how to manage database for a restaurant desktop application? Where we want to generate token numbers in sequence

Question

So basically we want to develop a desktop application which will be installed on multiple computers placed on billing counter of the restaurant.

Customer has to go to the billing counter and a person seating on counter will enter the items and generate a token for customer. There can be single or multiple PCs at the counter but we want to have the token number in sequence. Off course, all the computers will be connected via LAN.

I believe we need a single database that can be accessed by all the application installed on difference computers but we have no idea which is a the best database and technology to develop desktop application.

Below are few queries we have:

1. Best technology to develop cross-platform desktop application.
2. How can we have single database connected to all the desktop apps installed on different computers connected with LAN cable.

Few other notes : We started learning flutter and thought to create desktop application with that but we stuck when mater comes to handle the single database to generate tokens in sequence. If you have solution for flutter then it would be great otherwise we are okay to switch the technology as well.

Answer 1

Flutter is great for developing cross-platform applications. But it has its limitations (eg communication with hardware is very difficult to handle with flutter you will have to depend on different third-party packages or in some cases have to use a method channel to do it in native).

According to your description of the project, I am assuming your project will have hardware communication involved at some point (eg connecting a printer or scanner).

My recommendation will be to develop your project in native (for windows using c#).

If you want a cross-platform application electronJs is also a good option. (VS code is built using electronJs).