Other It's time to grow

[Erel]

I’m very proud in the continuing progress of B4X tools. I’m also very proud to be part of this amazing developers community.

In the last couple of years, I have a growing feeling that B4X tools do not realize their potential. While there are all kinds of development tools, B4X offers a unique set of features: simple, powerful, mature, great community, RAD, native, cross platform and more.
B4X tools are an excellent choice for a wide range of real-world use cases.

So, the question is how to make B4X more popular? Obviously, it is not a simple nor a short-term task.
A clear growth barrier is the fact that unlike most development tools today, B4A and B4i are not free. This wasn’t the case 10 years ago.

The big announcement today is that B4A will become free in a few weeks. The framework - set of internal libraries, will be open sourced.

We will accept contributions for B4A like currently done with B4J.
We've also secured funds from a US investor who shares my vision of making B4X a popular development tool. These resources will allow us to further expand.

How can you help?

Help us spread the word about B4X.

 

[alwaysbusy]

no serious developer

Thanks man! #ThatHurts

 

[hatzisn]

So, the end of an era approaches... What could one say???

 

[LucaMs]

I think all of you, me first, have misunderstood the intention of the first post; it was just an announcement, in practice you shouldn't have commented, just be informed of the news.

I know from... experience

(Instead, this is the 68th post)

 

[udg]

And have no doubt, I'm not going anywhere

Right, you are Anywhere (Software)

 

[Peter Simpson]

So, the end of an era approaches... What could one say???

Bring on the new era of B4A. B4A will be bigger, better, improved upon and this great community of B4X developers will increase in size and everybody will greatly benefit from it all

Yeah, bring it on

 

[Martin Larsen]

it was just an announcement, in practice you shouldn't have commented

I am 100% sure that Erel knew what he did. If he didn't want comments and thoughts, he would have disabled this function.

 

[Carlos marin]

thank you very much for everything Erel, I hope it is not a farewell especially this great forum that we have.
I will contribute more by helping all new people in what I can and obviously in donations. thank you again Erel B4X changed my life

 

[maleche]

WOW!
Very generous!
I still feel your work and great software should be paid.
i will send my previous annual license fees as a contribution each year.
Keep up the outstanding work!

 

[Alessandro71]

does this means there will be others, more intrusive, ways to capitalize on B4X?
the license fee was honest enough, and if this means we'll have advertizing and/or marketing profiling into the IDE or into the published apps, then better keep paying the license but being free of them.

 

[Cableguy]

does this means there will be others, more intrusive, ways to capitalize on B4X?
the license fee was honest enough, and if this means we'll have advertizing and/or marketing profiling into the IDE or into the published apps, then better keep paying the license but being free of them.

If that was the case, why would he make it OPEN SOURCE…???

 

[Alessandro71]

Ubuntu is open source, yet it tried some advertising in its desktop interface

 

[miker2069]

Thanks however this isn't relevant to my statement.

More specifically, what made B4X very attractive and frankly a breath of fresh air in an overly complicated and complex set of choices for app development was it's simplicity. As Erel stated it's unique (and elegant and simple) approach to application development are a part of Erel's core beliefs and it's reflected in his tools. I knew this day would come one day and my concern is others who don't share the core values that makes B4X so special and try to do things for the sake of increasing ROI. Erel is like Steve Jobs in this regard - what made Apple amazing was Steve. I won't press this point to much but, just something rattling around my head.

 

[Harris]

FREE? I am speechless....

 

[lucasheer]

Holy ****.

I need to call my mom

 

[Mahdi321]

Wow... it very good news...

 

[Hamied Abou Hulaikah]

I feel like a parent who's son is moving out to start its own life...

Me, as well as a very few others, where already "here" before the BIG BANG occurred when Erel first announced B4A.
We have accompanied our litle child from birth, watch it crawl, take it's first steps, first day at school, and of course, all the growing pains.
Now it's all grown up, and ready to move out, and all I want to say is...

WHAT A GREAT JOB WE DID RAISING B4A!

May this new phase of B4A's life be one of fulfillment and wonder!
Long live Erel and B4A!

Exactly

 

[Erel]

does this means there will be others, more intrusive, ways to capitalize on B4X?

There are no such plans.

 

[Lello1964]

I think your idea of free B4A is right.

 

[Ilya G.]

It's great! Downloading libraries on the forum will also be free?

 

[Erel]

Downloading libraries on the forum will also be free?

Yes (except of B4i libraries).