REALbasic 3, the latest version of the object-oriented visual BASIC development environment for the Mac, is now in beta testing by REAL Software. When finished it will run on Mac OS X, as well as earlier versions of the Mac operating system.
“REALbasic allows programmers of all skill levels to develop their software with a single set of user interface elements and code to compile native applications for Macintosh, Mac OS X, and Windows without requiring any platform-specific adjustments,” said Geoff Perlman, president and CEO of REAL Software. “Version 3 continues REAL Software’s quest to deliver outstanding tools to the Macintosh user community. This release provides exciting new functionality in addition to the ability to run on and compile for Mac OS X.”
Other new features include an all new animation engine, revamped database features, enhancements to the Code editor and debugger, crash recovery, searchable online reference, build (compiling process) AppleScriptable, improved IDE, improved Windows support, and more.
REALbasic 2 is now available now for US $149.95 for the Standard Edition and $349.95 for the Professional Edition packages, direct from REAL Software. Academic and volume discounts, as well as license-only options. If you buy REALbasic 2, you’re eligible for a free upgrade to version 3.0 when it arrives.
In addition to US English, REALbasic is available in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese. A special Swedish package is also available and version 3 will ship in Russian, as well.
REAL Software’s REALbasic was named the best “Developer Tool” in the “MacFixIt Toolbox Awards” for 2000. The awards are given to the software judged most worthy to be in a troubleshooter’s “toolbox.”
The MacFixIt gang says it “established BASIC as a programming language for serious Macintosh application development.” The “Vendor Web Site” award went to Alsoft’s Ask Al. “Most commercial software vendors maintain some sort of support site where users can get troubleshooting information about the vendor’s products,” says MacFixIt. “But Alsoft goes one step further. It provides troubleshooting information about the Mac in general.