RealBasic brings quick app-making to MacOS X

Real Software has begun shipping the latest, MacOS X-supporting version of its rather fine Mac rapid application development tool, RealBasic.

The ability to code for MacOS X has to be version 3.0's key feature, allowing programmers top create applications quickly without all that tedious mucking about in the Macintosh Toolbox. Just design your app around its look and feel, and then add appropriate functionality through small chunks of BASIC.

RealBasic 3.0 will produce standalone apps compatible with Apple's Carbon API, which allows unifies the Classic MacOS and MacOS X, ensuring that Carbon apps run natively under the new operating system. We reckon the availability of RealBasic will do much to satisfy software-hungry MacOS X users with a broad range of native MacOS X utilities and applications.

RealBasic also creates Win32 binaries, a process improved in the new version. Real Software has also enhanced the tool's database handler, code editor and debugger. The compiler component can now be automated with AppleScript; the online reference system can be searched.

All of which is a snip at $149.95 for the Standard edition. The database equipped Pro release costs $349.95. ®