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AppStudio 9.1.2 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.1.2 has been released.

Here’s the complete list of changes:

  1. BS5: Libraries for DataTables updated.
  2. BS5: Fix error on SetFocus()
  3. Design Screen: Controls no longer lose focus on Windows during moving/editing.
  4. VoltBuilder: Use VoltBuilder to create icons and splashscreens instead of AppStudio.
  5. VoltBuilder: Duplicate lines in config.xml removed.
  6. Samples: BS5 DataTables sample updated.
  7. Project: Internal project version bumped from 9 to 10.
  8. Docs: All remaining references in PhoneGap removed or marked obsolete.
  9. Libraries: various libs updated

If you’re building native apps using VoltBuilder, make sure you supply values for the **icon (1024)** and **splash (2732)** properties in [Project Properties – VoltBuilder](https://wiki.appstudio.dev/VoltBuilder). Otherwise, the default AppStudio icon will be used.

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site .

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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In Memoriam: Thomas E. Kurtz, 1928–2024

By http://ece.uprm.edu/~cabassa/inge3016/imagenes/kemeny.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33752493

A pioneering figure in programming, Tom Kurtz, has passed away. Alongside his colleague John Kemeny, Kurtz developed the original version of the Dartmouth Timesharing System (DTSS). DTSS revolutionized computer access sharing across networks and paved the way for multiple students to access BASIC. It was unveiled on May 1, 1964, alongside BASIC.

BASIC has endured across generations of computers, from mainframes and minicomputers in the 1960s to microcomputers in the 1970s and 80s, and even to the credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi computer of today. In 1978, Harvard students Bill Gates and Paul Allen created their first version of BASIC for the MITS Altair 8800, a hobbyist-oriented microcomputer. This version transformed the Altair from a blinking box with limited capabilities into a functional computer, leading to a resurgence in BASIC’s popularity during the personal computer era.

When I encountered BASIC in high school, my life took a new turn. I discovered my passion for programming. BASIC has always held a special place in my heart, surpassing other languages in its ease of use and gentle learning curve, enabling users to quickly develop serious applications.

In 1993, I embarked on a journey by writing my first implementation of BASIC for Apple’s Newton. Prior to this, programming the Newton was limited to its native language, which was unique and exclusive. This development allowed tens of thousands of developers to unlock the full potential of their Newtons.

It was during the 1990s that I had the privilege of meeting Tom Kurtz. He was at an educational conference representing True BASIC, the latest version of his product. We engaged in a meaningful conversation, reflecting on the positive impact we had made on people’s lives and the incredible creations they were building using our tools.

Versions for Palm and Windows CE followed. Around 2009, I realized that JavaScript had become a serious language—it was no longer a mere toy. The web development model, utilizing HTML and CSS with a touch of JavaScript, could be reversed. JavaScript could be used as a robust development language, with HTML/CSS serving as the user interface. This realization led to the creation of AppStudio.

I never fail to recall the genesis of this entire journey. We included a BASIC to JavaScript translator in AppStudio, ensuring that BASIC could continue to be utilized by programmers who were familiar with it.

I can only imagine Tom’s amusement at the sight of programmers employing his 60-year-old programming language to create remarkable modern applications in the year 2024.

Thank you, Tom, for making all this possible.

George Henne

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AppStudio 9.1.1 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.1.1 has been released.

It has a number of fixes and enhancements, as well as a new Bootstrap 5 Spinner control.

Here’s the complete list of changes:

  1. Controls: New BS5 Spinner control
  2. Documentation: off line Wiki updated
  3. Project Explorer: Duplicate filename when adding a file starting with a non-alpha fixed.
  4. Project Properties: iOS properties updated to use same terms as VoltBuilder
  5. Runtime: new BuildCounter global
  6. Samples: new Spinner samples
  7. Libraries: various libs updated

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site .

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.1.0 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.1.0 has been released.

We’ve made an important change to the Design Screen. We had been using IE11 to drive it: we are now using the latest version of Edge. This required rewriting a lot of code in our Design Screen module – but has the benefit that it now uses the latest developments in HTML and JavaScript.

This benefits frameworks like Bootstrap 5, which are no longer compatible with IE 11.

Here’s the complete list of changes:

1. AppStudio: Icon in top left corner now appears properly.
2. AppStudio: Save As now copies all the files in the project directory.
3. BS4, BS5: added *disabled* property to several controls
4. BS4, BS5: added *name* property to several controls.
5. BS4, BS5: Label: added blank *appearance* property for no styling
6. BS5: Dropdown: added *index* property.
7. BS5: Input-group: *button* has been added as an itemType: Buttons can be part of a group.
8. Design Screen: Now uses Edge instead of IE to render. Should fix some BS5 issues.
9. Docs: Add AI to your app using ChatGPT
10. Docs: Using SQLite updated for SQLite WASM
11. Docs: Wiki for ForEach updated.
12. Docs: Offline wiki updated.
13. Libraries: wxPython updated to 4.2.2
14. Native: don’t initialize SQLite WASM if Cordova plugin is being used.
15. Samples: ElectronWeather now shows how to do a custom icon in Electron.
16. Samples: New ChatGPT sample
17. Update Screen: Links to proper place in Wiki.

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site .

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.0.7 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.0.7 has been released.

In this release, we’ve made lots of updates to libraries. Notably, Electron has been updated to the latest version – read below about a change you will need to make to your projects.

