Application Generators

[Rob Cozens]

>A project I have planned is to develop an application generator, 
>such as an eBook Creator, that would compile a new executable, 
>preferrably cross-platform.  What I am still hazy on is if I can use 
>revolution to do this, both technically and legitimately.

Hi Again, Michael.

I think we need to blow some haze away to be sure we're on the same wavelength.

My supposition:

You create eAuthor, a standalone that produces eBooks that can be 
read by eAuthor and possibly other apps.  The eBooks produced by 
eAuthor are, in my layman's opinion, documents, not applications; nor 
does eAuthor violate the Rev license.  (Remember, if I'm wrong, it's 
you who gets sued.)

As opposed to:

I create appBuilder, a standalone that produces compiled applications 
on all platforms that support Revolution without the developer having 
to buy a Revolution license.  This is an AppGen application, and if I 
were to market it without Revolution, I would cut a deal with RunRev 
Ltd giving them a share of the royalties.

The principal difference in the two scenarios is eAuthor is an end 
user's tool sold to people who make eBooks, whereas appBuilder is a 
developer's tool sold to people who make eAuthor and other end user 
tools.

As to feasibility, you may have issues, and I would suggest you get a 
definitive answer from someone at RR Ltd before proceeding too far. 
Then again, you may not:  If your application basically creates a 
document where an author can place text, tables, & pictures, perhaps 
checks spelling, supports text-to-speech, footnotes, automatic 
indexing, hyperText, etc. you should be home free: you can create 
stacks, cards, and controls from a standalone--it's just script 
changes that are restricted.
-- 

Rob Cozens
CCW, Serendipity Software Company
http://www.oenolog.net/who.htm

"And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee."

from "The Triple Foole" by John Donne (1572-1631)