December 28, 2007 - Time flies when you are having fun. It has been a busy end of the year and I have spent a lot more time with my new best friend - WinDev! I am just about ready to release my first WD application and anxious to start on the next. I am no longer anxiously waiting for the next release of Clarion (I have already paid for Clarion 7). It is long overdue - but as I use WinDev more and more I wonder why I didn't make the switch sooner. Clarion is not yet ready for the recycle bin, don't get me wrong. I am just finding that I am able to be productive in a more enjoyable IDE with less reliance on third applications than I ever was with Clarion. I don't expect to get a lot of user feedback until sometime in January - but I know what I like and am pretty confident my users will feel the way I do. Check back early next year and I will do my best to have more for you to read as I continue the adventure/transition to WinDev. While other Clarionistas are still waiting on Clarion 7 and while I really have started to get more comfortable with WinDev I recently found out that WinDev XII is going to be delivered early next year, and lucky me it is a free upgrade. I may even take a look at the already available French version of WinDev XII. Softvelocity, I hope you can get a great new release ready soon. I am afraid you may be losing a good many developers to PC Soft.
November 4, 2007 - I have completed my first application using PC Soft's WinDev 11 and have decided WinDev is my new Category Pick. I will be writing more about my new favorite tool for developing desktop database applications soon. For now, if you would like to see an application created by a new, novice user, you can download a sample application here - about 14 or 15 megs. I would be glad to have your feedback.
October 24, 2007 - WinDev continues to impress me.. Read about my experiences as I learn more about this powerful tool for developing database applications.
October 20, 2007 - I have just added a page to the site where I might write my opinions as I begin using WinDev 11. The box just arrived yesterday and I have not spent nearly as much time with it as I would have liked, but early impression is very positive. This just might be the tool that takes the place of SoftVelocity's Clarion - at least for me, personally. Clarion 7 is still a work in progress and I have put aside that beta while I get to know Windev.
October 14, 2007 - I just posted a brief review of Demo-Builder, a very easy to use program for creating self-running demononstrations of your software. This is a fine program and delivers great value for the price.
On another topic, I have written in the past about a database development tool from PC Soft, a French company. The program, WinDev is a RAD tool similar in some ways to the program in that category that has been my favorite - SoftVelocity's Clarion. I may soon set a page aside as I am seriously evaluating the program. I have seen recent betas of Clarion 7 and there is potential there, but I am in many ways disappointed. SoftVelocity has, in my opinion, been slow to communicate with their customers. I spent some time not too long ago evaluating programs like TurboDelphi as I waited for the next major realease from SV. There is a lot to like about TD but in taking another look at the latest release of WinDev, version 11, I have seen some things that are encouraging to me. I may have in the past been too harsh in some of the things I said about WinDev. I was recently called to task in a public forum for this, sorry, Art, but Full Disclosure: what you read on this site is for the most part "my opinion". That doesn't mean you will agree with me, and it doesn't mean my opinions about a product will not change. I just hope that as has happened many times in the past, some reader will find a product mentioned on this site that intrigues them enough to visit another web site or research a program. As I continue to update this web site with reviews and "opinions", I hope that many will realize that nothing I write is intended to help one company or harm another. My purpose is primarily to help other developers. If I mention a product - whether that program is in a favorable or unfavorable review - just maybe a reader will investigate the product mentioned. They can then form their opinion - which may agree with mine or disagree. Knowledge is almost always a good thing - and usually the more the better.
I mentioned earlier (keep reading on this page) that I have the ability to protect a program using Armadillo as a criteria my own purposes. Let me modify that statement. Unless you sell your software purely by screen shots, or a self running demo, you may want to make "limited" trials available to potential customers. This is pretty common, and I happen to like Armadillo. For one thing, my preferred Registration Service - BMT Micro - supports Armadillo so that if a customer tries one of my trial versions and decides to buy a license, they can get the registration key emailed to them automatically when they place their order. This has worked well for me over the years. Now, not all programs can be copy protected in this way, for example .NET programs at this time can't be protected by Armadillo and I don't believe Java apps can be either. However, there are a wide variety of tools available to developers for copy protecting trial versions of their applications. Some use a hardware "dongle", and I am not crazy about that idea, but in some cases it may be a necessity. I guess if time ever permits I should add a category or programs for copy protection on this site and begin reviewing them. For now, I just wanted to explain one of my criteria, and maybe back off from it in a way.
Here is a link to an interesting blog from someone else who may be favoring WinDev over Clarion.
That's all for tonight! Check back if you have the inclination.
Ed.
