Future features of PPL 2.0
There are a few new features I would like to include into PPL 2.0 before its official release:
- Real time memory analyzer with report, graph and chart.
- Real time profiler with report, graph and chart.
- Visual programming (icon based and all object-oriented).
- Visual SQL query builder and visual table builder.
- Report designer.
- SSL encryption.
The real time analyzers won’t be a huge job and will provide real time information about memory consumption and speed issues in your program.
The visual programming tool is pretty much all on paper right now, it should not be too hard and will provide PPL 2.0 with almost no coding application development.
The Enterprise components (SQL builders, table builders, Report designer and SSL encryption) will most probably use third party components integrated into the development environment.
Most of the higher level tools will probably be part of the Pro or Enterprise version. I am thinking about including three versions: Trial, Pro and Enterprise.
Chances are, we will start selling the versions with less features first and release the higher end versions later, nothing is set in stone just yet but it is a possibility.
As you may noticed from the way PPL 2.0 is shaping up, it is a HUGE step forward in the right direction (hopefully) and is going to target business developers and will focus less on Windows Mobile development. The platform is really going downhill, we hope it will have a second life if Microsoft wants it to.
“and will focus less on Windows Mobile development. The platform is really going downhill, we hope it will have a second life if Microsoft wants it to.”
Hi,
I have used various PDAs in the past, starting with a Palm III, Sony Clie, Tapwave Zodiac, changing to the Windows Mobile Platform using a Dell X50v.
I’m a Delphi programmer and interested in using PPL in the future, but I can also see the end of the Windows Mobile platform coming.
I’ve found a new hardware and software platform that you might have heard about, the Open Pandora project. http://www.openpandora.org
It’s an incredible machine with really advanced specs, the initial batch of around 3-4000 machines have been sold out, and mostly to experienced enthusiasts.
I wonder if PPL could be ported to produce native arm-code for the Pandora. While 4000 sold units does not sound as impressive as many more Dell and HP devices, out of these 4000 there are 4000 computer experts, 4000 old school retrocomputer enthusiasts, there’s already an active scene e.g. http://www.gp32x.com
and I see a lot of potential for PPL there.
I’d appreciate your thoughts about the technical and also financial possibility
to achieve that.
Thanks,
Steve
Steve,
The idea of porting PPL to the Pandora is very attracting and could serve as a Linux port at the same time. I have been reading about the Pandora development for about a year now. I have a GP2X at home that I’ve used quite a lot.
Financially, it is out the of the question for now but PPL 3.0 is going to focus on a complete rewrite of the compiler/interpreter, so it will be a good time to make them more portable.
Personally, I don’t think that we will see the end of the Windows mobile platform for a while yet.
M/S will squeeze every cent out of licensing from all the device/phone manufactures and will not easily roll over and play dead.
Hopefully there will be a new release of Windows Mobile once Windows 7 has been released.
Granted there are 5 players in the mobile market now (Microsoft, RIM/Blackberry, Symbian, Nokia and Android/Google) and even though Microsoft does not own much of the mobile market, I don’t think that device manufactures will dump them anytime soon.
If you are looking at re-doing the compiler for V3 then you might also want to consider other devices like the DS-Lite which is about to have a new revision released, as well as the GP2X devices. I would love to be able to develop homebrew for as many devices as possible!
Don’t know how easy it would be for you to incorporate different devices into the compiler though?
It might be a really tough job to include as many devices but nothing is impossible when you have the resources. We will see how things are looking at that time but I don’t want 3.0 to take as much time as 2.0 to be released.
Personally I only have an interest in Mobile development, whether that be PDA or anything else, though I like the sound of Pandora or Ds lite. I don’t use ppl for anything else but mobile development and I have to admit was a little disappointed that version 2.0 is not really catering for mobile’s as I was really looking forward to this. I now look forward to version 3.0 and any new mobile platforms
However, I can wait as version 1.52 I find is absolutely excellent and caters for my current project beautifully which I promise will be released before the next millenium!!
mmm just read my last post back….I was being sarcastic towards myself with the timescale and not you Alain….just to clarify that.