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From: 1k1mgm@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (Christopher Gunn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: Visual Programming Tools for the Mac
Message-ID: <27596.277210d0@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 21 Dec 90 19:40:32 GMT
References: <1990Dec19.224056.25805@athena.cs.uga.edu>
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 41

In article<1990Dec19.224056.25805@athena.cs.uga.edu>,fore@athena.cs.uga.edu
  (Howard Fore) writes:
> What's the consensus on "Visual Programming Tools" such as AppMaker (Bowers
> Development), the trio of products by Serius, Prototyper (Smethers and 
> Barnes, formerly by Now Software), and Visual Interactive Programming      
> (Mainstay).  Are they completely bogus, or are they actually worth the money
> to get them?

I recall hearing vaguely good things about Prototyper and reports that
VIP isn't much more than a toy.  Can't cite--read this stuff 1+ yr. ago.

You might want to look into Prograph from TGS Systems.  It's not a visual
*tool* but a true visual language, using an object-oriented data-flow
paradigm ('object-flow').  I haven't used it a lot and figuring out how
the hell it works (conceptually) has made my head hurt at times, but it
seems pretty nifty.  There's an interpreter-only version (~$150*) plus a
version that includes a compiler (~$250*).  Even the compiled version is
pretty slow, but it has hooks to Think and MPW C.  In fact, you can build
new Prograph primitives in C and add them to the visual language.  (I think
you have to add C this way in the interpreter;  there are more options
with the compiler.)

You will go bats trying to use Prograph (probably any visual language,
actually) on a tinyMac 9" screen.  I am to blame for the recent thread
on big screens for Plus/SE/Classic-flavored Macs as the result of my
desire to solve this problem (which I haven't done yet).

I'm not willing yet to recommend Prograph as a real development tool
or as an application shell builder, but I think it's fascinating and
well worthwhile.
 
> Howard Fore   fore@athena.cs.uga.edu    (128.192.4.49)

*Prices from MacWarehouse etc.  I think most mail-order joints have it.
No idea whether there's a demo version.  I don't have manuals etc.
with me but can give you lead if you need.  I also have collection of
reviews;  I'll email if you want.

Christopher Gunn	Molecular Graphics & Modeling Lab
913-864-4428 or -4495	Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Malott Hall
			University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS  66045