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FileMaker, the New HyperCard?

Posted on May 11, 2016 by admin Posted in Business, Programming Leave a comment

What it is: FileMaker is a database development tool owned by a subsidiary of Apple.

A long time ago, Apple owned a software subsidiary called Claris Corporation. Claris marketed software for the Macintosh including MacWrite and an integrated program called ClarisWorks. However, their most popular product was a database development tool called FileMaker.

FileMaker was designed to be a simple to use database that also allowed people to make custom programs out of databases. While Claris eventually abandoned their other products and changed their name to FileMaker after their only product, FileMaker has remained a mostly forgotten product despite its popularity among corporations.

FileMaker is not only easy to use, but also cross-platform so it runs on both Windows and OS X. Best of all, it’s also surprisingly easy to create custom programs using its database tools. Now the latest FileMaker 15 version allows you to create iOS apps as well.

The target market of FileMaker is mostly small businesses that can’t afford custom programming. So as Apple tries to sell more iPads to businesses, a tool like FileMaker can help because it allows business owners to create their own iPhone and iPad apps without going through the complexity of learning Xcode or any other dedicated programming tool for creating iOS apps.

Unlike learning Objective-C or Swift, learning FileMaker as an app development tool is much simpler and faster. So the future of FileMaker might not just be as a cross-platform database development tool any more but as a specialized database-oriented development tool for small businesses.

If you’re interested in creating iOS apps for businesses as a consultant, you could master Xcode along with Objective-C or Swift, or you could master FileMaker instead. By learning FileMaker, you can create Windows, OS X, and iOS apps faster and easier than traditional programming tools. FileMaker puts programming back in the hands of ordinary people who can’t afford a professional programmer.

Back when Apple first introduced the Macintosh, they also offered HyperCard, a simple to use development tool that many people used to create simple Macintosh programs. FileMaker could now play this same role in helping people create iOS apps.

The future is clearly mobile with iOS leading the way with the iPhone and iPad. If you want to be part of the future, learning FileMaker might be a shorter path to app creation than you might have thought possible.

To learn more about FileMaker, click here.

Visual Basic Popularity Declines

Posted on April 11, 2016 by admin Posted in Programming Leave a comment

What it is: Visual Basic was a ground-breaking development tool that made it easy to create Windows programs quickly and easily.

When graphical user interfaces became popular, they posed a huge problem for developers. Not only did developers need to write code to make their program work, but they also had to write code to make the user interface work. Graphical user interfaces like Windows and MacOS defined a standard user interface of windows and pull-down menus, but creating graphical user interfaces proved cumbersome and difficult.

That’s why when Microsoft introduced Visual Basic in 1991, it proved revolutionary. Instead of writing code to design your user interface, you simply drew the user interface much like using a drawing program to place buttons, labels, and text fields in a window. By eliminating the ned to write code to create a user interface, Visual Basic made it easy to create graphical user interfaces quickly, reliably, and consistently. Then by using the much simpler BASIC programming language, you could write code faster and easier than traditional programming languages like C and C++.

Although professional programmers dismissed Visual Basic as a “toy” language, it proved so popular that even C++ programmers used to create their user interfaces in Visual Basic and then write the actual code in C++. This spawned copycat development tools like Delphi (which used the Pascal programming language) along with C+ Builder and Visual C++ (which used C++). Visual Basic defined the idea of creating a user interface visually and then attaching it to code.

Unfortunately, Microsoft made two decisions that helped kill Visual Basic. First, they decided to create a new software framework called .NET, which Visual Basic 6 couldn’t use. Second, they decided to update Visual Basic for the .NET framework by creating a new version called Visual Basic.NET. Unlike the original Visual Basic, Visual Basic.NET was nearly as complicated as C##, Microsoft’s other programming language, which made learning Visual Basic.NET pointless.

Even worse, Microsoft unofficially made C# their official programming language and neglected Visual Basic.NET. So it’s no surprise that Visual Basic has gradually plummeted in popularity over the years. One company, called Xojo, has offered a Visual Basic clone that runs on Windows, Linux, OS X and can create iOS app as well. However with the decline of Visual Basic in general, Xojo’s future looks cloudy and dismal as well.

