how to integrate bi reports in my web application?

What language & framework would you recommend for a web application?

• I'm scoping a project for a client who wants a web app which displays data from a premise database (Microsoft SQL Server). Essentially, the company needs to display data for its clients. Clients will log into the web app, then be able to search their projects and view detail records and numeric data for any project(s). Project detail (i.e., detail records attached to each project) need to allow drill-down (e.g., user toggles on/off the display of detail data for a project). Underlying data from the premise-based Microsoft SQL Server database will need to be propagated to the web database; ideally, the web app should display real-time data from the premise database. The company also wants the web app to display aggregate report data to each client, across all the client's projects, and allow the client to filter report data by date range of the underlying data; reports need to be displayed using tabular formats, pie charts, etc., where the user can toggle on/off different report parameters, and have the report update accordingly. Reports need to be exportable to pdf, Excel, and Word. In addition, the web app needs to allow users to send email regarding any of their projects at the detail record level (each project will have many detail records of actions taken on the project). Lastly, the web app needs to be mobile-enabled, mainly for tablets. Being more a project manager than a developer, what language and framework would you recommend for this type of project, and why? Thanks in advance!

• Answer:

  The technology doesn't matter as much as how effective your team is at using it. All of the requirements you listed can be satisfied with a host of languages and frameworks. Don't make the mistake of dictating to your development team what language or framework they should be using. Trust their judgment and encourage them to use whatever they want. Hint: you can even use multiple techniques and frameworks together. In fact I recommend this on principle.