<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div>You should consider looking at Gardens Point component Pascal.<br><br>http://plas.fit.qut.edu.au/gpcp/<br><br>It can compile to either .NET or Java VM which means you can write programs that run<br>anywhere. It uses the same language as BlackBox. It would be nice to see all of the <br>BlackBox libraries ported to it, but so far nobody's taken on that challenge. GPCP<br>has hooks to use with either the Visual Studio or Eclipse IDE. There's even a simple<br>"compile over the web" IDE set up. That would be the ultimate in cross platform<br>usability if it were extended. (Think the old Modula-3 "reactor" platform).<br><br>Regards,<br><br>John M. Drake<br></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div
style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Douglas G. Danforth <danforth@greenwoodfarm.com><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> ETH Oberon and related systems <oberon@lists.inf.ethz.ch><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Sunday, October 12, 2008 6:09:12 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Oberon] Platform independent IDE?<br></font><br>
<b>Platform independent IDE?</b><br>
<br>
Folks,<br>
I have a small chance at a new job and before I talk to them I thought<br>
it would be useful to ask you (the Oberon users) whether it is possible
<br>
to make the case that using Oberon is safe, reliable, and cross
platform.<br>
<br>
So here are my questions for you.<br>
<br>
(1) Does a cross platform IDE (Integerated Development Environment)
exist for Oberon?<br>
Cross platform must include MS Windows, Linux, and Apple OSX.<br>
(I know of Bluebottle and have downloaded it several years ago but
don't know if<br>
that is the correct vehical to answer my question. What is A2?<br>
I use BlackBox/Component Pascal almost exclusively now but it runs
only on Windows.<br>
I understand that combined with Wine one can get it to work under
Linux but have not<br>
done this.)<br>
<br>
(2) Does the IDE behave exactly the same on all platforms?<br>
Does it have one form of look-and-feel or does it adapt to the
platforms GUI?<br>
<br>
(3) Can one install the IDE without low level bitstring manipulation
and parameter settings?<br>
<br>
(4) Does there exist a uniform library (collection of modules) for
basic functionality: files, <br>
audio, screen manipulation, GUI controls, ...<br>
<br>
(5) Can one access the underlying operating system calls if need be
(and hence violate<br>
platform independence)?<br>
<br>
(6) Mouse: can one use a two button mouse on all platforms (no
interclicks)?<br>
<br>
(7) Really how reliable is the system? Can one program for 6 months
without finding<br>
bugs in the underlying system. Does it really work the way it is
claimed to work?<br>
<br>
(8) Web: Can one access the web via the system? How much of the
underlying grunt work<br>
of doing so is supported by the system (module)?<br>
<br>
(9) Server side programming: Is it possible to run an Oberon server
such that (Oberon) <br>
commands on one's desktop are passed through the web to the server in
such a manner that it<br>
looks as those one is simple doing a remote procedure call? For
example if the server<br>
maintains a (relational) database of information, is it possible to
request (say SQL) to the<br>
database for getting and putting data? If I do not have access to the
server hardware (resides in<br>
some other state or country) can I install the Oberon server software
remotely (if allowed, of<br>
course, by the server)?<br>
<br>
I know these are tough questions but they are ones a commerical company
would ask and<br>
would have to be answered to convince they to use such an Oberon system.<br>
<br>
I look forward to your answers (any and all).<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Doug Danforth<br>
<br>
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