Three new products (METAL 1.7a, OpenBase SQL 6.5.5, and a Quilan beta) have been released and should be of interest to developers, according to MacTech magazine.
Galactic Dreams Software has unveiled METAL 1.7a, a 100 percent free extended BASIC language metacompiler. METAL (Meta Language) has a command library that includes graphics, sound, speech, math and file I/O (in/out) routines. It’s used in scientific research, software development companies (for prototyping), in K-12 and higher education, and by beginners who are trying to enter the world of programming.
Version 1.7a adds an improved compiler stability, better editor, better help system, enhanced error reporting, new loop constructs, new constructs for other types of flow control, binary file I/O, and 37 new commands. You can download METAL, which is free, at the Galactic Dreams Software homepage.
Also, OpenBase International has begun shipping OpenBase SQL 6.5.5, the latest release of their SQL database for Mac OS X and other platforms. New features include PHP4 compatibility and numerous enhancements, including: an EOF Adaptor for WebObjects 4.5; ODBC support for Windows clients; JDBC 1.x and JDBC 2.0 Drivers; 4th Dimension Plug-in; OpenBase Manager Tools; performance enhancements and bug fixes; and new open source tools and examples.
“OpenBase SQL already provides the best performance for WebObjects and client/server applications,” said Scott Keith, CTO of OpenBase International. “Now developers have the option to build and deploy inexpensive PHP applications as well.”
He said that OpenBase ensures data availability and integrity through its proven fault tolerant architecture — and delivers superior performance, with applications running at least twice as fast on OpenBase databases as on other Mac OS X based products.
A limited OpenBase license for PHP users costs US$499. OpenBase Unlimited User Licenses are $1,999. Developers and non-commercial users can register for a free single-user OpenBase license. Licenses can be purchased from the OpenBase online store.
Finally, CommonGround Softworks has a beta version of Qilan 2.0, their Web-based data server and access environment, for Mac OS X. The new version adds access to MS SQL Server, along with the existing access to FrontBase, OpenBase and Helix. Plus, Qilan 2.0 now deploys Java standards based technology for future access to a wider range of databases. You can learn more at the CommonGround Softworks Web site.
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