Xojo

The Xojo programming environment and programming language is developed and commercially marketed by Xojo, Inc. of Austin, Texas for software development targeting macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, iOS, the Web and Raspberry Pi. Xojo uses a proprietary object-oriented language.[2][3][4]

Xojo
Developer(s)Xojo, Inc.
Stable release
Xojo 2019R3.1 / January 23, 2020 (2020-01-23)[1]
Operating system
Available inEnglish
TypeProgramming
LicenseTrialware
Websitexojo.com

History

In 1997 FYI Software, founded by Geoff Perlman, bought CrossBasic,[5][6][7] which had been marketed by its author Andrew Barry[8] as a shareware product. CrossBasic got its name from its ability to compile the same programming code for the classic Mac OS and the Java virtual machine (although the integrated development environment was Mac only). A public beta was released in April 1996.[9][10] The CrossBasic name was trademarked by another company, so the product was renamed REALbasic.[11]

Prior to version 2, the Java target was dropped and later replaced with a Windows target and database support.[12][13] The option to compile for Linux[14] was added in 2005 and the integrated development environment (IDE) was ported to Windows and as a free public beta for Linux platforms. The new IDE employed a redesigned user interface.[15]

In 2004 REAL software announced the "Made with REALbasic Showcase" program to highlight applications created with the product.[16] In 2009, a migration assistant was launched to help move code from Visual Basic.[17] In 2010, to combat the perception that it was similar to the original BASIC, it was renamed Real Studio.[18][19] The company announced Real Studio Web Edition, allowing developers to compile web applications without the knowledge of multiple web technologies.[20]

On June 4, 2013 the company officially changed their name to Xojo, Inc. and Real Studio was renamed Xojo.[21] Also on this date they released Xojo 2013 Release 1 which included an all-new user interface, full support for Cocoa on OS X, improved support for web applications, all new documentation and a new Introduction to Programming Using Xojo textbook[22] that was designed for beginners to learn the fundamentals of object oriented programming.[23] Xojo, Inc. calls it "the spiritual successor to Visual BASIC".[24]

The Xojo IDE is currently available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, 32-bit x86 Linux,[25] and can compile 32-bit and 64-bit applications for Windows (Windows XP and higher), macOS (running on Intel-based Macs using the Cocoa frameworks), x86 Linux, iOS, the web, and Raspberry Pi. Xojo is self-hosted: the Xojo IDE is built with the current release of Xojo.[26] The 2015r3 release includes 64-bit support for Desktop, Web and Console targets as well as a new platform, Raspberry Pi.[27] [28]

In 2016 Xojo was awarded the Big Innovation Award[29] from the Business Intelligence Group for being an "innovative" development tool that has "brought new ideas to life".

Xojo added many new features in 2018 and 2019, including support for macOS and iOS light/dark modes [30][31][32], a GraphicsPath for drawing Bézier curves, and a new DateTime class.

Xojo has been listed several times among the top 150 programming languages as published by TIOBE,[33] a company which rates the quality of software.

Timeline

1990s
  • In 1996 Geoff Perlman founds the company that is now Xojo in Austin, Texas.
  • CrossBasic is acquired in 1997.[34]
  • In 1998 REALbasic 1.0 released and introduced at MacWorld Expo. This first release made it easy for anyone, not just developers, to create apps for the Mac System 7 running on a 680x0 or PowerPC processor.
  • Windows support was added in 1999 with the release of REALbasic 2.0, making it a true cross-platform development tool.[35]

2000s
  • Support for Mac OS X is added to REALbasic in 2001.[36]
  • In 2002, the first Windows IDE of REALbasic is announced.[37]
  • In September 2005, REALbasic is updated to include support for building Linux apps.[38] REALbasic now compiles for three desktop platforms from a single code base.
  • Continuing to keep up with the rapidly changing needs of developers and hobbyists, Intel-based Mac support is added in 2006.
  • Expanding beyond desktop platforms, support for building web applications is added in 2010.
  • REALbasic becomes Xojo in 2013.[39]
  • Xojo Cloud, Xojo's one-click deployment service for Xojo web apps, is launched in early 2014.
  • In December 2014, Xojo iOS, Xojo's first mobile platform, is released.
  • After much interest from the community, Xojo Pi is released, letting users build applications for Raspberry Pi with Xojo in 2015.[40]

Editions of IDE

The Xojo IDE is free to use for learning and development. Compiling or deploying applications with Xojo requires a license. Multiple license levels are available for purchase, enabling Desktop, Web and iOS. Xojo Pi for building applications for Raspberry Pi is free. Licenses can be purchased a la carte, in any combination required. Also available is Xojo Pro, a bundle that includes added support, guaranteed beta program access, access to a Xojo professionals' forum, 3x Feedback multiplier when ranking support cases, access to consulting leads, and a license that will work on three machines.[41] The default database used with Xojo is sqlite.

Unlike most programming environments, project source code is not stored in plain text files by default, but in a proprietary, single-file format. However, source code can be saved to a plain-text format for use with version control systems and can be exported to XML format as well.