October 7, 2007 - I have been busy again and neglected this site (sorry, I have to spend my time where it makes me money - that means development has taken priority over the fun I have to editing web sites like this one). I want to mention to developers who write web applications have an update to Ironspeed Designer available to check out. Version 5.0 includes a host of new features and is definitely worth a look. I reviewed an earlier version of Ironspeed some time ago - statistics tell me that continues to be a widely read review. So check out the latest version and see what you think. My personal favorite for developing web apps is still CodeCharge Studio and an earlier version of that program was also reviewed on this site. The folks at YesSoftware have continued to update CCS and I understand the next release will include Ajax support as well Flash Charts for embedding charting functions in your web applications and reports. Finally, I will be posting a review shortly of a tool for creating interactive flash movies of how your applications work. Demo Builder 6 is the latest release of an excellent - and affordable - program which deserves your consideration.
August 11, 2007 - I recently mentioned the new subscription plan offered by Icetips - http://www.icetips.com - I got my subscription and immediately started downloading some of the cool tools for Clarion that came with my subscription. I already had some of the tools but one I didn't was Icetips Magic Buttons. I hate to say it but I was not thrilled. Rather than being as simple to implement as many Clarion templates, the Magic Buttons had to be implemented on a procedure by procedure basis. In the end I decided I wanted to spice up my applications but that was a little too much work for me. Enter http://www.purpleswift.com with their Cool Buttons and Cool Frames. I bought both of these and have been pleased with how quickly I was able to update the appearance of my existing applications. The end result, at least in my opinion, was, well - "Cool". If you are a developer who uses SoftVelocity's Clarion for Windows I strongly suggest you give Cool Buttons and Cool Frames a look.
July 27, 2007 - New developments for web enabled databases! I had just discovered some great add ons for YesSoftware's Code Charge Studio at http://www.codechargetools.com when I also learned that a new version of CodeCharge Studio is being released. Version 3.2 adds some nice features such as the ability to "remember" a user's login if you are using security features in your application. Be sure and check out Code Charge Studio if you haven't already at http://www.yessoftware.com
If you are strictly interested in developing web applications for .NET then you may want to head over to http://www.ironspeed.com - word has they have a major new upgrade getting close to a release date. Shhh! don't tell them I mentioned it. I think it still a hush hush release.
Finally, if you are a developer who uses Softvelocity's Clarion for windows application development you may want to head over to http://www.icetips.com - Rumour has it that Arnor has gone a little crazy and you can get almost $2,000 worth of great software for less than $200 - but act soons since this is limited time offer and Arnor may come to his senses in August.
June 10, 2007 - Like the song says "one thing leads to another", I was recently surfing the 'net looking for one thing and came across another: a very interesting database development tool that I had never bumped before: Brilliant Database - http://www.brilliantdatabase.com by Binary Brilliant, Inc. Available in different editions, developers will most likely be interested in the SDK which allows for royalty free distribution of your creations. The applications created with Brilliant Database use a proprietary database format but it is multi user capable up to 16 users! I found the features included in a Brilliant Database application to be formidable including Import/export, the ability to easily attach documents (not in networked databases) flexible email options from within your application, and much more. Reports can also include charts. Not just a "flat file" database, Brilliant Database enables a number of relational features, as well. While not for every developer - Brilliant Database would not appeal, for example, to those real "coders" among us who prefer typing to pointing and clicking and dragging and dropping - although scripting is included for those times you need it. However, for those who want to develop attractive, easy to use database applications with as little effort as possible I strongly suggest you take a look at a Brilliant Database! http://www.brilliantdatabase.com
May 26, 2007 - I have neglected updating this site (as well as a lot of other activities) while working with Turbo Delphi and I have finally decided while it was time well spent, Turbo Delphi is not my cup of tea. There - I said it. My experiment took a bit of money and a lot of time but in the end I decided my tool of choice for Database Development is still Clarion from http://www.softvelocity.com. I reached my decision last night when I had all but completed by first application. I had included quite a lot of features that I liked, but I had to make some compromises, too. Things I did quite easily in Clarion for Windows, so easily in fact I took them for granted, turned out to be much more difficult in TD. However, the deciding factor for me was when I installed my pretty well complted application on 4 different computers. Two were running MIcrosoft Windows XP, one a fresh install of Microsoft Vista Business Edition and the fouth install on Windows Vista Ultimate Edition. The result? The same mysterious error on two computers that I could not duplicate on the other two computers. While I liked the look and feel I was able to achieve using the Business Skins Form from almdev, and I liked several other things about this application, I decided to finally scrap the effort and continue developing in Clarion 6 while I again try to wait patiently on the next release of Clarion from SoftVelocity. Lessons Learned? Maybe one is it doesn't matter how attactive your application is if it won't run without error on your customer's computer. That's all for now, but I hope not to neglect this site too much this summer. Back to business as usual.
