Pre-sales loves the idea that they can sell IP (InfoPath).  Telling clients that the end users will be able to maintain the applications.

 

In many cases this is correct.

 

However:

1)  If its so easy then why are the end users doing the forms?

1)  Motivation.  Devs don't want to do IP, its not cool

2)  There is some learning involved

 

What happens to code?

 

Famous software engineer Brooks wrote a paper called "No Silver Bullet"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Silver_Bullet

The paper says, inter alia, it will be used in ways that are not intended.

 

Well written software gets used for more than intended.  If the devs start doing Infopath Forms, the forms will inevitably get used for unscalable applications

If we as devs must write systems that use software designed for end users it creates some problems:

1) Parts of it will be in complicated .net code (end users can forget fixing code behind)

2) Unmaintainable, 50 IP forms all calling one another, IP rules, work arounds etc?

3) IP does not scale in the way devs expect

 

 

My rule:

1) Make the end users do it

2) If it would take longer that 2 hours, then code it with the enterprise scale stuff, like asp.net

3) If there are going to be lots of IP forms

4) ANY code behind