REALbasic vs. Revolution

Rob Cozens rcozens at pon.net
Fri Oct 11 11:23:01 EDT 2002


Kevin, et al:

>Geoff Perlman posted this on the RB mailing list,
>raising some good points which I thought I should reply to

I think Geoff missed the point entirely:

His issues are trivial compared to (and I'm speaking in general, not 
just RB vs RR):

Can I translate the design concept in my head to a working model -- mandatory
Can I deploy my application on the target platform -- usually mandatory
Can I translate my design concept quickly & easily -- highly desirable
Can I access and modify my source code quickly & easily -- desirable
How good are the debugging tools?
Does the platform support replaceable runtime libraries and 
program-modifiable code?


>  > I would look closely at the quality of the app each can produce. Is the
>  > interface a truly native interface or does it just try to look native?
>
>  > In other words, can you look at the app you build with it and tell the
>>  difference between it and other commercial software products created with
>  other tools?

I've reordered the second statement to highlight the conflict between 
the two.  As for the first, if my app looks good to me and my users, 
who is it that cares whether it is "a truly native interface or does 
it just try to look native"?

>  > How big are the applications it builds?

This one was the reason for the disdainful tone of my first response. 
It's a bogus issue in today's world of commercial bloatware and DSL 
net connections.  My clients are looking for a system or solution to 
meet their needs.  They are going to select the package that best 
meets their requirements and desires, not the one that requires the 
least amount of disk & RAM (though if my experience with HyperCard 
holds over to RR, my app may be the smallest).

>
>>  How rich is the framework provided? The vendor can only supply so much
>>  functionality. After that, you're going to want a rich set of third-party
>  > plug-ins to choose from. Which environment provides this?

As a publisher of commercial software, I prefer to create my own 
tools to avoid royalty or copyright issues.

>
>  > How reusable are the skills you are going to learn?

This one was the second reason for the disdainful tone of my first response.

>  > What resources are available to help you learn?

A reasonable issue; but not as vital as those Geoff left out.

>  >How well is the product
>  > recognized by the community?
>

An issue for folks who want to avoid leading-edge technology.
-- 

Rob Cozens
CCW, Serendipity Software Company
http://www.oenolog.com/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)



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