Xojo Cloud

On March 11, 2014 Xojo launched Xojo Cloud, their cloud hosting service for Xojo web applications.[42]

Example code

The Xojo programming language looks similar to Visual Basic.

The following code snippet placed in the Open event of a Window displays a message box saying "Hello, World!" as the window loads:

// Display a simple message box that says "Hello, World!"
MessageBox("Hello, World!")

This code populates a ListBox with the values from an array:

Var names() As String = Array("Red Sox", "Yankees", "Orioles", "Blue Jays", "Rays")
For i As Integer = 0 To names.LastRowIndex
  ListBox1.AddRow(names(i))
Next
gollark: To be less "cringe".
gollark: I mean "hard but tractable", not "effectively impossible".]
gollark: That might be fun actually: I could probably build a language which is easy for me to write in (with a secret key) but hard for other people (without that).
gollark: You could do something like Malbolge's "cryptography" where it's *technically* possible to write things.
gollark: Then cryptography is just the obvious way to make it work.

See also

References
  1. https://www.xojo.com/download/
  2. Xojo (December 9, 2014). "Xojo, Inc. Announces Xojo 2014 Release 3; Includes Support For Developing Native iOS Applications". Xojo. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  3. prMac (December 9, 2014). "Xojo Includes Support For Developing Native iOS Applications". prMac. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  4. Lorenzo, Mark (May 15, 2018). The History of The Basic Programming Language. Philadelphia: SE Books. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-974-27707-0.
  5. "REALbasic-NUG". lowendmac.com.
  6. "REALbasic development history of cross-platform development tools". databaseskill.com.
  7. "Yes, Virginia, There Is a REALbasic". tidbits.com.
  8. "REALbasic: The Definitive Guide".
  9. "Operator Headgap Web Conferencing". headgap.com.
  10. "CrossBasic: Shareware BASIC Environment".
  11. "Upgrade Guide" (PDF).
  12. "REALbasic 2.0 Shipping".
  13. "REALbasic 2.0 Standard Edition Review". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
  14. "Real Software on Linux". jupiter broadcasting.
  15. at 09:19, Tony Smith 15 Jun 2005. "REALbasic 2005 ships for Mac, WinXP, Linux". www.theregister.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  16. "MacObserver".
  17. "REALbasic launches Visual Basic Migration Assistant".
  18. "Upgrade Guide" (PDF). ...hearing a development environment with the word "basic" in the name caused many of your colleagues’ eyes to roll...Some developers found they were no longer battling the reputation of BASIC while others were confused because we continued to call the language itself, REALbasic.
  19. "REALbasic Name".
  20. Frank, Ohlhorst (June 2011). "3 Tools to Accelerate Web Development". IDG. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
  21. Xojo (June 4, 2013). "Xojo Press Releases". Xojo. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  22. Xojo (June 4, 2013). "Review: Xojo Book Download Page". Xojo. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
  23. Xojo (June 4, 2013). "Xojo Release Press Release". Xojo. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  24. "Xojo: Alternative to Visual Basic". Xojo is the spiritual successor to Visual Basic...the programming language will look very familiar to you
  25. Barr, Joe (August 4, 2005). "Review: REALBasic 2005 for Linux". Linux.com. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  26. Xojo (December 9, 2014). "Xojo, Inc. Announces Xojo 2014 Release 3; Includes Support For Developing Native iOS Applications". Xojo. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
  27. "XDC 2015 Recap". May 6, 2015.
  28. "Xojo 2015 Release 3 Now Available Recap". October 20, 2015.
  29. "THESE 47 COMPANIES CONFIRM THAT THE BUSINESS OF INNOVATION IS FLOURISHING GLOBALLY". Business Intelligence Group. February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  30. "Xojo 2018 Release 3 Adds Support For Mojave Dark Mode | MacOSX News". Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  31. "Xojo 2019 Release 3 adds Dark Mode support for iOS 13". MacTech.com. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  32. "Xojo 2019 Release 3: saját appok sötét módban, további extrákkal". Techwok (in Hungarian). 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  33. "TIOBE Index | TIOBE - The Software Quality Company". web.archive.org. 2019-08-29. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  34. "Yes, Virginia there is a REALbasic". 1998-08-17.
  35. "REALbasic 2.0". 1999-10-01.
  36. "REALbasic 3.1 for Mac OS X arrives". 2001-03-22.
  37. "REALbasic 5- with Mac and Windows support - previewed". 2002-10-01.
  38. "REALbasic 5.5 adds Linux, enhances Mac support". 2004-02-25.
  39. "Start Programming Free with Xojo". 2013-06-11.
  40. "Xojo 64-bit apps and Raspberry Pi". 2015-10-20.
  41. Xojo (June 4, 2013). "Xojo Store Information". Xojo. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  42. "Xojo Announces Xojo Cloud For Deployment Of Web Apps". Mac News. March 11, 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-13.
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