DataFlex
DataFlexis anobject-orientedhigh-level programming languageand afourth generation visual toolfor developing Windows, web and mobile software applications on one framework-based platform. It was introduced and developed byData Access Corporationbeginning in 1982.[5][2][6][7]
History and overview
[edit]DataFlex can be traced back to 1982 when the company calledData Access Corporation[8](founded in 1976) created and developed a language allowing application code to run on almost any system architecture, regardless of hardware.[2][9]It started as a relatively early example of a fully fledged and commercially usedfourth-generation programming language(4GL). In its early forms, DataFlex was available forCP/M,MS-DOS,TurboDOS,Novell NetWare,[10]OS/2,Unix,VMSandIBM AIXoperating systems.[11]By 1985, DataFlex was applied in a variety of high-tech industries including automated inventory control systems and insurance fraud detection systems.[5]
DataFlex has lasted many years as a niche application development environment. The DataFlex product supports manyrelational databaseenvironments:Oracle database,Microsoft SQL Server,IBM Db2,MySQL,PostgreSQLand anyODBCdatabase. DataFlex applications are used by around 3 million users. In 1991, the 3.0 version with a modernized interface was released.[12]In 2014, Data Access released 2014/18.0 version.[13]The release of DataFlex 2023/23.0 introduced FlexTron technology that allows the usage of web controls within Windows desktop applications.
DataFlex is developed and provided byData Access Worldwide,a software company with main offices inMiami,Florida,Hengelo,Netherlands,andSão Paulo,Brazil.[1][14]
Features
[edit]The DataFlex language supports:
- Supports many database environments:Oracle database,Microsoft SQL Server,IBM Db2,MySQL,PostgreSQLas well as anyODBCdatabase.
- Easily switch between database backends, no code change needed.
- Variables are loosely typed. The virtual machine takes care of conversions.
- Flexibility; the language is object oriented, so developers can create subclasses and libraries.
- Code compiles to an intermediatebyte-codewhich makes the programs easily portable between operating systems.
- Nothreadsormultitasking
- Methods can - for ease of coding - be defined or redefined inside the object definition. Technically the compiler simply sub-classes the superclass and adds the methods to the class.
- Automatic delegation of messages in theobject-oriented programmingenvironment
- Embedded Database access isISAM-based. It can be used royalty-free.
Language Extension
[edit]- Functions defined in Dynamic Link Libraries can be used.
- Classes, methods and properties defined in a COM module can be used. COM automation, controls and embedding is supported.
Development environments
[edit]The DataFlex programming language is used in the following development environments:
- DataFlexStudio
- This is the flagship visual development environment from Data Access Worldwide. DataFlex is available forMicrosoft Windowsonly. DataFlex is aGUIdevelopment language in a style comparable withVisual Basic,DelphiandC++.From version 4 (1996) up until version 17.1 (2015), the product was labeled Visual DataFlex.
- DataFlex WebApp Server
- Available forMicrosoft IISonly, the DataFlex WebApp Server can be used to develop thin client applications such as browser-based applications (both full class browsers such asGoogle Chrome,Internet Explorer,Mozilla FirefoxandOpera,as well asWAPbrowsers). Developers can also createWeb Serviceclient and server applications. The server has built-in load balancing capabilities which also assist with High Availability, this does, however, require an SPLF license.
- Web Framework
- DataFlex includes a web framework for writing web and mobile applications.
- Character mode DataFlex
- The latest iteration of the original character mode application (3.2) is available as aConsole Modeapplication forMS-DOS,Microsoft WindowsandUnixvariants (notablyLinux).
References
[edit]- ^abc"DataFlex 2024/24.0 Release".RetrievedMarch 13,2024.
- ^abc"Definition of: DataFlex".PC Magazine.RetrievedFebruary 6,2020.
- ^"Installing DataFlex".Johan Broddfeld comments on code.Retrieved6 February2020.
- ^“DataFlex License Info”
- ^ab“DataFlex: An Introduction by Curtis Krauskopf”
- ^"DataFlex for Creators".InfoWorld.4(26). 1982.
- ^“InfoWorld (June 1, 1987)”
- ^"DataFlex: Programming Gymnastics".PC.3(17). 1984.
- ^"InfoNews/Software, CP/M, DataFlex".InfoWorld.Vol. 4, no. 9. IDG. March 8, 1982. p. 46.ISSN0199-6649.
- ^Aarons, Richard N. (September 4, 1984)."DataFlex: Programming Gymnastics".PC Magazine.Vol. 3, no. 17. Ziff Davis. pp. 253–255.ISSN0888-8507.RetrievedMarch 8,2017.
- ^Duncan, Judy; Petreley, Nicholas; Chiu, Peter; Mathews, Carla (November 18, 1991). "Product comparison, Database building blocks".InfoWorld.Vol. 13, no. 46. IDG. p. 92.ISSN0199-6649.
- ^InfoWorld,August 12, 1991
- ^Benzinga:"DataFlex 2014/18.0 Released by Data Access Worldwide"
- ^dataaccess:“DataFlex - Overview” ]
External links
[edit]- Data Access Worldwidewebsite
- DataFlex Learning database(online resource for learning about building applications with DataFlex)
- VDF-GUIdance(independent resource for users of the DataFlex programming language)