Clarion (programming language)
Clarion is an object-oriented 4GL programming language and integrated development environment (IDE ) for developing database applications and is assigned to the application-oriented programming languages. The product is developed and marketed by Soft Velocity.
Description
Clarion has in contrast to many other programming languages with its own template language, is generated by the tested source code. A large part of the application development of the software takes place, therefore, through the use of templates. These contain both the interface to the programmer (eg which tables and fields to be displayed in a Browse window) as well as the rules for code generation. The Clarion IDE contains the generator, which processes the template and input from the programmer and finally generates the source code to be compiled. Clarion includes a RAD (Rapid Development Tool ), which allows the developer, with a few mouse clicks Wizards ( templates) to develop the basic structure of an application.
The data dictionary ( data dictionary ) is at the center of the software, which among other the database tables and their attributes are defined. In AppGen (Application generator Application generator ) complete applications can be generated by the defined tables with a few clicks. In doing so, the system relies on the aforementioned templates and generates source code automatically to executable programs ( EXE) files or libraries (DLL) is compiled. The APP file contains the complete definition of the application and can be extended at crucial points with handwritten source code. Changes and additions have been done in the APP file which completely or (if possible) created each time only parts as source new.
The Clarion 4GL language is a special database- neutral programming language, which was written specifically for business applications. Other applications can also be created with the software. One advantage of the software is that it generates executable programs ( EXE files ), for the present, no further license fees and are network-ready without further notice. The software can be obtained by combination of ODBC / ADO and natural database drivers virtual access to all data. Otherwise, web applications can be created with Clarion.
History
The software is based on an idea by Bruce Barrington, of the Clarion Software Corporation founded in 1982. 1986 Clarion 1.0 has been released. In 1992 it merged Clarion software with Jensen and Partners International, the compiler wrought by Niels Jensen, a founder of Borland, the TopSpeed Corporation. In May 2000, the Clarion product line of soft Velocity, Inc. was sold.
Clarion for Windows was an evolution of the older DOS version. Created with DOS applications could be easily ported to Windows.
In March 2007, the software was sold in version 6.3. The development environment is still run in 16- bit mode, only the actual compiler is 32 bits. Due to the 16-bit IDE, problems arise especially in the use of current Windows technologies ( such as ActiveX, OLE DB, OCX, COM, DCOM, etc.). On the same code base, both 16 - and 32- bit applications are created.
The current version 9 has a 32- bit development environment (IDE ). NET- based, with which also Clarion applications from earlier versions manage and continue to develop.
Code example
Relate: PERSON.Open ()! Opening a previously declared table PERSON: Name = 'Smith'! Assignment of a string if Access: PERSON.fetch ( PERSON: KeyName ) = Level: Benign then! Read data about a key message ( 'Name found! ')! if successful, then message end Relate: PERSON.Close! close table File formats and database drivers