March 24, 2007 - I have spent a good bit more time with TD and find the more I use (and learn) the more I like Turbo Delphi. Let me spend a few minutes to write about the few addons I am so far using in my first project. One of the things that I am enjoying most is the ability to use Skins in this application. I purchased the Business Skin Form and Business Skin Adapter from http://www.almdev.com - Almediadev. Once installed you drop a component on a form, set some properties and Bam - your form is skinned. They have over 100 skins that you use in your applications. Now, what I have chosen to do so far is to add several "compressed stored skin" components. This means the graphics used to skin the app are included in the .exe. Almediadev includes a skinned counterpart to almost any standard delphi component. You set a skin property for these components one at a time. This can be tedious but is worth the effort. The Skin Adapter is for those components without a provided counterpart. This works fairly well, but not entirely. I was able to "skin" some of the forms included with my Rosinsky Delphi Components, but not the grid - at least not completely. In order to get the benefits of the RDBGrid, I added that to my form and set the Visible property to False. I then use a Skinnned grid for the interface, but can use the Rosinsky Filter, and Find records components easily. In almost all of my database applications I need to provide my customers with the following:
- The abiltiy to Query their data, and create reusable queries. I am doing this very easily and inexpensively with the Rosinsky Delphi Components.
- Importing - Scalabium had what I needed for this at about $35 - I didn't spend the extra $15 for the source code, but wish I had. I have not been able to skin this part of my application, but the SMImport Suite allows me to include - very easily, I might add, the import ablity that most have come to expect in a database application.
- Reports and an ability for my end users to create their own reports. This was my most expensive add-on (I chose not to use Rave Reports, but Scaladium has a report writer that looks very good and might have served my purposes) and I chose the Fast Report Standard Edition - but may upgrade to the professional edition soon. The license for this add-ond was about $175 but look at what is included: End User Report Designer with wizards for easily creating reports, include the ability for your users to create Cross Tab Style reports, as well as Charts, if you want to allow them to print barcodes of any field that is easily added, too. Output reports to .pdf, .html, xls, and much more. To include all of the same things Fast Report provides I would need to use several third part addons for Clarion - by the time you add it all I have saved a good bit of money.
Have I jumped ship on Clarion/SoftVelocity? Not yet, but I really was disappointed with their lack of communication on Clarion 7. I will continue working with Turbo Delphi - while I wait to see what Clarion 7 turns out to be - when it arrives. In the meantime, I am having a blast. Check back as I hope to soon add some screeen shots and maybe a downloadable app created in Turbo Delphi Pro Edition and using some of the products mentioned above.
March 3, 2007 - I recently bought the Turbo Delphi Pro Edition and then purchased my first two addons. In a few hours today I have made some pretty good progress, and I have to tell you that an investment of less than $50 for a tool from http://www.rosinsky.cz/delphi.html takes the place of several addons I had bought for Clarion. Not only does the Rosinsky Delphi Components add features to a Delphi app that would cost many times more with more widely known VCL Components, I have received EXCELLENT support from the very patient developer. I am admittedly a "newbie" but with this add on I have been able to add some pretty nice features to my first application very quickly and very inexpensively. Check back for more progress reports...
February 24, 2007 - Well, Clarion 7 was just announced - sort of. An Alpha version is being made available to some and so it looks like I will have to wait a while longer on the next release of Clarion. While waiting, and reading the newsgroups for information, I decided to take a look at the new TurboExplorer products and I have rediscovered Delphi. I did tinker around with Delphi many years ago, as I did with Visual Basic. My preference was Visual FoxPro and ultimately Clarion. Why? Productivity may have been the main appeal. I liked using wizards to quickly generate forms, reports and even entire applications quickly. Yes, VB had the DataForm Wizard, and that helped. However, back when most people who might download software to try before they bought had dial up connections, the small size of Clarion application had big appeal to me. Delphi database applications required for the most part the Borland Databse Engine which added to the deployment size. Fully functionl "Turbo" versions have been available for a while now so I took some time to try it out - and while I was at it I took a look at some of the third party products available for Delphi. Well, the downside to the Explorer editions is no way to install third party add-ons. After looking around for a little while, I dediced to take the plunge and sprung for the Turbo Delphi Pro Edition. I may very soon be reviewing tools and add ons (primarily VCL components) for Delphi.
Why have I decided to finally put my toe in the water of other development tools? One of my criteria is met with Turbo Delphi that was not available in Visual Studio - the ability to create a compiled .exe that I could protect with Armadillo - or Software PassPort. This was not a possiblity for me with Visual Studio or Windev - but in testing with TurboExplorer Delphi - seems to work just fine. However, another reason I decided to invest in another software development tool was what I perceived as a lack of communication from SoftVelocity. When I finally do get a gold copy of Clarion 7 I may go back to using Clarion for all my software development needs. Since that may not materialize for some time I am investing in R & D. What is on my shopping list? For starters a very inexpensive set of tools - less than $50 - http://www.rosinsky.cz/delphi.html This site has grids with sorting, filtering and printing options - and a lot more it seems. Now while TurboDelphi Pro may include a good report writing tool, I found one that seems to do everything I currently do with Clarion and 3rd Party tools called Fast Report - including an End User Report Writing option - http://fast-report.com/en/products/report-generator-for-delphi-fastreport-4.html I would likely go for the version that costs $179.
