Introduction One of the core components of information systems is software or co

Question

Introduction

One of the core components of information systems is software or computer code (instructions) that defines what information system should do, what kind of input data IS should receive, how it should process it, what output it should produce and how it should react on user-generated or other type events. As we learned an IS can consist of multiple hardware components. Each of them will perform following the code developed by programmers. Some systems may run on one computer and then all their code will also be executed on one computer. Other systems will be using multiple hardware devices, and therefore the code should define what each o the devices should do, and how they should interact with each other and the users. The choice of how to distribute the systems tasks between components should optimize the system performance. This problem is commonly referred to as a choice between ‘thick’ and ‘thin’ client.

"Thick" and "thin" clients

The idea of "thin" and "thick" client has been around for decades. "Thin" client means that most of the computing power is located on the server when the client only provides an interface to it. There were few periods in the history of IT when this paradigm was dominating: first when the terminal computers were connected to a mainframe machine, then most recently when information systems received web interfaces.

The idea behind "thick" client is to keep a significant portion of computing on the client side. Servers may also use computing power but the system cannot rely on servers only. In the early years of personal computers connected over the networks, each PC contributed its power to a network, serving both as the client and as a server. Most recently the increasing computing power available on smartphones has resulted in a growth of the AI functions conducted by a device, e.g. voice recognition.

Directions

As we noted in the lecture this week, the idea of "thin" and "thick" client has been around for decades. "Thin" client means that most of the computing power is located on the server when the client only provides an interface to it. The idea behind "thick" client is to keep a significant portion of computing on the client side. Servers may also use computing power but the system cannot rely on servers only.

Argue in favor of a ‘thin’ or a ‘thick’ client approach to software architecture. Explain the role of the server-side, and client-side programming, and the load of the network in that case. Use examples of the present systems (avoid using historic arguments).

Explanation / Answer

It is very rightly said that the information system is mostly all about software or you can say a computer code.
It defines what information should do and what kind of data to be taken as input and how to execute it to processed an output which will be meaningful.
Now multi-core processors have been adopted to meet the increasing performance requirements and also to satisfy the ever-growing performance demands and to distribute the system tasks between components in order to optimize system performance we need a solution.

before explaining to you about thick and thin client let me give some idea about client-server architecture.
-It is a network in which server acts as a host, and its job is to provide and regulates most of the resources and services to the clients.
In this approach, there can be multiple clients connected to a central server over a network.
In this architecture, @models are defined which are
1.Thin model
2.thick model

Thin models are generally used when a system gets transformed to client-server architecture acting as a server and implemented with a graphical interface on clients.
All application processing along with management of data is carried by the server.

Thick model is mostly used for client-server systems and is more complex as compared with thin model.

When developing mobile software, developers must choose an architecture that fits their requirements the best hence this software is very important

Thick and Thin clients.

thin clients refer to software commonly and are used in major amount for computers which are designed for serving as the clients for client-server architectures.
As stated in thin clients approach most of the computing power is located on the server and clients provides the only interface.
Thin clients offer a very effective user interface and it helps user and developers mostly to improve the usability of an application and the usability of the solution.
A thin client machine communicates directly with the server and due to which very little hardware and software get installed on the users' machine.

Thick clients are also referred to as heavy clients and are full-featured computers which are connected to a network and it keeps a significant portion of computing on the client side.
A thick client is having its own storage unlike thin client and a complete OS.
Thick clients are allowed to implement locally installed application offline and is very useful for using applications like software development.

When choosing a Better client software thick client are more preferable as it provides better performance as the application processing is done locally and it has no barrier of relying on the network.
As it works offline which results in reducing the communication over a wireless network conserving bandwidth.
Not only it reduces server demands but also requires a lesser number of servers.
The thick client performs intensive data processing. and is independent of a networked environment.
Looking at the present scenario where Entrepreneurs are increasingly to provide them solutions locally and easier this approach is needed.

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When we talk about server-side scripting or programming it means employing scripts on web servers and it produces a customized response for the request initiated by the clients to the website.
Referring to the Client side programming which mostly involves user interface work with which user interacts. It's a browser which is used to run a code.
Server-side programming is the general name for the programs runningly directly on the server and it deals with dynamic content.
Exam of languages is PHP, C++.
Client-side programming is a program that runs on the client. It mostly deals with the user interface with which user interacts on the web.Languages are javascript ,HTML.

Talking about server-side programming Querying the database and any operations over it is an example of this programming.
Interacting with temporary storage along with making interactive web pages and much more is in client-side programming.
The client-side script takes action on user browser and provides functionality without accessing the web server.
Server-side scripts require a server and reduce the number of errors and also the issues with compatibility and it also holds the ability to customize the responses based on the requirements of users or any queries.
These Two parties are making possible all the communication.

I hope I have cleared all your Queries
Thank you

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