The title sounds very promising...
I hope you do, I am in eager expectation...
Rolf
Hello Rolf, Well, Brian already said it so why not...
Ivan, yes, it will contain a layout designer as well.... And a great one! It includes undo/redo, copy, paste, zoom, etc...
It will compile native applications (it actually already does) created with PowerBASIC syntax. It will be fully integrated with BasictoPHP, this means that you will simply drag a control, double click it and edit the callback function. It is really simple indeed! And it allows for low level features as well.
(https://www.planetsquires.com/protect/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3605.0;attach=1731;image)
It will take us a little longer tough.
After it is complete, I will let Brian handle the refinations and i will focus on iOS applications.
This is the post i wasnt sure to post before:
QuoteWe are working in the next version of BasictoPHP. We already had most of what was going to be part of it, but in the last minute we thought... Why dont we make 5.0 a big one? so, we figured we should try to compile android apps. BasictoPHP has been mostly a web script development engine, but i think we should expand.
I have some Java knowledge. So, compiling Apps for Java has taken me only 4 days (JAR files). Complete, with Optional parameters, BYREF parameters, FOR/NEXT DO/LOOP DATA, EXIT FOR, EXIT SELECT. EXIT IF, ITERATE.... DATACOUNT.. etc, etc. Yes, Java doesn't support Optional parameters, or BYREF parameters. But we didn't care. BasictoPHP does it. By The way, perhaps it should change the name. It started converting to PHP, but now it does ASP, CGI, EXE and JAVA too (not for CGI development yet).
I know there is a (Good) product (b4a) that already compiles Android applications with somewhat BASIC syntax (we bought it a while ago), but as my good friend Brian said: "The BASIC syntax loses a lot of appeal when the developer must adapt to the conversion limitations.", and sadly i didnt like the syntax either.
This is true for b4a. In fact, B4A looks like a Java compiler with BASIC keywords. I mean, a SUBs returning a value? Isn't that the job of a FUNCTION? Not to put it down just because. My Point is that I would like to be able to work with Android in a manner that makes sense.
We are close to it. In fact, the Java compiler is nearly completion. And perhaps version 5.0 will be limited to Java (no android yet), but we would like to do it eventually, or if possible, today. EDIT: It already does.
But there is a lot of of work and we are only two guys. The Android SDK is huge and there is work to do everywhere. In the surface it is not very noticeable, but under the hood, a compiler that compiles to 6 different languages with the same syntax... YIKES! :o
So, if you own BasictoPHP, and you know Java, Android, PowerBASIC, Firefly and want to join us, please discuss it over here or PM me letting us know your expectations. Or if you dont have the time, but want to cooperate with hints and tips (very needed for android apps), as a Beta tester getting as a reward only a life-time license of the resulting compiler, let us know. Since Java is a radically different language, we would like input as how the applications should be handled in our BASIC syntax. Perhaps like in regular windows? Let us know.
Please have in mind that BasictoPHP is not a multi-million compiler, and it has been under constant development in the past 4 years, with thousands of man-hours on it, so, dont expect a big share of the income of it. But DO expect a fair compensation and respect from me and my friend Brian (as of already actually).
The intention is to attract users to PowerBASIC language, but not to the dying PowerBASIC company, I agree with Brice's post that attracting customers to a company that does not deliver the product is not very nice. No. What i mean is to Attract Users to BasictoPHP's syntax, and if they like the syntax... Perhaps just enough to revive PowerBASIC?
If you just want to take a look, be my guest. :) Ask any questions, make any comments, etc.