Although there are tools to "jazz" up the end user interface for Clarion Apps, a new one recently released, there are several available for Delphi. One I will mostly go with can be found at http://www.almdev.com and this would be about $75.
Let's add this up, about $250 for the TurboDelphi Pro Upgrade + $50 is $300 and $179 for the report takes me to $479. Another $75 for fancy skins for a total of about $550. Is this a winning combination? I am not sure yet, but here is what I plan on doing. I will use the same backend database for one of my applicatins written in Clarion and re-write the program using the tools above (not sure, yet, but I think those are the addons I will go with). Then I will ask some of my current customers who seem quite happy with their Clarion 6.x developed application to try a new program and see what they think. Sound interesting? Then check back in March because I am betting I will have something ready to try out before the "official" release of Clarion 7.
Are you already using the new TurboDelphi? I would be glad to hear your opinions - write to me at dbandsons@aol.com - I would love to hear from you.
February 12, 2007 - What happened to January? Sorry, it just flew by and this month looks like more of the same. I survived the holidays - got one of my kids a PlayStation 3 in January, but have been busy getting some updated programs out the door and seeing what impact MIcrosoft Vista will have. I have a learned a new 4 letter word, but is is only 3 letters long: UAC. User Access Control levels is new in Vista and was one of the first things I turned off, however, I will have to learn to modify my software development efforts as best I can in order to make life easier for my customers. Do you Code Sign your software? I am likely to have to start doing this for my own applications and I suspect a large number of developers are going through some of the same changes as I am - maybe not.
A long time developer in "Clarion" http://www.softvelocity.com - I am like many anxious for the release of Clarion 7 and Clarion 7 .NET - maybe too anxious. I feel strangely like I did when the Play Station 3 was about to be available in stores - just not stores near me or in sufficient numbers. Once Christmas had come and gone, no problem finding one, but the aniticipation was similar. Now, C7 when it is finally released will not make the news like Sony did with their PS3, but if you have any interest in quickly developing database applications I suggest you bookmark http://www.softvelocity.com - and check this page periodically for news. If I can stop using it long enough to update the web site.
December 22, 2006 - I am sure like many of you, December has been a busy month for me. Finalizing a lot of open items from 2006 and getting ready for the new year. One of the topics we all have to consider, especially in light of Microsoft Vista, is installing our software on end user computers. With that in mind, as recently mentioned, I have started using InstallAware and evaluating Lindersoft's SetupBuilder. While I recently had looked at SetupBuilder 5.6 version 6.0 has just been released. If installation technology is on your mind these days, as it is on mine, you may want to check out SetupBuilder 6.0 Here is a description from their site:
SetupBuilder(R) Version 6 is a powerful and easy to use Installation
Authoring and Configuration Management environment for developers and
organizations deploying applications to the Microsoft(R) Windows(R)
Platform, including Windows x64 and Windows Vista(R).
As rapid application development (RAD) tools have become commonplace,
simplifying the development process and reducing project life cycles, the
ability to create smooth, efficient applications in less time often means
needing to deploy them just as quickly.
If you distribute software to others-within a department, company, or to the
public-ensuring that your users can install the software smoothly should be
a major concern. SetupBuilder 6 can help ease your mind.
Unlike the monolithic installation technologies available today,
SetupBuilder 6 has been designed from the ground up to deliver a perfect
fusion of installation authoring, web deployment, configuration management,
and scripting technologies. When Windows Installer .msi is simply not
enough...use SetupBuilder 6.
SetupBuilder 6 makes it easy to build powerful installation applications
quickly. If you are new to programming, you will find SetupBuilder 6 easy
to learn.
Developer Edition gets you ready for Windows Vista and .NET application
deployment (Clarion.net, C#, etc.). Our iDeploy Internet distribution
technology allows you to very easily deploy and update your applications
over the Internet. The powerful built-in UpdatePROTECT feature provides a
way to handle software subscriptions. This technology is well suited for
software subscription services in which the end-users subscribe, for
instance on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, etc. basis.
SetupBuilder 6 Developer Edition starts at $299 USD for a royalty-free usage
license. A trial version is available.
