Basic4android
{{Short description|Programming tool for Windows}}
{{Infobox software
| name =
| developer = Erel Uziel
| latest release version = 12.0
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2022|11|17}}
| operating_system = Microsoft Windows
| language = English
| genre = Programming
| license = Apache License 2.0[https://github.com/AnywhereSoftware/B4A B4A github]
| website = {{URL|https://www.b4x.com/b4a.html}}
}}
Basic4Android (currently known as B4A) is a rapid application development tool for native Android applications, developed and marketed by Anywhere Software Ltd.
B4A is an alternative to programming with Java.{{cite web |last=Bridgwater |first=Adrian |url=http://www.drdobbs.com/mobile/anywhere-software-launches-basic4android/229218790 |title=Anywhere Software Launches Basic4android | Dr Dobb's |publisher=Drdobbs.com |date=2011-02-16 |access-date=2013-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904090243/http://www.drdobbs.com/mobile/anywhere-software-launches-basic4android/229218790 |archive-date=2013-09-04 |url-status=dead }} The language itself is similar to Visual Basic and Visual Basic .NET though it is adapted to the native Android environment.{{cite web |author=Carsten Müller |url=http://www.android-user.de/Magazin/Archiv/2012/12/Anwendungsentwicklung-mit-Basic4Android/%28language%29/ger-DE |title=Basic für Android » Android User |language=de |publisher=Android-user.de |date=2013-02-27 |access-date=2013-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806041834/http://www.android-user.de/Magazin/Archiv/2012/12/Anwendungsentwicklung-mit-Basic4Android/%28language%29/ger-DE |archive-date=2013-08-06 |url-status=dead }}
B4A is an object-based and event-driven language.
B4A includes a visual designer that simplifies the process of building user interfaces that target phones and tablets with different screen sizes.{{cite web|title=Write Your Own Android App With Basic for Android - Part I|author=Darien Graham-Smith|url=http://video.cloudfront.pcpro.co.uk/pcpro/indepth/220/PCProInDepth220-B4A-pt1.pdf|publisher=PC PRO Magazine|date=February 2013|access-date=2013-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122122/http://video.cloudfront.pcpro.co.uk/pcpro/indepth/220/PCProInDepth220-B4A-pt1.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}} Compiled programs can be tested in AVD Manager emulators or on real Android devices using Android Debug Bridge and B4A Bridge.
B4A generates standard signed Android applications which can be uploaded to app stores like Google Play, Samsung Apps and Amazon Appstore.{{cite web|title=Write Your Own Android App With Basic for Android - Part II|author=Darien Graham-Smith|url=http://video.cloudfront.pcpro.co.uk/pcpro/indepth/221/PCProInDepth221-B4A-pt2.pdf|publisher=PC PRO Magazine|date=March 2013|access-date=2013-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053846/http://video.cloudfront.pcpro.co.uk/pcpro/indepth/221/PCProInDepth221-B4A-pt2.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-04|url-status=dead}} There are no special dependencies or runtime frameworks required.{{cite web |url=http://www.mobilephonedevelopment.com/archives/1202 |title=Blog Archive » Basic4Android |publisher=Mobile Phone Development |date=2011-02-07 |access-date=2013-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234915/http://www.mobilephonedevelopment.com/archives/1202 |archive-date=2013-10-04 |url-status=usurped }}
Since February 2020, the full version is 100% free (donationware).
Applications
B4A supports all types of applications such as games, databases, connectivity, sensors and hardware.{{cite web|url=http://coffeeinduced.wordpress.com/category/basic4android/ |title=Basic4Android | Coffee Induced Games |publisher=Coffeeinduced.wordpress.com |access-date=2013-08-20}}{{cite web |url=http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/forum/threads/remote-database-connector-connect-to-any-remote-db.31540/ |title=Tutorial - Remote Database Connector - Connect to any remote DB | Basic4android Community |publisher=Basic4ppc.com |access-date=2013-08-20 |archive-date=2014-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910190512/http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/forum/threads/remote-database-connector-connect-to-any-remote-db.31540/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://kalaharix.wordpress.com/basic4android/b4aserver/ |title=B4AServer | Gambas, Basic4Android and Linux |date=17 June 2013 |publisher=Kalaharix.wordpress.com |access-date=2013-08-20}}{{cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=anywheresoftware.b4a.b4abridge&hl=en |title=B4A-Bridge - Android Apps on Google Play |access-date=2013-08-20}}{{cite web |url=http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/forum/threads/orientation-and-accelerometer.6647/#content |title=Tutorial - Orientation and accelerometer | Basic4android Community |publisher=Basic4ppc.com |access-date=2013-08-20 |archive-date=2014-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030002926/http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/forum/threads/orientation-and-accelerometer.6647/#content |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last=Holden |first=Chris |url=http://nerdclub-uk.blogspot.co.il/2012/05/basic4android.html |title=Nerd Club: Basic4Android |publisher=Nerdclub-uk.blogspot.co.il |date=2012-05-08 |access-date=2013-08-20}}
Libraries
B4A interacts with the native API through Java libraries. B4A libraries consist of two files: the Java jar file and a XML file that is produced by a tool provided with B4A.{{cite web|url=http://alwaysbusycorner.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/lets-get-physical-with-basic4android/ |title=Let's get physical with Basic4Android | Alwaysbusy's Corner |publisher=Alwaysbusycorner.wordpress.com |date=2011-09-02 |access-date=2013-08-20}}
Community
In 2013, there were about 100,000 registered developers in the online community.{{cite web |url=http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/forum/ |title=Basic4android Community |publisher=Basic4ppc.com |access-date=2013-08-20 |archive-date=2014-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125003812/http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/forum/ |url-status=dead }}
Documentation
A Basic4Android book was written by Wyken Seagrave and published by Penny Press Ltd in October 2013.{{cite web|url=http://pennypress.co.uk/?page_id=78#comment-26 |title=Basic4Android Book |publisher=Penny Press |access-date=2013-08-20}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.b4x.com/b4a.html Basic4android site]
{{BASIC}}
Category:BASIC programming language family
Category:Programming tools for Windows