We’ve also updated some of the key technologies which AppStudio is built on. Python, wxPython and PyInstaller are now up to date. This has increased stability, resolved some long standing issues, and lays the groundwork for future improvements.

  1. ChatGPT: Now uses latest model: GPT-4o
  2. Samples: ElectronWeather (JavaScript) updated.
  3. Electron: Error reporting improved – check log the About screen to see messages in the log.
  4. Electron: Electron updated to 31.2, Electron-builder to 24.13.3
  5. Libraries: PyInstaller updated to 6.9
  6. Libraries: Python updated to 3.11
  7. Libraries: wxPython update to 4.2.1

If you are using Electron, make sure the following versions are set in package.json property (Project Properties, in the Electron section):

  "electron": "^31.2.0",
  "electron-builder": "^24.13.3",
  "npm": "^10.8.2"

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site .

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.0.6 Released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.0.6 has been released.

The developer of the Bootstrap Slider never updated it for Bootstrap 5, so it did not work properly. Fortunately, Bootstrap itself now has its own Range control, which we are replacing Slider with in Bootstrap 5. If you’re using Slider in BS5, you’ll get a message asking you to replace it. If you’re using Slider in BS4, no worries: that is unaffected.

We also finished support for SQLImport and SQLExport. With this, we have completed the job of supporting SQLite WASM to replace native WebSQL (which was removed from Chrome).

  1. BS5: New Range control. Replaces BS5 Slider
  2. BS5: Slider control deprecated. Replaced by a placeholder.
  3. Samples: Northwind updated to use SQLite WASM
  4. SQLite WASM: SQLImport and SQLExport are now fully supported.
  5. SQLExport: Output is now sorted properly

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site.

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.0.5 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.0.5 has been released. There are improvements to ChatGPT and SQLite support – check out the new SQLDump() command!

Support for Android 12 splashscreens has also been added.

  1. ChatGPT: Now uses gpt-3.5-turbo-0125. Can handle more data in and out.
  2. Samples: SQLSample1 has a new Lookup feature.
  3. Samples: SQLSample1 now saves to localStorage and clears database properly.
  4. Splashscreens: Support for Android 12 splashscreens added.
  5. Splashscreens: New splash background property.
  6. SQLite: Additional required files are now deployed.
  7. SQLite: Data saved to localStorage by default
  8. SQLite: Error reporting improved.
  9. SQLite: Headers for OPFS support added.
  10. SQLite: New SQLDump() command for the console.
  11. SQLite: Main() is not called until SQLite WASM finished loading
  12. SQLite: Warning appears if no SQLite library is installed when trying to open.
  13. SQLite: SQLite WASM no longer needs to be selected if using Cordova plugins
  14. SQLite WASM: Updated to 3.46

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site.

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.0.4 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.0.4 has been released. There is a new Carousel control as well as fixes for SQLite. There is even a new sample showing how to use Google’s Gemini AI!

  1. BS5: new Carousel control
  2. BS5: Input.files now works properly
  3. BS5: Bootstrap 5 updated to 5.3.3
  4. Code Window: Selecting a item in the Functions panel now goes to that function.
  5. Docs: The offline docs have been updated to the latest version.
  6. SQLite: SqlOpenDatabase can now save to localStorage
  7. Libraries: SQLite WASM updated to 3.45.3
  8. Libraries: Shake library removed (no longer maintained by author)
  9. Samples: new Google Gemini AI sample
  10. Samples: new Carousel sample

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site.

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.0.3 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.0.3 has been released.

It has a number of fixes and enhancements. Notably, it has improvements to ChatGPT: a newer engine and the ability to handle 4 times as much code in a question.

  1. BS4, BS5: Checkbox: inline property no longer adds a BR
  2. BS5: Textarea now supports .text and .value
  3. Build: Action scripts updated.
  4. Build: Upgraded signing certificates for Windows
  5. ChatGPT: Context size increase 4x. Larger code modules can be handled.
  6. ChatGPT: error messages improved.
  7. ChatGPT: Version updated to gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
  8. Electron: package-lockfile now added by default
  9. Libraries: multiple updated
  10. Samples: Unneeded voltbuilder folders deleted.
  11. Snackbar: Duration is now user controllable.
  12. Stripe: User’s name now used instead of defaulting to ‘Stripe’.
  13. Toolbox: SQL WASM description improved.
  14. VoltBuilder: do not include SQL WASM module when using – use Cordova plugin.
  15. VoltBuilder: Log file name now includes date and time of build.
  16. Voltbuilder: Missing download folder now handled properly.
  17. VoltBuilder: update trial messages

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site.

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.

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AppStudio 9.0.1 released!

We’re pleased to announce that 9.0.1 has been released.

It resolves a few issues with 9.0 and updates a number of underlying libraries.

The update makes it easier to try out AppStudio 9 if you already have an older version installed. Give it a try!

  1. Demo: Users of older versions of AppStudio can now try AppStudio 9 for 10 days.
  2. Controls: BS5 Input uses size instead of font attributes for sizing.
  3. Controls: BS5 TextArea now shows headers and footers.
  4. Copyright: Updated to 2024
  5. Electron: Updated to version 28 (samples too)
  6. Installer: proper icon shows in the Windows toolbar
  7. Runtime: Navigo warning removed by using Version 7.1.2
  8. Samples: Compass sample now asks for permission from user (iOS)

You can download the new release from within AppStudio or from our site.

If you have any questions about the new release, ask on our forum or support@appstudio.dev.