November 28, 2006 - I have continued working with InstallAware and do find that it allows you to easily create attractive, functional installations. In fact, the setups I have created so far with InstallAware are no doubt some of the "prettiest" I have ever put together. That said, I have been doing more studying on the whole process of creating installation packages and may be re-evaluating my position. Sometimes beauty really is only "skin deep". When you look beyond appearances you often find what really matters is not just what's on the outside. Case in point, I really find the site at http://www.windev.com very attractive. I have tried a demo long ago and found a lot to like about the program, including the ability to create a very attractive application. However, the bottom line was I found Clarion from http://www.softvelocity.com to be the better program for my needs. I may write more about that some other time. Back to installations, just like WinDev, in my opinion, InstallAware has a very attractive and well put together web site. I prefer the look and feel of that web site to the current web site of Lindersoft - I understand that web site will be updated soon. Just as I have a more favorable impression of the web site, my initial impression of InstallAware is also very positive. By contrast, when I launched SetupBuilder I had a very different impression. However, the more I used SetupBuilder the more benefits I saw to that program. My point is first impressions can get a sale - but the product and support keep your business. I will be trying to spend more time with these two very different installation tools - (or Setup Authoring programs, or whatever is the best term). Check back over the next few weeks and see my conclusions. In the meantime, if you are looking for a tool like this, demonstration downloads are available for each: http://www.installaware.com and http://www.lindersoft.com
November 26, 2006 - I know there are a lot of installation tools available, and I have used quite a few of them including products from InstallShield, Wise Solutions, and quite often used a free install creator - Innosetup and IS Tool. However, so far it looks like my new best friend is InstallAware Express from InstallAware. Installaware has different versions but I am using the least expensive right now. I have found it can do just about anything I want and look good while doing it. I have used InstallAware Express to install a web application, standard windows 32 installs and even a simple Autorun Menu installation. I will likely write more about this product in the days ahead, but if you are considering installation creation programs to roll out your next application you owe to yourself to visit http://www.installaware.com and download a trial edition.
November 4, 2006 - I have been working with the latest version of Capesoft's NetTalk for Clarion. I have added a short article on the Web Server for Dummies I created with NetTalk and while I may be writing more about NetTalk in the future, it was a nice break to get away from my recent work with .asp/.aspx Vista and so on. It is amazing what you can do in a short period of time, with the right tool and some good examples. Thanks, Bruce! NetTalk just keeps getting better.
October 24, 2006 - I am still experimenting with Microsoft Vista. A couple of notes that may be of interest to other developers. MSDE will not be supported so if you haven't already moved to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express or other edition of SQL Server 2005, you may want to keep that in mind. IIS 7 appears to be a much different animal than earlier versions. I still develop web applications using Classic .asp pages as well as starting to do some with .NET .aspx files. I really had to hunt to find out where and how to enable IIS 7 to serve these file types. I believe it was in IIS 6 that .asp pages were disabled by default. It looks like in IIS 7 both .asp and .aspx are not enabled until you turn those features on. I am really liking Vista so far, and yet the transition from XP to Vista seems like it will be much more different than the move from Windows 2000 to XP. That's all for now.
October 17, 2006 - I did receive a response from my email to Acer (sent on October 4th) and as I suspected, "a third party device such as a bluetooth transceiver" was required. So even though I was disappointed with the time lag between my support request email and the response, I am still very pleased with my purchase. If I were asked to recommend a laptop based on my experiences with the Acer Aspire I would definitely recommend it. I believe it provided a lot of "bang for the buck" and if I later need to buy another laptop I will have the Acer Aspire at the top of my list.
October 16, 2006 - I continue to be pleased with my new Acer Aspire laptop. This weekend I formatted the D: partition as NTFS and installed the current Microsoft Vista RC so I can dual boot with XP and Vista. Software I have written in SoftVelocity's Clarion seems to be running just fine, but I discovered that the old style .hlp help files are not supported as in 98/2000/XP. A download to allow users to run these old fashioned help files will be available for download with the final release. Still, this is one more task I will need to start - converting help files to a newer format for Vista. As they say "it's always something". If I have found anything to be unhappy with about the new laptop it may be support. I had emailed Acer a question about bluetooth capability. The Aspire has a handy button available but whenver I pressed it I got a No Device message. My blue tooth enabled Pocket PC was close by so I was puzzled and emailed Acer about it. I never got an answer, but I did find out the laptop does not include Bluetooth - I bought a USB bluetooth device and was soon able to connect to and set up my PPC for use with the new laptop. Still, when you write tech support you do expect to eventually get an answer. If I ever do get a reply to that email I will try to remember and update this page to let you know. Still, so far I am very pleased with the new laptop.
October 10, 2006 - I have been busy lately and haven't had time to update this web site. I have been converting some of my "classic" .asp web page applications to the .NET .aspx format and that has been a learning experience. Along the way, I have again found that CodeCharge Studio is my tool of choice for web application development. I really need to update that review.
