Real Basic, the rather good pro/am rapid application development tool, will support Linux when version 5.5 ships at the end of the year, its developer, Real Software, said today.

The news is probably of more value to Windows and Mac users, however, since Real Basic 5.5 will only support Linux as a target platform rather than as a host OS.

Real Basic uses a Visual Basic-style approach to create cross-platform applications from a single code base. The software currently runs on the both Windows and Mac, and can target both operating systems from either platform.

Linux support will come during Q4, when Real ships a public beta version of Real Basic 5.5. The final release is expected during Q1 2004.

Real wouldn't say what its plans for supporting Linux as an IDE host are. However, a marketing chief Gwen Smith did note that "Real Software, as a matter of course, first introduces compilation for a platform then the platform IDE support is announced later". So full Linux support probably is on the cards and will appear a little way down the line.

Why the wait? "When we talk to customers, they have indicated that compiling for Linux from within the Macintosh or Windows environment would meet their needs at this time," Gwen told us.

It took a good few years for Windows compilation support (circa 1997) to be followed up with IDE support, which only happened last October.

Real sells Real Basic 5 for $399.95 or more, depending on the licensing options chosen. ®