Common Sense Programming is a small business offering contract database programming and consulting. It is the brainchild of one man, Chuck Mawhinney, who has independently tried to keep pace with the rush of technology over the past two decades, focusing continually on practical database applications.

In 1991 Common Sense Programming introduced its first Point of Sale System using a Dbase IV layer over the DOS operating system. Several companies are still using it today, 15 years later. Next, a similar system was migrated to a Windows environment. Then, during the past three years, it was re-written for the Internet, capturing the power of instant communication. During this entire time, Common Sense Programming has done consultation and contract work on a limited basis.

Technology marches on, and as the internet grows and matures, more people are discovering the power behind web based applications. But, in spite of the fact that so many web sites now exist in cyberspace, only a small percentage of people and businesses have taken advantage of the real power available online.

Remember that old saying? "People use less than ten percent of their actual brain power."

Well the Internet is much the same. Most web sites are using less than ten percent of the potential that is right in front of them. We call them ‘static’ pages, and while they are accessible and in many cases quite informative, they tend to become obsolete after only several months due to the quickly changing nature of our world today. Static pages tend to die a quiet death becoming less and less relevant over time. As they say, “A web page is never finished, only abandoned.”

Maintaining a web site today can easily become a full time job only we html people can handle. But it need not be. By incorporating database design into your web site, articles can be added, names can be changed, job descriptions, locations, dates, images: everything contained within the site can be called from a database that is easily editable. Rather than re-writing a page every time some part of it is no longer accurate, why not database the site in the first place?

The true power of any computer system is its ability to database information for instant retrieval.

While this may sound complex to a normal USER, database programming is really just an extension of the way human beings think in the first place. It is really nothing more than a set of lists. A master list of lists being the database itself.

The simple trick to a system like the one I am describing is giving the user an easy way to update the critical information. And this is what we do best. Behind a password of your own choice, we will build a simple, form driven menu that will enable you to add, edit or delete the records in your database. Our name comes from the fact that common sense dictates that the user knows more about his or her data than the programmer. So, after we assess your needs, we will ask simple, direct questions as to what you need to edit, and what will always remain the same. Then we will build the back door you need to keep the front door up to date. Whoever is in charge of updating the information can do it from the luxury of their own living room using any PC connected to the Internet.

Why should only the mega-corporations have such convenience? How do you think these 'blogs' got started?

The fact is, whatever information you need at your fingertips can be posted on a private internet address, behind an excellent firewall, and accessed from anywhere you might be. Can it be broken into? Yes, but the hacker will need to be an expert who is willing to dedicate a huge amount of time into extracting and decoding specific data from a jungle of information. We are not in the encryption business. We do not develop shopping baskets. If you are looking for a place to park Social Security numbers, Common Sense Programming is not who you need. But if you are seeking a practical solution to organizing information for some facet of your business, school, club or personal life, we can help.

Currently, Common Sense Programming is working in a MYSQL 4.1 database server environment using PHP version 5 as its programming language. We reside on Bluehost.com, which is one of the very best internet servers in the country today.

Please call if we can be of service. 559-960-8806

- Chuck Mawhinney