That is what Xojo should have done for web apps… BUT they decided not to do the work to create a full Xojo to JavaScript “translator” for the client side…
I suspect that would have been a MUCH bigger job than the path they took both times… But I think it would have had a much higher reward too.
As PureBasic and SpiderBasic are from the same company, I’m surprised they have not done that integration as an option!
-Karen
There is something similar for Object Pascal. TMS Software developed a product called “Web core” initially running in Delphi/Lazarus, but now availlable also for VSCode: you develop your client side web app entierly in Pascal, and with a WYSIWYG form builder. Interop with HTML/CSS/JS is very good. https://www.tmssoftware.com/site/tmswebcoreintro.asp
For the pascal lovers there is also Elevate Web builder, more full stack but less interoperable with native web. https://www.elevatesoft.com/products?category=ewb
Both product lines are using preexisting Pascal to JS transpilers.
Not sure, @Alwaysbusy already made a transpiler and 2 big proyects that makes much much more than what xojo has in web 2. Maybe on the same time frame?
You can compare Xojo barely with one of them.
Banano is a B4j Project with Jetty Server which makes pure Javascript. It is delicious but many people do not like the fact that there is no MAC IDE.
ABMaterial is the next “Animal” from Alwaysbusy and makes the Server Based Web App in an absolute professional way.
Cuba Platform is a Java Platform which makes Webapps as JavaScript for High Load Base and as Vaadin for Backend Loads but do not forget: even the Backend can be used for a Load of 750 users and more while Xojo can maximum 300.
If you can live with Windows IDE (what can become problemativ when and if there will not be a Windows parallels for Mac M1 CPU) then B4J is the BEST solution ever while it is simply a Basif which is really similar to Xojo and it is an IDE which can compile for Web, Desktop, Android, IOS and more for all platforms.
If not you may be interested in using Java IDE IntelliJIdea with Plugins like Cuba Platform and GLUON and you have a Platform for all of them also. It depends on your whishes.
or if they wanted to be bleeding edge they could possibly use llvm to generate webassembly.
For giggles I tried to have a quick look at SpiderBasic:
I did the same…also with very low expectations and had a surprisingly good experience.
Nice “built in” code examples hiding in plain sight in the Explorer tab (on right of IDE).
Yes, noted security warning on Mac install, but that remains common. No crash on application quit.
From zero to functional in about 90 mins. “Hello world” app within five minutes.
Debug "Hello World"
F5 to Run/Execute.
Ported a small dashboard view I had recently tried to build in Xojo Web 2.0. I was able to complete what I had intended (after searching the forum for a few bits and pieces).
I can’t share the final as it shows live company data but created an extract and took a screenshot for you. Looks acceptable as a modern web app. Obviously, wouldn’t include debug window in live app but it proved very handy during testing.
Syntax is familiar enough - but naturally would take me time coming from Xojo etc to become efficient.
Kind regards, Andrew
I have been using PureBasic since 2003, but only on Windows (DLL lib for ERP system, small console tools like TeX->JavaHelp converter), I’ve never touched SpiderBasic. And after 2017, practically not at all. PB has the advantage that a 64-bit version was created quickly, which, unfortunately, was not achieved by PowerBASIC. I remember a few problems with PB, most of all frequent false positives from antivirus systems found in my programs, viruses, malware, and other garbage. Sometimes even compilation was blocked. I think the GUI designer has been changed in version 4, the one written by Berico has been replaced by a new one, which in my opinion is worse. Well, if the Xojo development team is small, what about PureBasic, where is only Fred, the creator? Sometimes assisted by volunteers such as Timo. I am full of admiration that PureBasic still exists, probably it was 20 years ago when it was ported from Amiga to Windows. But (in my opinion) it’s a niche tool, much more so than the Xojo.
Regards
Piotr
@piotr_j, I acknowledge your points, however I never under-estimate the power of one person.
By way of example: Erel has done amazing things with the B4 platform, as has Alain extending the B4 platform into the web space.
I only discovered SpiderBasic when Andy raised it. I certainly get it is a niche product but I enjoyed it over the weekend.
Kind regards, Andrew
well I declare the state of not havinng a xojo subscription anymore… I’ve started in 2007 and bought each year an licence since then… and my Apple Dev Membership expires in couple of days. I think I won’t renew it aswell… I’ve found my home in Open Source and free software…
Netbeans, Java, ready with it if it should be open source cross platform
For those that have taken an interest in PureBasic, it’s being updated to compile to C code which can then be compiled using GCC. This will enable support for additional platforms such as Rasberry Pi or Windows and Mac as they shift to ARM.
There has also been a suggestion for an enhacement to PB syntax to make it a little more appealing to those who like OOP and that was met with a favourable response (but is not yet implemented):
Structure Rectangle
width.i
height.i
EndStructure
Procedure.i Area() For Rectangle
ProcedureReturn Self\width * Self\height
EndProcedure
Define rect.Rectangle
rect\width = 30
rect\height = 50
Print("the area of the rectangle is " + rect\Area() + " square pixels.")
As for integration between PureBasic and SpiderBasic for web apps, it’s pretty easy. PureBasic can compile CGIs (or FastCGI) and SpiderBasic makes single page web applications, then you just use JSON to pass data between the two. No quagmire of sending client events to the server 
There are also plans to update SpiderBasic’s widgets to provide better options for mobile but I guess that’s not going to happen until PureBasic’s new C back-end is production ready.
P.S. PureBasic’s IDE is now open source: https://github.com/fantaisie-software/purebasic
An interesting development
Which ones for development?
Probably a stupid question but I didn’t see anything in the docs of Spiderbasic: what is the result of a Spiderbasic compilation? And how do I deploy a Spiderbasic app? I need something very simple where Xojo web is overkill. But I didn’t find anything on deployment or deployment requirements at first glance in the Spiderbasic docs except this vague information:
SpiderBasic is a code generator who transform PureBasic code in Javascript code then upload it on a webserver
An *.html file and a number of *.js files that you can serve from any web server.
Compiler → Create App…
HTML filename: Path to to HTML file you want to create
JavaScript filename: The JS file containing your code compiled to JS (will be in same folder as HTML)
SpiderBasic libraries path: The subfolder you want the JS dependencies copied to
Copy SpiderBasic libraries: Check this box **
Click: Create App
** If you’re running multiple SB apps on the same host you’ll only need the dependencies once assuming you always specify the same name for the libraries folder.
Has anyone got experience with this ?
If Window Builder really is a VB like UI designer for java well…
Yes it is the eclipse successor of swing but that was never really interesting. That’s why there is jformdesigner for eclipse and NetBeans. They tried to reinvent swing but the standard is the standard
Yeah I’m not having much success getting it running
JFormDesigner just works in IntelliJ so far
Just need to update my license 