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| Codeless vs Coding |
Codeless Programming vs. Coding
When Visual Basic introduced the first generation of VBX controls it was a big step towards codeless programming. Use of pre-built components was quickly adopted by most programming platforms. For example, Delphi is another popular Rapid Application Development (RAD) platform using pre-built components.
All such platforms achieve Rapid Application Development via pre-built components. In such platforms the programming languages are used as glue to tie components together to form applications.
Because most computer programming features are built into various components, in most application developments the role of computer languages is no more than glue.
So can we make the components in such a way that the components can glue themselves together and thus there will be no need of computer languages in application developments?
The answer is YES. Limnor Codeless Programming Platform proves that this idea is possible. The components in Limnor are called Performers. Performers can glue to each other to form applications without using computer languages.
Ways of Codeless Programming
There are many codeless/graphic programming systems/tools on the market. Most of them are using lines to link pre-built components together to express programming logic. There might be users prefer this way of programming. But “line-linking” can quickly become extremely complicated and unmanageable, and even harder than coding. This problem is known as Deutsch Limit. It says that the problem with visual programming is that you can’t have more than 50 visual primitives on the screen at the same time.
Limnor uses actions and actions lists for programming. The programming logic is built by assigning actions to events. Very complicated programming logic can be easily built and managed in this way. It is so easy to do it the user may not realize how complicated programming logic she/he has achieved, until using Limnor event-map to show the “line-linking” between all the components. Manually linking all those lines will certainly be a tedious task scaring every body away.
Overcome the Limitations of Codeless
All codeless programming systems suffer the same limitation: the programming capability is limited to the capability of pre-built components. Limnor uses the following ways to overcome this limitation:
1. Be an open platform
Limnor is an open platform. Its structure is designed for adding new features very easily by adding DLL files without changing or recompiling the main system.
How "open" is Limnor? Limnor main system only has two built-in components (a Limnor component is called a Performer). They are the Page performer and the Application performer. All other performers are "add-ins".
There is no limit on what kinds of new performers can be added to Limnor, due to the design of Limnor foundation.
Computer languages are used to create Performers. Performers are used to create applications.
Many computer languages can be used to create Performers. For example, C#, C++, Visual Basic, Pascal, COBOL, Fortune, etc., can all be used to create Performers. Limnor SDK helps to make programming Performers easier.
Limnor SDK reveals patents-pending codeless programming technologies. It is available in the Limnor Codeless Programming Platform. It is free for Limnor Community members (Membership is free)
2. Call External DLLs in a Codeless Manner
DLLCaller is a Performer allowing your applications to call external DLLs in a codeless manner. All Windows applications are built on top of Windows API DLLs. That is, the lowest level of Windows programming is calling DLLs. Thus, this Performer gives your Limnor applications the raw power of Windows programming. This Performer simplified DLL calls by automatic memory parsing and callback handling. Callback functions become events. So your applications handle callback functions the same way as other Limnor programming: build actions and assign actions to events.
If you have skills using C/C++, Pascal, Basic, or any other computer languages that can generate DLLs then all such skills are valuable in Limnor programming.
3. Use VB and C# Code inside Limnor Applications, in a codeless manner
UserFunction is a Performer allowing your applications to use VB.NET and C# code inside the applications.
It is an alternative and simple way than developing Performers to extend Limnor programming capability.
The public functions, properties and events you create in your code automatically become methods, properties and events of the UserFunction Performer. Therefore your applications use VB and C# code in the same codeless manner.
With this Performer, the coding power of VB and C# is in the scope of Limnor programming, and the power is in the same codeless format.
Many people have fun in coding. Limnor does not take that away from you.
4. Use ActiveX Controls and .NET classes, in a codeless manner
There are lots of pre-built components in ActiveX format. .NET DLL files are also a rich source of pre-built software components.
Limnor Performer Import Wizard is a tool to convert ActiveX controls and .Net classes into Limnor Performers. Thus you can use those software components in your Limnor applications.
The properties, methods and events of an ActiveX control or a .NET class become the properties, methods and events of the Limnor Performer generated. The Wizard lets you choose which properties, methods and events to be generated.
It should be pointed out that codeless programming as the new generation of software engineering it is fundamentally different than current software engineering based on coding. ActiveX controls and .NET classes are designed for coding. Therefore the designs of ActiveX controls and .NET classes are, in most cases, not best for codeless programming. This Wizard just does a direct converting and cannot re-design them for best codeless usages. The Wizard will produce source code of the Limnor Performer generated, and you may hand-craft on the source code to create Performers best fit codeless programming and your needs.
The manual can be downloaded from http://www.limnor.com/downloads/Limnor Performer Import Wizard User.pdf
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| Comments |
on June 30 2005 03:13:56
I couldn't agree more that the ad hoc scripting capability recently added to Limnor sets it entirely apart from all other tools in the "codeless programming" marketplace.
I said once a long time ago --- "stunningly clever implementation of some remarkably good ideas." I was right then, and more so today. |
on September 18 2005 22:03:10
By Cyberdesigner - New Limnor user.
A lot of that is gobbildy gook to me, as I am a new Limnor 'codeless programmer', The only other 'programming' that I know anything about is php (yes I know it's not even progamming - it's scripting). I have to say that I am impressed with the Limnor software due to the raw power I now have available to create standalone windows applications (software).
I have tried and tested approximately 30 different products over the last few months, some are great to use, but seriously lack in their abilities, for example: I created a standalone application using one product and then decided I needed to add extra menu items to the top menu, IMPOSSIBLE! So, off I went on a crusade to find something that would allow me to do just that. After trying almost every html to .exe product on the market, I found one...
It also allowed me to use Javascript, which was great, so now I have quite a lot of power in creating apps. The problem is I can edit Javascript and hack it a little, but I have no idea how to write it from scratch. Here arose yet another problem, I was producing simple apps at a very slow rate, too slow to make them viable.
So.. off I go on another search - and Visual Basic hit me right in the face, I was well impressed! BUT, Here we go again, a new scripting language to learn - VBScript, not too bad but slowing me down again! "I thought I had found what I wanted", Gutted.
Finally, The solution:
I found some software after looking long and hard through the google pages and using the free trial version produced 3 usable applications WITHOUT reading the user guide! And I can add my top menus - easily!
I can't believe how easy this program is to use, on my first day of using it... I made a simple web browser in just one hour, a desktop newsreader in a few minutes and a cool 'add to favorites' database program, with a back up links button and the ability to add thumbnail pictures, I hate loosing favorite sites when windows breaks and I have to re-install!
Anyway,
"If your looking to create your own software, without programming at all - I would suggest you Look no further"!
it's...
Limnor!
ps. all that gobbildy gook above, means that people with a bit more knowledge than me can create more point and click capabilities for Limnor with relative ease, which of course extends the softwares POWER even more for the likes of us 'codeless programmers' |
on January 03 2008 14:05:52
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