Although I have never really thought about reviewing computers on this site, maybe I ought to change that and add a category. Yeah, yeah - the software you use for application development really is the single factor that will have the greatest affect on your productivity. I believe that and it is one reason why Softvelocity's Clarion is still my tool of choice for developing database applications for Microsoft Windows and Code Charge Studio get's my nod for web application development. However, recently I broke down and bought a new laptop at Best Buy. I bought a pretty inexpensive Gateway laptop and took it home. Before I had hardly finished the initial setup - Blue Screen and a quick reboot! Ahhhh! Well, maybe it was a fluke. No such luck, throughout the week I continued to have periodic blue screens and I emailed Gateway tech support. The final suggestion was to do a full restore using the Recovery option. After a week of aggravation, I decided to give that a try. Never mind that I had installed - and activated some of my favorite software, inlcuding CCS, I was ready to try anything. Well, the initial recovery process seemed to be going ok until it got to the point of reinstalling the drivers and preinstalled applications. You guessed it - another Blue Screen and reboot. Back to Best Buy only to be told I would have to pay a "restocking fee" because they didn't see the problem while I was standing at the return counter. I did get the manager to agree to keep the laptop for 24 hours and test it. Meanwhile I bought a Toshiba laptop but decided to wait until the next day - I didn't want to get stuck with another Best Buy restocking fee. So the next day I called the Geek Squad guy to see if they had seen the same blue screen problem. He told me "no it worked fine, and we already put it back on the shelves for restocking" - in other words they did not even give me the 24 hours the Manager had promised. I returned the unopened Toshiba to Best Buy went across the street to Circuit City and bought an Acer Aspire 9411. This laptop has been way better than the Gateway was in the short time I had that laptop. The 17 In wide screen is beautiful, 1 gig of RAM and 120 gig hard drive. The Signal Up wireless connectivity has been great. I may review this Acer later on but for now, it is the best laptop I have used - including my wife's new HP that was twice the price. Check back later to see if I had changed my mind - or not.
September 7, 2006 - Need some help finding bugs in your software? (if you never need to debug your software, then ignore this). SmartInspect can help you whether you develop in .NET, Java or Delphi. Visit this web site and check it out today. Thank me tomorrow.
August 19, 2006 - The Doctor is In - Dr. Explain, that is - read my review of this very easy to use program for documenting your software.
August 14, 2006 - I have written reviews of some software for creating online demonstrations of your software as well as software for creating documentation and help files for your software. One product I have recently discovered is in this same category, but I think it has some very unique qualities. Dr. Explain makes it very easy to capture screenshots of your application and automatically create callouts and navigation. If you have high on your list of criteria for selecting software for documenting your applications 1) affordability and 2) ease of use - then you will definitely want to take a look at this product, and check this site for a reveiw in the not too distant future.
July 13 - 2006 - It has been way too long since I have had time to udpate this site. June was very busy for me. One of my sons is on the high school baseball team and we spent part of every week in June in hotels as he played in different tournaments. July has also started off busy, but on the professional part of life. Signs of a little downtime for me are on the horizon and I hope to get back to updating the site RSN - Real Soon Now.
I have not written a new review but have been keeping up with changes in the latest release of Iron Speed Designer. They have just released Version 4.0 and if you have any interest in developing database .NET web applications you owe it to yourself to check out their newest release. http://www.ironspeed.com
April 19, 2006 - Personal and professional activities have again kept me from updating the site as I had hoped. The dust is settling a bit so let me take a minute for some quick takes:
- I had just a little time recently to look at the lastest version of TurboDemo. Version 7.0 is visually, and functionally, not a whole lot different that the last version I reviewed on this site. The most noticeable change to me was in performance. Even on marginal hardware I was able to quickly create smooth running demos in a variety of formats. My time spent with the latest release, more than anything else, served to convince me that I was right in selecting TurboDemo as the Category Pick. If you need to create professional product demonstrations for your web site, documention or distribution on CDs, you can't go wrong with TurboDemo.
- In the process of looking at TurboDemo 7 I came across a program that is similar in some respects, but is really for those developers who want to produce self running demos but are severely cash-strapped. The program UVScreenCamera by uvSoftium is available for a very low $20 as of this writing, and while it may be fine for those with minimal budgets the program is in sharp contrast to TurboDemo - while performance in creating a demonstration using TurboDemo is very good, UVScreenCamera really seemed to struggle. I mention it here because it may be just what some poor developer visiting this site was looking for - and may be glad I mentioned it.
- I have still not convinced myself to review software installation programs, I have several and use one that fits the particular needs at the time, but when I get the time to devote to this subject I will almost certainly include InstallAware.
- I have really only reviewed Syware's Visual CE for PDA application development, but lately have spent a good bit of time with PendragonForms. While Visual CE is fine for developing applications for the Pocket PC it does not offer a solution for the Palm PDA. PendragonForms 5 allows you to develop solutions for both Pocket PC and Palm. In my brief (so far) evaluation of a Palm applet developed with PendragonForms I have been very impressed with not only the ease with which I could develop an attractive, easy to use, and full featured application for the Palm, but also with the performance of the applet with hundreds of records and then effortless synchroization with a desktop database. Check back to see if I continue investigating this program which many of you may already use.
Feburary 15, 2006 - DeveloperReviewed.com site moved. Now hosted by Websecurestores.com - This is the third site I have now set up with them and very pleased with their web hosting. I may not have all the files and links updated, so if you find something missing please
send me an email.
February 12, 2006 - Beginning the process of moving to a new web host. New for developerreviewed.com - but not for me. I have used websecurestores.com for other web sites and quite pleased with them so far.
