Real Software has just begun shipping version 2.1 of RealBasic, its MacOS-based visual programming system. The update brings improvements to RealBasic's database access tools and its Windows-oriented compiler, which now supports QuickTime, drag and drop, sprite animation, floating windows, contextual menus and more features so far only available to MacOS applications. The company says that compiled applications - on either platform - will run up to 30 per cent faster, and are more stable. RealSoftware has also added numerous interface improvements and enhancements to RealBasic itself. We don't mind saying that RealBasic is The Register's (or at least those of us interested in such things) favourite MacOS development tool. This VisualBasic-compatible system - almost all of it developed by one guy, Andrew Barry - is pretty damn impressive, allowing coders to create apps as powerful as anything that a knowledge of C and the MacOS Toolbox lets them build. Even better, there are no run-time licensing fees. RealBasic 2.1 is available now for $349.95 (Professional - provides the Win32 compiler and database tools) or $149.95 (Standard). The upgrade is free to existing RealBasic 2.0 users. ® Link RealBasic Web site