Python implementing simple web data storage

Question

I am trying to develop a python PyQt program that allow user to enter data about personal particulars and review them at a later time for processing purpose.

The program will be used by less than 5 persons at the same time. So, i am thinking to use Sqlite3 database as i believe it should be able to cope for that amount of traffic.

The frame work i have in mind is that, the clients will have their own copy of my python pyqt program on each machine. Whenever they perform any operations that required data read/write, it will connect to the server thorough internet and read/write from the sqlite.db on the server.

Basically, the server will be nothing but a remote data storage.

Currently, i am able to create the required GUI for data inputs by using various widgets like QlineEdit, QCombobox, QTextEdit and so on.

But i have never done network programming before, thus i have no idea how to implement a server that store the sqlite data file for my software. So my questions are

(1) if i have a PC that has 24/7 internet connection, how do i set it up so that it can act as a server that store the data file for my software?

(2)In what way can/should my program communicate to that server through internet.

Even if you can't give me exact answer, i would appreciate if you can provide me some information of so that i look up and study about it.

Any constructive advice will be appreciated.

FYI: all the PCs will be running windows XP SP3 32 bits.

Answer 1

There are different ways for a client to communicate with a server.

You can use

1. XMLRPC to create an object with methods that are called on the server side

2. You can use HTTP and REST for the server with the library requests or urllib for the client

3. For the latter you can use flask, bottle, django or other frameworks to create a website that serves the content (tutorials)

4. You can use Pyro to remotely access the objects on the server. Useful if the clients should also communicate with eachother.

5. You can create your own protocol. You will learn a lot and value the other options.

6. The list is not complete

I suggest that you have a look at XMLRPC if that fits. For number 2 I can say that many APIs use such a HTTP-interface (twitter, github, facebok, google). It is easy to use also for other people.

Security is important. I am not an expert. If you send username and password in plain text then use SSL to encrypt the connection. If you can not get ssl to work with python you can use stunnel.