The death of Bob Zale, founder of PowerBASIC

[Patrice Terrier]

the compiler itself was coded pretty much exclusively by Bob

The only exception, was at the time of PBDK, that was written by my friend Philippe Monteil in the early 90's, but since that time, Bob takes back everything in 16-bit TASM assembly, switching to 32-bit assembly only a few years ago.

The in-house team, has always been a very small structure, second hands working on subordinate tasks, like PBEdit, PBForm, include files, PowerTree, and direct contracting ...

[Petrus Vorster]

The thing with issues like these for dummies like me, is WHAT NOW?
I have just started to get the basic hang of Firefly and Powerbasic and already I have to ask myself, NOW WHAT?
Should I stop now with the little I know and jump into Sharpdevelop on C#, but hell, that is like going from English to Arab in a week.
Especially guys like me that came with the Basic environment for centuries, learning a new language is hell. The clever bunch here like Paul, Jose and Patrice may not have an issue like me.
This is truly a worrying issue, lets hope someone buys the company.

Then again in Paul and Jose takes the company you will see spark fly and a new generation Powerbasic to match!

[Theo Gottwald]

A very simple fact will help you:

Your PowerBasic is working. Its working now, it will be useful in 2 years already.
All you have (including FF)  is very functional and ready to strike for you.

[Jim Dunn]

Actually, all politics aside, regarding the question "what should I do now?"... you might want to evaluate your market.

If you want to program for smart phones or tablets, you'd head one direction.

If you want to program corporately, you'd head another direction.

If you want to program as a hobby, etc. etc.

[Rolf Brandt]

As for me PowerBasic, FireFly, and SQLitening will still do the work - even if PowerBasic would not be developed further. There are still quite a few using VB6, I myself am still keeping up a few projects that were written VB6. So I think I am good with it until Alzheimer knocks on my door.

BTW - I occasionally make an Alzheimer test. If  I can still remember Professor Alzheimer's first name (Alois) then I am OK.

Rolf

[Rudolf Furstauer]

I see this pragmatically as Theo.
My applications run on W7-32/64 and W8-64.
So I calmed down to wait for the development of PB.


Rudolf Fuerstauer

[Patrice Terrier]

So I calmed down to wait for the development of PB.

Then, wait for Robert Zale's parousia.

...

[Rudolf Furstauer]

Then, wait for Robert Zale's parousia.

I've understood that you give PB no future.
For me, there is currently no reason to fall into panic.
When I see in a year that nothing developed in PB, I will start new projects using C # or QT.
There are many alternatives for a programmer.

Just stay calm.   

[Mark Strickland]

I know this thread has been running since last year but here is another, yet different, alternative to PowerBASIC.

I truly love PB and FF but it won't do Web stuff.  I have been "tinkering" with RealStudio (previously RealBASIC) for a while.  I have recently built a system using their Web Edition that creates compiled CGI code that is super fast (for the Web) and nearly un-hackable.  I talked to a security consultant that does DoD work and he says he has not seen anything better.

You build the apps pretty much like a desktop and app and they even look like a desktop app.  There are some quirks but the resulting product is a Web application that has the look and feel of a desktop app.  It uses Ajax techniques and lots of Javascript but all of that is "under the hood" and you can pretty much code it just like a desktop app in the RealBASIC UI.

By the end of 2013 they will also be able to build iPhone apps with their product.  I have seen demos running on a native device but it is still in the early stages.  Sadly it will be another year before they can do Android.

I won't give up PowerBASIC and FF.  Theo is right that is still works and will for sometime to come but if you want to do some Web stuff you should take a look at this product.  It also looks like PB will live on for a while.   RealSoftware is in the process of rebranding the company XOJO but for now you can find them at www.RealSoftware.com.  They are pretty pricey compared to PB and FF but it makes a really nice Web app possible if you are not an expert in something like PHP and Ajax.

Now if we could only get Paul to do the same with FF.  Web CGI apps built with PB and FF .... hummmmmm.

Mark

[Gary Stout]

Where in the world did they come up with XOJO.... a 2yr old at the keyboard? LOL
I am sure it has some reasonable meaning, but I just thought I would ask.

Gary

[Martin Foster]

The answer is here:
http://www.realsoftware.com/support/faq_xojo.php

[Martin Foster]

RealSoftware is in the process of rebranding the company XOJO but for now you can find them at www.RealSoftware.com.  They are pretty pricey compared to PB and FF .....

It depends on how the comparison is made 
I made my own comparison very recently:
----------
XoJo (Release date 4th June 2013)

Desktop Licence = $300 (Only required for application deployment, the IDE is FREE)
Compiles FOR and ON Windows, Linux and Mac (Cross-platform on a single licence).
Package includes (but not limited to) IDE, ability to build GUI apps and Console apps, SSL support.

http://www.realsoftwareblog.com/2013/04/coming-soon-new-pricing-recap.html
----------
PowerBasic

PBWin10 = $199 (Windows GUI compiler)
PBCC6 = $169 (Windows Console compiler)
FF 3.62 = $97 (IDE)
Total = $465

No Linux or Mac compiler.
No SSL support.
----------

No doubt others will make different comparisons and draw their own conclusions 

[Rolf Brandt]

I had tried RealBasic in the early days. It used to make REAL Bloatware. Also the IDE was not very responsive. Is that still like that?

I find the ability to compile programs for Win, Linux, and Apple very interesting, but are the generated programs really 100% compatible?

Rolf

[Martin Foster]

The current version of Real Studio still creates bloatware and the IDE is still very clunky but as for XoJo, I can't comment, as it hasn't been released yet. However, XoJo will have a brand spanking new IDE and if the comments of the beta testers are anything to go by, it's MUCH better than the current IDE. Best thing to do would be to have a look yourself when it's released (the IDE is FREE!) 

About your compatibilty question, I can't answer that but you may find this of interest: http://docs.realsoftware.com/index.php/Cross-Platform_Development

[Rolf Brandt]

Thanks Martin.

I thought of it sometimes for some crossplatform tools. My bulk work concentrates on database programming around SQLitening - so for that I will stick to PB and FireFly.

Rolf