The idea of making programming easy started with BASIC and became popular on the Macintosh with he introduction of HyperCard. Apple later abandoned HyperCard and there hasn’t been a simple programming tool for OS X since, with Swift still being way too difficult for casual users to learn and use.

So the decline of Visual Basic (and the abandonment of HyperCard years ago) eliminates easy programming tools for beginners. If you want to write programs for Windows, your best bet is to learn C#, which is a better version of C++. If you want to write programs for OS X and iOS, your best bet is to learn Swift, which is a better version of Objective-C (which is an alternative to C++).

Both C# and Swift closely resemble the original C programming language, which was complicated and confusing to use and learn, even for professional programmers. That means there’s currently no good development tool for beginners.

The one option is Xojo, which is a Visual Basic clone, but given Visual Basic’s gradual decline, it’s hard to imagine Xojo suddenly picking up in popularity. The alternative to HyperCard is LiveCode, which also runs on Windows, Linux, and OS X while allowing you to create Android and iOS apps. However, both Xojo and LiveCode are still more complicated than the original Visual Basic and HyperCard. If you’re going to learn programming, you’re still better off learning C# or Swift.

The decline of Visual Basic means there’s no longer an easy to use development tool for beginners. Yet so many people want to create apps for Android and iOS, so there should be a market for a simple tool. Perhaps someone out there will come up with a simpler tool than C# or Swift, but until then, the decline of Visual Basic defines fewer opportunities for novices to make their own programs. Programming has always been difficult, and the lack of a tool like Visual Basic simply makes that problem even worse no matter which operating system you prefer using.

The Citizen Developer

Posted on February 12, 2016 by admin Posted in Programming, Software Leave a comment

What it is: The citizen developer is a term describing someone developing programs for their own use but without formal training in programming.

The biggest problem with programming is that the people who know how to program don’t necessarily know what people need, and the people who know what they need don’t know how to program. Given this problem, programs are often created for the programmers themselves, but may be poorly designed for the actual users who must rely on it.

This obstacle can never be eliminated because the people who understand the problem don’t have the time to learn programming and the people who know programming can never have enough time to fully understand the problem. That’s the idea of a citizen developer.

A citizen developer is meant to be someone who understands the problem but doesn’t rely on traditional programming tools. Instead, they use much simpler but capable tools that allow them to turn their ideas into working programs quickly and easily. In the beginning, Apple helped create the idea of a citizen developer when they released HyperCard for the Macintosh. Then Microsoft took this idea further when they released Visual Basic for Windows.

Unfortunately, Apple eventually stopped development of HyperCard and Microsoft made Visual Basic so much like C# that it’s way more complicated than it should be. The end result is that citizen developers have to rely on other tools.

Citizen developers are important because professional programmers don’t have time to write all the programs needed in an organization and they don’t always know the needs of the actual users. That’s why citizen developers are crucial because they know what needs to be done. The biggest drawback is that they don’t know how to turn their ideas into reality.

If you’re a professional programmer, it’s time to specialize in a specific field and learn exactly what’s needed. If you’re a user, it’s time to learn simple programming tools to learn how to make your own programs. If you want the spirit of HyperCard, use LiveCode. If you want the spirit of Visual Basic, use Xojo. Both LiveCode and Xojo run on Windows, Linux, and OS X. LiveCode can also create Android and iOS apps while Xojo can only create iOS apps.

Yet both LiveCode and Xojo can still be too difficult for non-programmers to use, but they’re far easier to use than dedicated programming tools like Xcode using Swift and Objective-C or Visual Studio using C#.

The idea of a citizen developer is nice, but reality has a way of destroying fantasies. Despite this problem, the idea of a citizen developer is appealing so if you can develop your skills to meet these needs, you should find yourself much in demand wherever you go.

The Power of Free

Posted on January 2, 2016 by admin Posted in Software Leave a comment

What it is: DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing tool that either costs $995 for the professional version or free for a fully functional but limited version.

One of the most powerful video editing programs around is Apple’s Final Cut Pro or Adobe’s Premiere. However, one professional video editing program, called DaVinci Resolve, also offers a fully functional free version.

