posted February 21, 2007 09:33 AM            

quote:

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Why aren't program generators (especially with PowerBASIC) around?

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???

There have got to be at least a half-dozen 'code generator' vendors who have shamelessly promoted their products here. (Not all are still around).

I don't use and never seriously looked at PB code generators (traumatic experience in my youth) but just from 'osmosis' I know of the EZ-GUI and Phoenix code-generator products which still live.

(How could I forget? Even PowerBASIC Inc. markets a code-generator product: PBFORMS)

MCM

posted February 21, 2007 10:48 AM            

you are comparing apples with ... ???
What is Alpha5? How can you compare it with PB.
Alpha5 can be compared with ... Microsoft Access (for example) or with FileMaker
not with a compiler. It is even not possible to compare with something
looking similar like VB6. Different beast!

Alpha5 is a DB driven file with some nice UI functionalities that
needs a runtime to be redistributable. Do you need to quickly develop
a nice application with nice user interface with a DB on tha base and ready
to be used reporting, form generator and many other high level objects?
Perfect, go with it Alpha5 or whatever high level RAD tool.

ADDED: have you seen runtime prices? 1199.20USD for 20 users licence

Hardly application generators.
A runtime licence generator
------------------
thinBasic forum
eros.olmi@thinbasic.com

posted February 21, 2007 11:35 AM            

quote:

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I have come to rely heavily on sleeping as a means to solve difficult
problems, so much so that I take two siestas during the day.

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You're following the method of another great thinker on that one
Charles, as that was also Rene Descartes' method (I think,
therefore I am).

posted February 21, 2007 10:21 PM            

quote:

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I have Windows/XP operating system (maxi, not mini) with a BASIC-like language compiler (PowerBASIC/Windows).

Why would I change?

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I'm not sure you have to "change" necessarily. Your question is more like asking "Why should I use Flash?" or "What's the point of Java?".

One benefit of a virtual machine, like the name implies, is that it is virtual, so cross-platform applications become a breeze. Applications written for a virtual machine will run on any platform (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, or even inside a Web browser) provided there is a virtual machine for it.

Another benefit is that you can design the machine however you like, and are not locked into the Windows way of doing things (for example, having true linear tasks instead of an event-driven task, or custom graphics modes with sprites, etc.). You can do these things with Windows of course, but not necessarily as easy as for a virtual machine that was designed from the start to do these things.

It's not for everybody, but then again it doesn't have to be. Liquid Studio in particular and virtual machines in general just provide another paintbrush to an artist's set of tools, and can be used (or not used) however the artist sees fit.

quote:

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PS: Ok, so I did something like this myself once back in the MS-DOS days. I admit it, it was fun.

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Agreed. Writing Liquid Studio was the most fun I've had programming in a long time, one because it was something I actually wanted to do, and two because it was very challenging. Writing a graphics engine, mulitasking kernel, and compiler really taught me a lot about computers and programming. So far it's been a blast.

I hope Liquid Studio does the same thing for others, who might not be interested in learning the massive Windows API or .NET or something like that. Again, it's not for everybody, and there is still much work to be done, but I am really happy with what I have so far.

Thanks,
Flick
www.globalheavyindustries.com

posted February 22, 2007 03:05 AM            

quote:

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(I think, therefore I am).

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Or, as I learned while studying for my MCSE:

"IP" therefore I am

posted February 22, 2007 09:23 AM            

quote:

---

Alpha5 is a DB driven file with some nice UI functionalities that
needs a runtime to be redistributable. Do you need to quickly develop
a nice application with nice user interface with a DB on tha base and ready
to be used reporting, form generator and many other high level objects?
Perfect, go with it Alpha5 or whatever high level RAD tool.

ADDED: have you seen runtime prices? 1199.20USD for 20 users licence

---

I've used Alpha's software since 1987 and I can assure you it is well
worth the dollars spent. I just upgraded to their latest... version 8
and it cost me about $200 for the developer copy upgrade and $800 to
upgrade my 10 user run-time license. I've got 8 uses in my office so
that boils down to $125 per user.

I can sell my software to any number of clients...BUT the are
limited to a 10 station network.

HTH,

--Bob

posted February 22, 2007 10:47 AM            

.. have had enough beer?

posted February 22, 2007 11:27 AM            

yes, I can believe it. But my reply was more on comparing what a software
like Alpha5 can do with a native machine code compiler like PB.

Regards
Eros