again, see what the needs are and then ask what the solution
runs on. PICK is a screamingly fast hash on flat files. Since I would have little desire to build my own I would buy (and cheaper for the client than my hourly to create) a hash. Just because people get locked into vertical solutions doesnt mean the underlying technology is unsound. Yes old stuff is hard to maintain and cheaper to move from the environment, that isnt the question on the table.
thanx,
bill
Any opinions expressed by me are mine alone, posted from my home computer, on my own time as a free american and do not reflect the opinions of any person or company that I have had professional relations with in the past 50 years. meep