LiveCode Extends Its Development Platform to Android

LiveCode, an alternative tool for developing mobile apps designed for those who don’t want to use Objective-C, C++ or Java, has now extended its development environment from iOS to now include Android. This platform lets developers create apps using one code base for multiple platforms, including mobile, desktop and Web, while still taking advantage of OS-specific features. The code itself is written in a high-level language, using English-like syntax, for ease of use, and the apps are built in a compile-free environment, which means it’s fast, too.

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What’s LiveCode?

In order to access the OS-specific features of various platforms, LiveCode uses deployments packs, which are provided for a number of other platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, various Web browsers, plus iOS and Android.

The name comes from the fact that code is not compiled, meaning it’s always “live.” This allows developers to see changes in real-time, which can speed up the development process. RunRev, the company behind LiveCode, said it surveyed 670 developers working on 415 projects and found that those developers saved 51 days of development time by using the LiveCode platform instead of Java or Objective-C. One-third of those surveyed said they would not have been able to complete their project without LiveCode, due to complexities or limitations in traditional programming languages.

While apps created with LiveCode can certainly become the final end product of a developer’s efforts, the platform serves another purpose too: active prototypes. With LiveCode, in-house developers and development teams can quickly and easily produce rich-media, cross-platform apps for use internally.

LiveCode for Android

The newest addition, LiveCode for Android, supports the following features at present:

• Rendering of controls with non-system themes (default is Motif theme)
• Date and Time Handling
• Multi-touch events
• Shake
• Gradients, graphic effects and blending
• Non platform, non system dependent syntax
• Object snapshot command
• Include file/folders
• Accelerometer support (if present)
• Ask / answer password dialogs
• Sound playback

Additional features and updates will come rapidly, the company promises.

LiveCode starts at $99. More info is available here: http://www.runrev.com/products/mobile-deployment/overview/.

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