January 18, 2006 - The year has started off for me with more developing and less reviewing. Guess which one pays better? :-) That said, I have not forgotten my recent post about Software to Install your Software. As a long time developer using SoftVelocity's Clarion I should have mentioned SetupBuilder from Lindersoft. SetupBuilder is not just used by Clarion developers (although a lot of them are very partial to SB) and when it comes to price SB may be a better value than InstallAware. Check it out, and compare to similar software. The high end SetupBuilder Edition is far less expensive than the high end InstallAware edition. Which is better? Check back later this quarter and I may have an opinion to share.
December 29, 2005 - Just added a review of Clarion Handy Tools (well, sort of a review) to my Clarion Toolbox Page. "The Best Thing About the CHT is also the Worst Thing about CHT" - read the review to see what I mean.
Site redesign planned for 1st Quarter of 2006. Also a review of the Gold release of Insight Graphing from Capesoft.
December 14, 2005 - New versions of some of the programs I reviewed this year have been released. I may update my reviews but until I do, you may want to check out newer releases of TurboDemo (still my Category Pick) and DemoBuilder at their respective web sites.
I have not yet written a review of Installation and setup tools, but I may have to do that soon. Depending on the tool you use to develop your software, creating installations may be more complicated than it used to be - and the tool that you may have used in the past may not be adequate these days. I just received a press release from InstallAware Software Corporation and am intrigued enough I may have to start a review. Over the years I have used many programs for creating software installations, including InstallShield, Wise InstallMaker, and a few others. Sometimes the most expensive option is not necessarily the best tool for the job. InstallAware has a range of products starting at $199 - but I have to tell you that at first glance this looks to be a bargain!
Be prepared, though, a trial version is a hefty 200 megs. This doesn't mean installs you create will also be so huge - in fact, InstallAware seems to shine at compression. Their download includes a lot of runtimes that you may - or may not - need to include in your installs. Check back over the next few weeks to see I review installers. I have a couple of other reviews on the "to do" list. If I don't write again before then, "Merry Christmas" to all my web site visitors.
November 27, 2005 - Yessoftware wins back the Category Pick designation for the Web Application Development Category with their new CodeCharge Studio 3. Read the review, but then go download a trial version and see if you don't agree with my choice for this category.
November 4, 2005 - Thacker Network Technologies, Inc. announced the release of Satellite Forms 6.1. Currently, I only have an in-depth review of Syware's Visual CE program for PDA Application Development. However, Satellite Forms 6.1 looks like it could give Syware a run for the money. What do you think? Write me and let me know.
November 1, 2005 - No matter how attractive you try to design an application, ugly icons make the whole program look ugly. I spent a good bit of time recently looking for icons to spice up one of my program and after a lot of looking I found a set (several sets) that appealed to me. I almost hesitate to include the hyperlink - right now I have not seen any other applications with these attractive icons, but.. well, since you are a fellow developer, let me recommend ICONSHOCK. I may have to add icons as a category and if I do, right now it looks like Iconshock would be the category pick!
September 9, 2005 - I have spent a lot of time with upcoming new release for CodeCharge Studio, and it looks to me like that product will win back the Editor's Choice for the category. While new versions are out for IronSpeed Designer and dbQwikSite, the beta of CCS adds more to their already great product. Check back late this month or October to see if CodeCharge Studio regains the title.
Watch this site - database driven application generator competition heats up as vendors prepare new versions. CodeCharge Studio and Iron Speed Designer, as well as dbQwikSite have new releases coming out. Each including improvements and changes.
September 7, 2005 - EC Software announces Help and Manual 4
August 9, 2005 - Press Release Added for Shell Megapack - Sky Software
August 8, 2005 - A few more thoughts on web site hosting..
June 30, 2005 - Iron Speed Designer Review on site.
June 13, 2005 - Iron Speed Designer unseats Code Charge Studio as DeveloperReviewed.com Category Pick. Introductory review now on site.
June 11, 2005 - Preview upcoming reviews here.
June 9, 2005 - I am still on track to get a Demo-Builder review completed in June, but wanted to stop and mention a more comprehensive review of a program for developing web applications - Iron Speed Designer. I have had a lot of fun writing reviews on this site since I started DeveloperReviewed.com, but I have to tell you that none of the programs reviewed so far have gotten me as intrigued as Iron Speed Designer. I have until recently said "Nyet" to .NET, but I am finally coming around and ISD is one of the programs that has got me ready to take the plunge to start developing .aspX pages instead of .asp pages. I hope to get a comprehensive review and web based demo of a data-based application posted later this month. In the meantime, if you have the least interest in, or curiosity about developing new style web apps, I encourage you to visit http://www.ironspeed.com - of course check back for my review. I would also be glad to get any emails from any who are already using ISD or have tried their fully functional trial download. Write to me at editor@developerreviewed.com (To give you an idea of my impressions of Iron Speed Designer I have debated using "Iron Speed Designer Kicks Butt!" for the title of the upcoming review.)