The idea behind offering a free, fully functional version of a professional video editing tool is simple. You give people a chance to try something out for an unlimited time and a certain number of those users will eventually buy the professional version. That’s the power of free.

At one time Apple used to charge money to buy the iWork suite that included Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Now you can get all three programs absolutely free for both your Macintosh and iOS device such as an iPhone or iPad. The purpose of free software is to help encourage people to try the product and eventually spend money.

In the old days of MS-DOS, many companies made fortunes giving away free software such as PC-Write and ProComm. The idea was to give away the software for free but if you wanted technical support and a printed manual, you had to pay for it. Surprisingly, many people did pay for such shareware, which encouraged more people to release shareware.

Nowadays, Apple uses its various programs such as Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Photos, iMovie, and others for free to encourage people to buy a Macintosh or iPhone/iPad. After all, if you buy a standard Windows PC, you won’t get a free office suite. If you buy an Android smartphone or tablet, you won’t get a free office suite either.

Free is simply an enticing way to bring attention to a company’s product. The best approach is to give a product away for free with no strings attached. Now people will eagerly share this free product with others, acting as unpaid advertising forces. From a company perspective, free initially makes no sense, but if you have confidence in your product’s capabilities, then free can be a great way to get free advertising and word of mouth.

In the early days of the Macintosh, Apple gave away free copies of HyperCard to make the Macintosh more enticing. Then Apple executives got stupid and decided to charge for HyperCard. Not surprisingly, that decision helped spell the end of HyperCard’s popularity and also ushered in the dark days where the Macintosh and Apple barely survived.

If you’re in business of any kind, consider a way to give something away for free. You may be surprised at how effective this simple marketing strategy can work.

To learn more about getting a free copy of DaVinci Resolve for video editing, click here.

The Spirit of HyperCard Lives On

Posted on April 11, 2015 by admin Posted in Programming, Software Leave a comment

What it is: LiveCode is a programming tool that clones and extends HyperCard’s features so you can create Windows, Linux, OS X, Androids, and iOS apps.

When Apple introduced HyperCard back in 1987, it caused a programming revolution. Not only did HyperCard make using a computer fun, but it’s English-like programming language called HyperTalk also made programming fun and easy for beginners and experienced programmers alike.

In those early days, people eagerly shared HyperCard stacks online. Since HyperCard stacks contained all the HyperTalk code that made it work, people could learn from each other how to make more powerful HyperCard stacks.

When Apple foolishly let HyperCard languish, a host of HyperCard clones appeared to take their place. Most have fallen by the wayside but one has managed to thrive and this most popular HyperCard clone is called LiveCode.

Like the original HyperCard, LiveCode is also free. Also like HyperCard, LiveCode’s programming language is also easy to learn just like HyperTalk. The main difference is that LiveCode also runs on Windows, Linux, and OS X. If you buy a commercial license, you can compile programs for Windows, Linux, OS X, Android, and iOS as well so you can sell your creations.

If you’ve always wanted to create your own programs but found traditional programming tools like Xcode or Visual Studio too complicated, then you’ll appreciate the simplicity of LiveCode. The basic idea is that you create a stack that consists of multiple cards where each card acts like a screen that holds items like buttons, text fields, and check boxes. Then you write code to make your cards and user interface items actually work.

By making programming accessible to everyone, LiveCode continues the spirit of HyperCard. Since LiveCode is free, you can try it for yourself and see what you think.

If you’re familiar with traditional programming languages like C++ or BASIC, you’ll likely find LiveCode’s programming language wordy and strange. However if you’ve never programmed at all, you’ll likely find LiveCode’s language much easier to understand and use. What takes most programming languages several lines of code to accomplish, LiveCode can often do in one or two lines of code. That means you’ll spend less time writing code and more time actually getting your program closer to completion.

Just as HyperCard helped bring programming to non-programmers, so can LiveCode bring programming to everyone whether they use Windows, Linux, or OS X. If you’ve missed the fun, freewheeling days of creativity with HyperCard, you can relive that excitement with LiveCode.

