B4X - A multi platform RAD
Develop for Android, IOS, Windows, Linux, MacOS,RaspBerry PI and Arduino
As a long-term developer for Retail and Hospitality systems, I worked with several programming languages in these past 25 years.
From RM/COBOl-85 in SCO/Unix to VB6 on Windows 98, XP and 7 Machines, and recently to .NET in Windows 8 and 10. Not forgetting CShell and Bash around several Linux distribution’s.
From intricated and obscure IDE to the simplest text editors, you name it, I used them all.
A few years ago, I stumbled across an article about Basic4PocketPC that would change the way I looked into programming languages.
Back then, the Application promised, and delivered a fast way to develop to Pocket PC without resorting to complicated API and SDK.
It was simplicity itself, and even without the all-powerful features of the full-fledged compilers for the platform, it delivered quite well, not to mention that was free.
Now, with three different products sharing a common syntax and a similar IDE for Android, IOS and Desktop, either in Windows or Linux, Anywhere software raised the bar as to what a Rapid Application Development should be like.
that's right, with the same code (give or take a few libs or functions specific to that platform), you can have the same application ready to run across those platforms.
With a modern IDE, and a syntax very similar to the old VB6(tm), B4X is not, however a VB wannabe. is a full-fledged integrated programming language with modern features such a automatic code suggestion and completion, code indentation, colored keywords and variables, just to mention a few. The suite is divided in three packages, according to the platform.
- B4A - Generate native APK, that you can use to install in any android Phone or Tablet or to upload to Google's Play Store.
- B4I - Generates native IOS Applications suited for deployment in Apple's Store.
- B4J - No, it’s not Java, but it does generate Jar files suited to deploy on Windows, Linux , MacOS or Raspberry PI.
- B4R - A New product to use with Arduino boards
Mix this with an active and ever growing community, and you'll have a recipe for success.
With Libraries, ranging from TTS, Serial communication, networking, WiFi or Bluetooth transfers to SQL Server integration, you have it all. And the best of all, is that most libs are usable by more than one IDE and you can even create your own libs to suit specific needs.
Having several Applications written in VB6, for the Restaurant and Hospitality market, I am now migrating them to B4J, and adding new features to increase both their longevity and my company revenues.
Of course, that there’s still lots of room to grow and to improve. There are still some features missing, that I would personally welcome, like those control arrays in VB6, but it sure convinced me, so I felt obligated to share my opinion.
So, do yourselves a favor and take a look. You can find it at www.b4x.com
I have no affiliation whatsoever with Anywhere Software nor have any kind of endorsements from them. This article, consists merely on my opinion as a user of the referred tools.
A very big advantage of B4X over its competitors is the stability and availability of free plugins. While others still struggle creating a workable cross-platform IDE (OK on Mac, meh on Windows and Linux), implementing 64bit and for which need you to pay additional hundreds of $ on plugins because of the lack of build-in features, B4X can rely on decades of ingenuity of the underlying programming languages. What is the point of insisting for native when the only thing you can build out-of-the-box is a glorified calculator because of the lack of basic controls? Many products have tried to reinvent the wheel and they have to be happy if the result is a triangle or an occasional hexagon. Some products feel after 20 years like they are still in the Beta phase. I used to love another niche product, but when some time ago I visited their forum and a lot of common terms where 'crash', "doesn't work', "fails' I knew I had made the right decision for our company to move away from it. B4X has been rock solid since many years and it is very comforting in a way to know that when you have a bug, it is on you, not on your programming environment. Saves you days in development time. So I'm very, very happy I made the transition years ago to B4X!
and honestly, the web site is not very informative either nor is the demo video they provide. what about better examples, like apps built in it, business apps rather with lists, multi screens, orientation handlings, performance benchmarking and comparison? all I was able to find is promises but I'm also checking it from my phone at the moment, not my laptop
I'm so not sure about this, sorry. VB? Pocket PC? Seriously, this 21st century. Sorry, I don't want to sound rude and it sounds interesting but just hearing about VB and pocket PC sends the shivers. Has anyone here experience to compare with Delphi for mobile or Xamarin (both traditional and forms)? Would be nice to have some comparison.
I really love B4A and have been using it since it was introduced. Innovative updates that keep the features contemporary are consistently being offered.
We are moving all our products to the B4X platforms and never looked back at the other multiplatform RADs since. Excellent support, always on top of integrating new technologies without having to wait years to get it. Most productieve IDE out there and a great and active community!