Updated: December 10, 2005 (09:14)

I've got a not so hidden agenda set for myself, to find people and knowledge that would be interested to write a new visual application designer (RAD) tool for at least one of the available compilers, preferably rexxtended as I'd call it, with as many useful additions as possible.

To write software for OS/2-eCS commercially is tough, so therefore I'm trying to look at it in a somewhat modified way. I'm currently annoyed by the fact that many applications out there are written in one large chunk (top-down, solve all to solve smaller problem), but at the same time they're often still not finished. So why not try to stimulate the developers and wannabe developers to write a part at the time that can work on it's own or if put togheter do something more useful as a whole (down-up, solve smaller part and join those to solve a larger problem), perhaps as a RAD-tool, office suite etc.

The latter method would provide something from the start and as each new part are developed, add to the package, just as e.g. XWorkplace has.

VAC++ had a visual designer that maybe only a few used and tried, but to me it was a promising start to something that could have been improved to something better. A new designer RAD tool should itself consist of several parts, many that could be useful even on thier own, if implemented right. (Buttonbar, Visual Composition, Graphic objects etc.)

VAC++ also had some kind of visual database designer, though somewhat akward to use and not that friendly with other DBs than db2. It would be great if e.g. DBExpert would be the extension/part of/addition to in such a solution, though it's not now a product that one compile, maybe it doesn't have to be then either if redesigned/updated.

I've seen that there are people out there that has written things that would make a good start, though there are parts that are still missing, below you can find some of the things I've looked at.

List can include:

Many of these projects would benefit from each other as e.g. toolbars, spreadsheets, texteditor etc. can be used in many places. See below. See also a list of visual components.

Learnc++ group

Write device drivers

Invite "experts" to give a presentation with various sections and features of development and architecture.
Daniella Engert, Stefan Mickle, Chris Wolgemuth, Allesandro Cantatore etc.

Write SOM-objects

Each participant select a "feature" from a list and develop an object that does the job.
The SOM-object may then be used freely by others to extend the wps or to build other useful tools.
Those tools/objects could then be used to form even larger apps reusing the objects and therefor minimizing rewrites.
The objects has to be REXX enabled/aware so that rexx can be used now that IBM has released orexx.
XWorkplace, Lotus SmartSuite, OpenOffice etc. and several developers

Maintenance and improvements

 MED may need to be updated/improved but it's possibly the best suited text editor for OS/2-eComStation.
The Author of MED, Matthias Pfersdorf has been asked to contribute code to the community. Unknown what the answer was at this point.

Images

Codecs

Extend the number of Image formats supported by adding codecs. Ensure that image formats that handle transparency and animations etc. are fully supported can be view correctly with transparency.
Ask the author of Drawit, Jasper de Keijser to explore the ones available with OpenOffice, Mozilla etc.
...he may want to extend Drawit at the same time.

Design icons and graphics

A number of "new" icons, images and window designs has to defined and drawn for various commands etc.
Graphic artists needed

Larger Icons

Design a "new" format for icons or ensure that the wps can show larger icons such as 64x64, 80x80 etc. that's smother and possibly can handle opacity.
Unknown to me at this point

Translation

Common format for translation

Define ONE standard format for files to translate or extend/improve NLS capability and usability/maintenance so that as many as possible use it.
Preferred format: dbf
Take knowledge and code from OpenOffice, DBExpert, database experts and multi lingual translators/users/developers

Translation tool

Create a translation tool to get uniform translations, reuse knowledge/expressions and translate more apps.
Take knowledge and code from OpenOffice, DBExpert, database experts and multi lingual translators/users/developers

Visual  Builder

Software with modular design that would offer development of applications for C/C++ and REXX, possibly also other languages with the help of libraries/extenders. Perhaps consider Sybase VX-REXX tied to SOM with OpenWatcom as the compiler under the hood? Features found in IBMs Visual Builder would be useful to add too, e.g. Layouts, Function calls visible as arrows etc. but also something that one can find in Visual Basic, reusable and sharable controls and parts so that developers can focus on new features and not reinvent old stuff.
Zeryx Software (Mr. Lavoie) has shown interest in a new development environment for rapid application development in REXX.

Text Editor

I've now seen that Mike Greene got a very neat editor in FTE that look very promising and it IS PM based now (Wohoo!!). With some adjustments it can suite a larger range of developers and possibly be included as both the code editor and as a control that developers can add to apps they develop themselves. On the other hand we've got MED with syntax highlightning and function overview but may need to be updated to fit the project and to allow the text part work as an addon for other apps, possibly support other languages such as REXX with the help of libraries/extenders and not only C/C++.

Help Editor and resourse files

Vyperhelp is now open source and is therefore a welcome addition that can improve generation, maintenance and translation of help files. There's often a need for context sensetive help (focus on a control, press F1 and get the right help section) but also to remove or at least to minimize repeated tasks. It should maybe be possible to have a predefined set of standard texts that the developer can use and extend to suite the application. It would be VERY useful if the sources could be transferred back and forth between a database format that translator only would have translate and send back to the  developer for inclusion.

REXX

Language based on C/C++ and aimed at beginners and developers that like the ease of REXX.
Main developer Zeryx Software and Mr. Lavoie

C/C++

Fundamental design and device driver development as well as visual development.
Open to suggestions at this point

Database

Use database project UNIXODBC by Lorne Sunley. He has promised to update it over Christmas 2005. Create a new DBExpert or improve it ... integrate with or extend a new development environment?
Ask for help from DBExpert Sundial Systems
(Hush hush) but we need to develop our own DBE, cause the real owner refuse to update/improve it and/or rewrite it.

Charts

More types of charts with transparency and customization should be added.
Take knowledge and code from Lotus SmartSuite, OpenOffice etc.

Printout libraries

See if it's needed and if so, possible to write a general printout library that can take care of the printouts, prepare them etc.
Unknown to me at this point

PDF

Library/Driver that support write to PDF
Take knowledge and code from drinter drivers, ePDF and OpenOffice, ask Author of ePDF Frank Wochatz to develop.

Import Libraries

CoDecs

Add libraries to the system, not only to one app, so that the user can open more file-formats (similar to Object Desktop) but also use them in e.g. Office apps and to extend the available languages for the programming editors.
Take knowledge and code from OpenOffice, Lotus SmartSuite, OREXX project etc.

Export Libraries

CoDecs

To save files in common formats.
Take knowledge and code from OpenOffice, OREXX project etc.