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The Right Tool for the Right Job


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#1 APsit190

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Posted 15 February 2012 - 06:19 PM

All,
As some of you have guessed there are a few (or a lot) of us who are programmers and Software developers. Some work for themselves and others work for somebody. Me, I work for myself. So, in a sense this post is for us programmers, more than anyone else, but if you're interested in learning programming, then this is a post for you as well.

One of the beaut things I like about the e-Sword community is the involvement of Software developers wanting to develop great tools which can be used in conjunction with e-Sword and/or to further enhance e-Sword. Tools like ToolTip Tool, e-Sword Downloader, e-Sword Installer Menu (I just had to put in a plug for that one), and a number of others have been created so that the user can do more than what can be normally done with e-Sword.

But when it comes to the development of these kinds of programs, the right kind of programming tool (IDE) is required for the kind of program that is wanting to be developed. So what is the best programming tool to use, and what is the best programming language to use? Well, we all our our particular favorites. I mainly program in C# (C sharp) using Visual Studio 2003, and Josh Bond mainly programs in C++ (C Plus, Plus) using Visual Studio 2010 (I think).

But the one thing about Visual Studio, is when it comes down to programming for databases it is in this area that it lacks. For some weird reason its not user friendly to all database formats. Perhaps that it is most compatible with, would be MS Access, and so when it comes to developing software that can do things with SQLite database files, it is here that VS isn't the right tool for the right Job.

e-Sword uses SQLite Database files, and in a coarse sense e-Sword is an SQLite Database file handler, but one that can handle quite a large number of files. And so when it comes to creating a tool for e-Sword that can create and edit specific database files there has to be the right programming tool which is compatible to SQLite database files.

There are two products that are the kind of tools which can a programmer can use to create tools for e-Sword. One is very expensive to buy, and the other is totally free.

The Tool I want to focus on is the Lazarus RAD (Rapid Application Developer) programming IDE (Integrated Development Environment) which uses the Free Pascal programming Language. As many of us know both Delphi. Pascal, Turbo Pascal, and Free Pascal are extremely friendly friendly programming tools for Databases. In fact when Borland put out Turbo Pascal, and then Delphi (a Pascal based language), they created a tool that worked extremely well in database type applications. And this is also the case with Lazarus (an Open Sauce programming IDE).

The reason I am mentioning all of this, is because when it comes to developing software that can handle SQLite database files, