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iOS From VB6 (Windows) to iPhone
- Thread starter PSB136
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The nearest thing to VB6 for the Mac is "Xojo", it used to be called "Real basic", but they decided to rebrand themselves in order to loose the "Basic" label.
It's language and syntax is similar to VB6, and it's IDE is similar to "Visual Studio".
http://www.xojo.com
As of now "Xojo" compiles for Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux, although they have announced the release of their iOS framework for early 2015, but you will have to watch their web page space for updates on that.
I've used it on occasions in the past, but their annual licence fees are expensive, and they seem to be in a constant state of debugging and update work, so their package is always being updated, requiring frequent downloaded updates to your system, and also frequent licence renewals in order to be able to update your system.
Personaly if your serious about developing iOS apps now, I would learn Objective-C and Swift, it's the only real native solution for iOS development, and especially given the fact that the Cocoa Touch framework will be redeveloped over the next few years away from Objective-C, and to be probably more Swift friendly.
Something that will probably cause more update problems for the hard working team at Xojo, and always leave them playing catch up.
Hope this helps.
Regards Mark
It's language and syntax is similar to VB6, and it's IDE is similar to "Visual Studio".
http://www.xojo.com
As of now "Xojo" compiles for Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux, although they have announced the release of their iOS framework for early 2015, but you will have to watch their web page space for updates on that.
I've used it on occasions in the past, but their annual licence fees are expensive, and they seem to be in a constant state of debugging and update work, so their package is always being updated, requiring frequent downloaded updates to your system, and also frequent licence renewals in order to be able to update your system.
Personaly if your serious about developing iOS apps now, I would learn Objective-C and Swift, it's the only real native solution for iOS development, and especially given the fact that the Cocoa Touch framework will be redeveloped over the next few years away from Objective-C, and to be probably more Swift friendly.
Something that will probably cause more update problems for the hard working team at Xojo, and always leave them playing catch up.
Hope this helps.
Regards Mark
Having done both VB6 and ObjC, I have to tell you that you really need to get into ObjC or Swift.
It's not so much because it's native or different, but it's because programming mobile is different. It's actually more about the APIs than the language, but it's different.
Having a programming background, you've got a big head start on either Swift or ObjC.
Swift is about to become solid so I'd have a close look at that. ObjC is different and takes more time to get a handle on.
Coming from JS and Python, Swift is much easier to read and write code. I've gone much further than I have with ObjC. I think I'll finally be able to make the transition!
Thanks for all replies. Sounds like Swift is what I need to look into.
However, before I do, one last question: can you write apps directly on the iPhone itself, instead of needing a real Mac? Because I also used to write Psion palmtop apps where you could code on those marvelous little devices directly; and that would be awesome to do on an iPhone (or iPad).
However, before I do, one last question: can you write apps directly on the iPhone itself, instead of needing a real Mac? Because I also used to write Psion palmtop apps where you could code on those marvelous little devices directly; and that would be awesome to do on an iPhone (or iPad).
The NSB/AppStudio product seems to allow one to build iOS apps using a updated form of BASIC.
And there seem to be almost a dozen apps in the App store which allow one to program in BASIC on an iOS device itself: techBasic, HotPaw Basic, orbBasic, iBasic, smartBasic, nanoBasic, Hand Basic, et.al.
And there seem to be almost a dozen apps in the App store which allow one to program in BASIC on an iOS device itself: techBasic, HotPaw Basic, orbBasic, iBasic, smartBasic, nanoBasic, Hand Basic, et.al.
There's also the upcoming Basic4iOS from Anywhere Software, which has also created Basic4android and B4J. (B4J = Basic4Java but isn't officially known as that)
The only downside is that it's Windows-only. However, I love the ability to hot-swap the code even while your app is running.
The only downside is that it's Windows-only. However, I love the ability to hot-swap the code even while your app is running.
Now THIS is what I want! And Windows-only is NOT a downside at all.
[Edit] Actually, the first page on the official B4i thread says:
In order to develop with B4i you will need an iOS device, an Apple developer account and a Mac computer."
What the?
Now THIS is what I want! And Windows-only is NOT a downside at all.
[Edit] Actually, the first page on the official B4i thread says:
In order to develop with B4i you will need an iOS device, an Apple developer account and a Mac computer."
What the?
They'll also have a Mac build service in which you won't need a Mac at all. The only thing you'll need is MacInCloud to actually submit the app to Apple.
Hmm... from what I can tell, that means I can develop solely on my PC, but only pay for the MacInCloud service when submitting a finished app to Apple?
Correct. The only recurring expenses:
* The Mac Builder service from Anywhere Software. (Looking like $5/month. No pricing announced yet.)
* MacInCloud (Best go with the hourly pricing. That's all you'll need really)