kk Maybe I do have to post one more time on this lol
I seriously can see DBPro becoming the next huge development tool. A few more features, and a few more tweeks, and it can be up there with C# and VB.
Okay, maybe there's a bit of time left before it's that widespread, reliable, or powerful. The fact of the matter is that it WILL get there. I have no doubt in this whatsoever.
I am actually honored to be a part of it at the get go. Once API is fully integrated, the ATI is good to go, DLL's have callbacks, and a few issues are resolved, this will be up there with all the big boys.
How many new languages can say that? Can Blitz? I doubt it. From what I've seen, even those things the language cannot support directly with a simple command can be made with a little effort and creativity.
Case in point, I was dismayed to find that creating a menu bar and pop up windows for my program using Windows resources couldn't be done as quickly as in, say, C++. Now, however, I have successfully created a tamplate for automated GUI production, which need minimal input from the user. This code, though it has a month or two before being complete, allows creation of fully custom interfaces.
Here's the great kick in the arse though. What I have written allows you to mimick the Windows GUI with greater ease than using the resources already in place! Not only that, but it adds FAR more functionality and room for customization.
Since this will be built directly into my world editor/ DRDBMS/ games production suit, it won't be a standalone application. There is a great chance, however, that I will release it to the DBPro community anyway. Only thing is, it'll have many menu items that will be in the final product that will do nothing when clicked right now. Only the GUI creation portion of the program will be operational when I send this version out, but it will let ya see what power truly is in this language.
Yes, it does have limits. I'm pouring through code now to try and figure out why the compiler crashes when I implement a certain array. Yes, there are stumbling blocks. Guess what though? I've already hit a milestone, and I've been working on my project SOLO for a very short time.
Keep in mind that power languages like C++ that give easy access to work done by others can sometimes be a double blessing. I have certainly learned that, and this is only the GUI! Imagine what I can come across when I get to Matrix creation, object loading, events, scripting, lighting, pixel shading, sound, etc, etc, etc.
Sorry for another long post 8)