TIP: Before downloading a trial version, download the documentation in .doc format and print it! You will need to reload your paper tray at least a few times. I have downloaded documentation from other software companies before, but nothing as comprehensive and well written. I am betting you will be like me and will be impressed by the tremendous documentation of this product. But do download and read at least some of the documentation and then download a trial. Yes, you can design a web application in 15 minutes - or less (without reading a word) but unless you read the documentation you really won't see just how powerful this program really is - check back soon.
May 30, 2005 - Among the reviews planned in the next few weeks is another program for creating animated demonstrations and tutorials. Demo-builder has some things in common with InstantDemo and TurboDemo, but I can already tell from a visit to their web site, that Demo-Builder may give these other programs a run for the money. Check back for a review in June or July.
May 24, 2005 - Softvelocity announces Clarion 6.2. I have never made a secret of the fact that Clarion is my tool of choice for developing database applications for Microsoft Windows. Version 6.0 was a big change from version 5.5 and I was happy with that new release. However, Softvelocity released version 6.1 and sweetened the pot. Subsequent hotfixes, as well as a number of wonderful third party products kept me busy - too busy to really write an adequate review of why I use and prefer Clarion. Just as I was about to try and make the time for an updated review, they go and release version 6.2 which adds more cool new features. One that I am anxious to try is the MultiChild Tree Template. Anyway, if you develop database applications using something other than Softvelocity's Clarion, you ought to at least visit their website to read more about their software.
May 22, 2005 - Web hosting article posted, more to be added on this topic soon.
May 19, 2005 - I may soon be writing a review of web hosting services. If you or your company use the Internet to market your software, host trial downloads and demos, then your web host is important part of your marketing. Do you need a windows based server or linux based? How reliable is the web host? How is their customer service? Up coming review will share some of my hosting experiences - I have several domains hosted by different companies. Check by for a review and probably a poll as well.
May 18, 2005 - I have been busy with a lot of other projects and have not updated the site as I had hoped so far this year.
A newer demo version of Windev was recently available and again I took a look at it, but still have reservations about that program. For now I am still sticking with SoftVelocity's Clarion for developing database applications on Microsoft Windows. However, I also recently took a demo version of RealBasic for a spin. I don't know how many developers are like me, but one of the first questions I have when considering a tool for software development is can I copy protect the program in order to make trial versions available for potential customers to download and evaluate. My preferred tool for copy protection is Armadillo and if I can't use it to create a copy protected application, I have real reservations about further evaluating the product - at least for my use in developing saleable application software. In my tests, apps created with both Windev and RealBasic didn't seem to pass that test. However, for many developers these two programs may be worth a look.
Anyway, sorry for the long absence, but please check back as I hope to get back on track soon.
January 16, 2005 - Help and Manual is the Editor's Choice for Help Authoring Software. Their screen capturing software, TNT, will be reviewed later this year.
December 18, 2004 - The first review of the new year will be on the subject of application documentation. The first program slated for review is Help and Manual, and I hope to make this a comparative review. However, while still in the process of reviewing version 3.5 I received notice that they have just released version 3.60. Most noteworthy in this new version is the ability to integrate Flash animated demos in your help file. TurboDemo may be a great compliment to this new version of Help and Manual, and wouldn't you know it - just as soon as I finished a review of TurboDemo 5.0 they have now released version 6.0.
- Side Note. First looks at Help and Manual tell me this is a great product but makes me ask the question? Which do you do first for your applications - write the online help file? or write the printed manual? If you use Help and Manual - it doesn't seem to make any difference since this program seems to make it so easy to write once - then output in a variety of formats, including beautiful printed manual! Check back early next year to read my review - and to see if a big name company took me up on my request for a review copy to include them in a comparative review of Help and Manual. Hint: they did not respond to submit their program for a comparative review vs. TurboDemo and InstantDemo. Maybe they are not reading their email??
December 4, 2004 - Two demo creation programs reviewed. TurboDemo is my choice over Instant-Demo with three main factors tipping the scales. TurboDemo's thumbnail slide view, resizing of entire projects, and the Java applet output option. Read both reviews, visit their websites and decide for yourself.
November 23, 2004 - The upcoming review on Demo Creation products will include at least a "head to head" comparison of Instant Demo and Turbo Demo. Others have been invited to submit their products for comparison. Currently the review will cover Instant Demo version 4.0 and Turbo Demo 5.0. However, a new release of TurboDemo has been announced and you can read that press release.
November 11, 2004 - If a picture (screenshot) is worth 1,000 words, how much is a self playing, animated, even narrated, demo of your application worth? A review on the aspect of creating demonstrations of your software is forthcoming. In the mean time, read the Press Release for Instant Demo.
As of November 1, 2004 I am in the process of some site redesign. Please be patient. Previous content should still be available, but design and navigation changes are in process. Thanks!
My Clarion Tool Box page added. I use SoftVelocity's Clarion for most of my application development of windows based applications and I have started a page where I will be highlighted the tools I use or recommend to other Clarion Developers.