uniface 10.... Regards RogerW.   

Any version of Uniface 9.7 (or 9.6) can be the basis of moving to Uniface 10.3.  I would always advise to move to the most current version of Uniface you possibly can, then you will always have access to the latest in regards to new features, operating system and database currency, etc, etc. It would also mean you only have to 'roll out' to your end sites once.  This is a 'broad statement' I have made, with knowing the current status of your application. If you have not already done so, give it to us to do a test migration with. The report that comes with it will help give you a good measurement on what is needed to get to Uniface 10.  As some background, with the move to Uniface 10, we've done more with migration testing that ever. I think we've taken over 30 customer apps and tested them. Its enabled us to make the process as smooth as we can. We have also also learn a lot about the quality of the source code of customer apps and it has enabled us to give advice and feedback where needed.  

GT said Hi, do you have any updates re: timing for 9.7.05?  We're getting heat from our security guys to get rid of VC++2005.  

The release of Uniface 9.7.05 is scheduled for August 8. See announcement here.

Adrian Gosbell said

GT said Visual C++ 2005 is no longer supported by Microsoft and therefore no longer updated.  Qualys rightly shows the presence of the redist as a security vulnerability.  We've been asked to remove it from our desktops. We logged a ticket with our software provider who leverages Uniface in their product and we've been told the following: "The vendor has advised that Uniface 9.7 was built with VS2005 as it relates to Windows XP support." This doesn't sound right to me, as even VC++2010 runs on Windows XP.  With regards to 9.7, I hope that Uniface aren’t encouraging anyone to stay on Windows XP, as Microsoft Extended support finished for that OS 3 years ago, and VC++ 2005 would be the least of their worries. Anyway, to the future... when is 9.7.05 due for release, and is it confirmed which VC++ redist it requires?  

The info given to you by your vendor is correct. We stayed on MS VS2005 to maintain XP support.  There are still sites out there using XP, either with or without support agreements with MS.  We have been encouraging customers to move off it for a number of releases (not encouraging anybody to stay on it).  I can't give a firm date on when Uniface 9.7.05 will be released. It was not a simple 'recompile and off we go', it's caused a lot of refactoring work, and for us to change versions of multiple 3rd party libraries, technologies, etc that we use under the hood and a whole bunch of other stuff. We're hoping it's a couple of months max. We are seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  We are using MS VS2015.   

Hi, do you have any updates re: timing for 9.7.05?  We're getting heat from our security guys to get rid of VC++2005.