LiveCode makes programming fun, easy, and accessible while letting you create programs for multiple operating systems. Since Apple will likely never revive HyperCard, LiveCode is your best bet if you want to see how a program like HyperCard revolutionized the computer programming industry by introducing the idea of designing user interfaces visually and writing simple code to make it work. That’s the basis behind all rapid-application development (RAD) tools today like Visual Basic, C#, and Delphi.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of LiveCode is the way it lets you rapidly test your ideas. With traditional programming tools, you must write code and compile your program before you can see the results. With LiveCode, a simple click lets you change from editing your program to running your program. This rapid ability to run and test your programs without compiling the whole thing saves time and makes programming far more interactive so you can test as you go along. This makes programming more fun while also making programming faster.

LiveCode may not be as powerful as Apple’s Swift programming language, but it has a far gentler learning curve than learning Xcode and Swift, and certainly is much easier than learning any variant of the C programming language such as Objective-C, C++, or C#. If you want a programming tool like HyperCard that makes programming fun and easy, you want to check out LiveCode for yourself. It could turn you into a programmer before you know it.

About Livecode.

HyperCard, Apple’s Missing Revolution

Posted on March 16, 2015 by admin Posted in Programming, Software Leave a comment

What it is: HyperCard was one of the first and most popular hypertext programs that allowed anyone to create their own programs with graphical user interfaces.

Back in 1987, Apple unveiled a program that was like nothing anyone had ever seen before. Dubbed a software erector set, HyperCard would later play a direct role in defining the concept of linking (which helped inspire the World Wide Web), a simple but powerful programming language (that inspired the development of JavaScript), rapid-application development (that inspired future RAD tools like Visual Basic and Delphi), and allowing multiple people to edit and share ideas stored in one place (that inspired wikipedias). For a free program that Apple gave away with early Macintosh computers, HyperCard has literally changed the computer world forever.

Yet Apple short-sighted executives at the time never understood the importance of HyperCard. These executives assumed that if Apple was giving HyperCard away, then it was costing the company money. What these executives failed to realize was that people were buying Macintosh computers specifically so they could use HyperCard since nothing like it was available on Windows or MS-DOS. While many companies developed HyperCard copycats that ran on Windows or MS-DOS, none of these copy cat programs had much of an impact on the computer world.

When you look at everything from an accounting perspective, it’s easy to see that the money spent developing and improving HyperCard wasn’t directly returning any kind of a profit. After all, how can a free product make any money?

That’s when Apple started selling the full version of HyperCard separately but bundling a limited version of HyperCard on Macintosh computers. Later Apple simply stopped developing HyperCard altogether because they couldn’t see how it could make them money.

The result was that the Macintosh lost its major advantage over rival MS-DOS/Windows PCs. While Microsoft bundled a similar program called ToolBook with Windows, ToolBook was never as easy to use nor as popular as HyperCard. Few people bought Windows PCs just to use ToolBook, but plenty of people bought Macintosh computers just to use HyperCard.

Fortunately, Apple learned their bitter lesson from their failure to exploit HyperCard’s numerous advantages. Today, you can see Apple giving away free software like OS X, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, and many other programs because they finally realized that people buy computers for the software they can use. Give people compelling software to use and they’ll gladly buy the hardware to run it.

Even today, it’s difficult to find equivalent programs like GarageBand or Keynote available for free on Windows PCs. You may find free Windows programs, but they aren’t as easy to use nor are they as powerful as the free software that Apple gives away with every Macintosh.

Only decades later did Apple finally realize their blunder and figure out how free software can increase sales of computers. Even better, giving away free software directly undercuts the Windows PC market, which gives people more reasons to abandon Windows and switch over to the Macintosh.

The lesson of HyperCard is simple. Sometimes giving something away for free is more profitable than selling that same product. The amount of money Apple could make selling HyperCard for $49.95 was trivial. The amount of money and market share Apple could gain by giving HyperCard away for free was priceless, and Apple’s executives failed to see the opportunity right in front of their eyes.

Today you can see how Apple uses free software to continue driving a wedge between the value of a Macintosh vs. the value of a typical Windows PC. When you have great software increasing sales of great hardware, you have a recipe for success, and that partially explains why Apple and Macintosh sales in particular are doing so well today.

About HyperCard.