Version 3 of Luis

Updated 2004-11-24 13:42:37

Luis Tue Nov 23 2004 XBASE clon for linux Project

I am a migrating an Xbase system from Sco Openserver to linux, I used foxplus for a long time some time ago, I tried to find something like that which will work in linux ever since I guess 1995, I didn't find what I was looking for, I found better alternatives like SQL databases (mysql, postgresql) and the programming languages (script languages is a more apropiate term) to accompany this (perl, python, tcl, even C), I like tcl because is not typed strongly (everthing is just a string!) which makes life a lot easier for the programmer!... and with today computers it is just as fast as you would want it to be (even on pentium I), even 486 66Mhz for up to ten users, yup it works I have done that...

I learned along the way how to use linux and love it, is a great OS and is free, I have also learned of the promises the OSS brings to building stuff (not just software), this people is what I call a Revolution, but other things like graphics cards (hardware or blueprints for that matter) from a community of free people doing things just because they want to give (which I find amazing and promising for the future of the world, no less), just the amazing gift linux is and the fact that it exists as it is today, and the way it advances every day, makes me wonder of the possibilities... for those politically aware it is the Cuba of the software world in my eyes, like it or hate it... ;O). flame me spank me I do have my ideals right or wrong as you wish... :P, in fact like Cuba Linux could face a total invasion (a war of extermination) to end it from the dark sinister empire of Microsoft, who doesn't waste time to threaten even whole areas of the world (asian countries) with litigation if they choose to use linux... :O/

Although (is my understading) that tcl is not GPL, which for instance python is!, and I still have my doubts on basing my work on something that is not GPLed.... gulp... I did choose it because of the hurry of delivering a system in 6 months deadline, and some entanglement with support for mysql on python plus the typing of the language, I like simple things, but I will re-consider this depending on the success of this project, if somebody can explain to me if tcl is GPL or not please do so... despite all, choice is a wonderful thing and we have that with linux...

I was really frustrated a few years ago because I didn't find an equivalent system to Xbase systems on linux, there were a few pieces here and a few pieces there, all proprietary (flagship, and other I just forgot...), so I learned the new ways, but as it turned out the users of my systems got use (in some cases they have been working with a few of those systems for over 10 years now!!....) to the good old console, and rejected using a graphic alternative, which is really cool indeed because you get images, scroll bars, buttons, you can even customized buttons with images to theme the app really nice, so upon doing another research a few weeks ago on xbases programs in linux I didn't find anything cause thats all but extinct I guess, and knowing a bit more now on all this than I did in 1995, and also having the need to finally shoot down and old Sco Openserver-FoxPlus+ server to kiss it good bye forever, and even after doing all the programming on tcl/tk with mysql and seeing the rejecting it got from the users of the system who prefered character base input into the database!, decided to start this little project and share it just in case there is somebody out there with this same need and in the spirit of the best community of the world.

In the process of my research I found this wiki wiki (fast fast fast!!) great tool, great people, very knowledgeable kind and generous just like I like 'em to be, particularly LV who wrote the minimalist curses program without it I wouldn've done anything on tcl but would be fighting with learning python the hard way...

Anyway all that I have asked the computer to do with minimalist curses, tcl and mysql it has done, so everything is going great, and as soon as I have something useful to give I will, it will consist on simple (and not so simple) commands, actually I could build something that will require little programming on the part of the programmer (it will be a goal), is nothing too hard tho is just information systems and retriving (think something like a video renting store system)... my first language is spanish so the name of the functions will have spanish names tho without strange characters.... :O), it will be a simple core program (actually core.tcl, source core.tcl) and a few accompanying programs (to create forms, lists, reports, nice reports with different typefaces thru postscript... cups)... if everything works out fine it will be a fine replacement of Xbase programming, or it can be view as a useful program for outputing information into a cell terminal from mysql databases, if some new project falls in my hands that requires some programming in cell character terminals I will try to use Postgres so to include it too, but it will be only if... if there is something like curses on windows (maybe thru cygwin) than it could also be use on windows... I don't discard that also for a future choice, maybe with vterminal....

LES Wow! James Joyce... BAS Tcl is BSD, not GPL. However, BSD is arguable a better license (less restrictive). Why would you want a curses interface on Windows, when generating a GUI in Tk is very easy?

CL replies to Luis that Python is not GPLed, although it is "GPL-compatible". As a member of the Python Software Foundation, I can provide references, if important.