> What is the pro & con for the above combination regarding

flexibility,speed,compatibility, expense .. etc ???

>
> I think the dbExpress + MySql that come with Kylix (or also Delphi 6 ??)

will make a lot of ppl switch to that area.

To me each set of tools is more ideal for different things. So, it depends
on what you are trying to accomplish.

dbExpress is a step in the right direction because client/server will not
handle some things that the 3+ tier model will. Yes, you can do
client/server with dbExpress (as many will argue) but why deal with all of
the extra work and complexity of a 3+ tier architecture when you can work
with IBO. There is a significant difference in how things are approached
between the two application models. Knowing both as I do, I feel that IBO
offers a whole lot more functionality that makes you immediately productive.
There is a lot in IBO that you really cannot even consider doing with the
3+tier architecture.

Here's what I think it boils down to. IBO allows you to work directly with
the server. Thus, it allows you to very tightly integrate with it and use
its power and features 100%. With dbExpress you are using a database at its
brain dead level. You are not directly accessing the server but instead
going through layers of client datasets and providers and so on.

So, if you want to develop with a rich and powerful database and have a
toolset that takes full advantage of it use IBO. If you want to use a brain
dead database and put all your logic and rules into providers then dbExpress
+ MySQL is for you.

FWIW,
Jason Wharton
CPS - Mesa AZ
http://www.ibobjects.com