Alpha Software has launched Alpha Five Version 10 software, a programming tool that allows developers to visually build rich internet database applications powered by Ajax without having to write code.
According to Alpha, the new tool allows developers to work with codeless Ajax and then optionally craft custom code using SQL dialects, JavaScript, REST Services and Xbasic. It also enables developers to plug in open source or their own JavaScript code, components, and frameworks to extend the development platform. The resulting applications support SQL databases, including Microsoft SQL Azure databases residing in the Microsoft cloud.
The company said that the new tool features over 70 new features spanning web development, desktop development, the Xbasic language, Xdialog, and the alpha application server. It also features core JavaScript library and AjaxForm framework.
The JavaScript framework helps developers to integrate their own JavaScript code, or extend Alpha Five V10’s built-in core JS library and AjaxForm library. The software features desktop capabilities including features such as automatic browse refresh, form-level field rules, automatic backup/revision control of layouts and field rules. More power for Xbasic coding including a debugger; object orientation with classes, inheritance, properties, and methods; UTF-8 support; and new internal Xbasic functions, the company said.
Alpha said that the updated Xdialog genie can generate cascading drop-down boxes, dynamic trees, and Xdialog web grids; user-defined pop-up help; embedded HTML; list boxes and Xdialogs. The Five Application Server with a new request object and response object allows developers to simplify code while adding functionality; improved session management; and new server configuration options.
Richard Rabins, co-chairman of Alpha Software, said: “Alpha Five Version 10 with Codeless Ajax is like having an entire development team at your fingertips. Just one developer can produce the output of five to 10 coders with Codeless Ajax.”
