Runtime Revolution
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Revolution | |
| Developer: | Runtime Revolution, Ltd |
|---|---|
| Latest release: | 2.7.4 / September 26, 2006 |
| OS: | Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Solaris |
| Use: | Programming |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | Runtime Revolution, Ltd |
Runtime Revolution is a development environment of the Revolution programming language developed by Runtime Revolution, Ltd in Edinburgh, Scotland for Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris.
Contents |
[edit] History
Revolution began as an expert IDE for MetaCard, a development environment and GUI toolkit originally developed for UNIX development and later ported to support Microsoft Windows and Mac OS compilation. Runtime Revolution, Ltd acquired MetaCard and released subsequent versions under the Revolution brand.
MetaCard built on the success of its predecessor HyperCard, which compared at the time of its release in 1987 with Visual Basic. Both HyperCard and MetaCard utilized an English-like language that arguably was easier to learn than BASIC.
Revolution was acquired by Runtime Revolution in July 2003 and subsequently released a new development environment.
In June 2006, Runtime Revolution became the first Rapid Application Development tool to create applications for the Intel Mac platform. As of that date, no other environment except Apple's Xcode tool supported native Mac Intel application creation.
[edit] Environment
The Revolution environment consists of a powerful and easy to use programming language, Revolution_(programming_language), an IDE framework and engine, used together as a Rapid Application Development solution for cross platform development.
Revolution projects can be deployed as standalone applications or as Revolution Player files. Revolution Player files utilize the Revolution Player as an external Runtime.
The IDE allows building of graphical user interface by dragging controls into a visual environment, with interactive feedback and modification of existing and custom properties through property inspectors. The Revolution control palette includes both native application controls (edit fields, menus, buttons, operating system specific dialogs) as well as media controls such as a movie player and support for direct control over audio, text-to-speech, transparency and blend modes of all visual objects and more.
The IDE is self extensible. It is possible to completely replace or modify the Revolution IDE, similar to Eclipse.
Although Revolution generates cross-platform applications, it is still possible to add operating system specific features. For example, it is possible to utilize Quartz graphical features of Mac OS X, execute VB Scripts on Windows, and create UNIX shell applications.
[edit] Platforms
Revolution runs on Mac OS, Mac OS X, Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP, and the following UNIX variants:
- FreeBSD or BSDI
- HP-UX 10.20 or later
- SGI IRIX 5.3 or later
- Linux Intel 1.2.13 ELF or later
- AIX 3.2.3 or later
- Solaris 2.5 or later (also 2.3 and 2.4 for SPARC systems only)
- SunOS 4.1.x or later
Standalone applications written in Revolution can run on the above, as well as Windows 3.1 and Windows Vista(with limitations).
[edit] Current Editions
Revolution Studio allow development and debugging on a single operating system but compilation to all supported operating systems from the same source code. Revolution Studio includes drivers for several databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Paradigma Software Valentina_(Database).
Revolution Enterprise allow development and debugging on all supported operating systems and includes drivers for Oracle and SSL.
Revolution Media is an entry level product that includes all of the controls and general features and includes wizard-like templates for media oriented solutions. Revolution Media projects always display a backdrop, do not have database connectivity built in and are limited to playback using Revolution Player.
[edit] External links
- Runtime Revolution Official website.
