[dba-Tech] Free MacWindows?Linux development Tool

Jim Lawrence accessd at shaw.ca
Thu Dec 5 15:10:47 CST 2013


Hi Stuart:

This is definitely worthy of further investigation. Being able to easily create apps that can run on the desktop browser along with Smartphones and tablets is no longer an option. Clients want and expect it all now...the bar has been raised.

Jim 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Stuart McLachlan" <stuart at lexacorp.com.pg>
To: "Discussion of Hardware and Software issues" <dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2013 12:44:17 PM
Subject: [dba-Tech] Free MacWindows?Linux development Tool

Just received this from Basic4Android.  Haven't downloaded it yet but will be doing so soon:

<quote>
Hi,
I'm happy to release a new development tool, named B4J.

B4J is a development tool, similar to Basic4android that allows you to
develop Windows, Mac and Linux apps.

You can download B4J here: http://www.basic4ppc.com/b4j/

B4J is free for both personal usage and commercial usage.

</quote>


>From the website:
FAQ
Q: Is B4J completely free, including for commercial purposes?
A: Yes.
Q: What are the requirements for UI apps developers with B4J?
A: B4J UI apps depend on Java FX. Java FX is part of Java JRE 7 (build 6+). B4J UI apps 
will run on Windows, Mac and Linux computers.
Q: Which file should be distributed?
A: When you compile your project in Release mode, the complete app is packaged in a 
single jar file under the Objects folder. You should distribute this jar file.
Q: Can I reuse Basic4android code with B4J?
A: Most of the non-UI code can be reused. See this tutorial for more information


And from the first tutorial:

B4J development tool is similar to Basic4android. The language and IDE are mostly identical.

The APIs (methods, keywords and libraries) are identical in some cases and different in other 
cases.

I converted existing frameworks such as DBUtils, HttpUtils2, DateUtils, RDC, 
ImageDownloader and others from B4A to B4J. It was simpler than I expected it to be. In 
some cases no changes were required at all.

Modules

There are two types of modules in B4J. Code modules and classes. Classes are identical to 
B4A classes.
Code modules are similar to B4A modules however they are more powerful as they can 
handle events.

A code module can be considered as a class with exactly one instance (such instances are 
sometimes called singletons or static classes). Activities and Services are not required in 
B4J. You should instead use code modules. Note that when you add an existing B4A activity 
or service to B4J project it will be converted to a code module.

CallSub is mostly not required in B4J as you can directly call methods of other classes or 
code modules.

Generally speaking it is simpler to develop with B4J as you do not need to deal with the 
activities (and services) life cycle. This also means that there is no such concept as "activity 
object".

UI

The main difference is in the UI. B4J is based on JavaFX UI and Basic4android is based on 
the native Android UI..
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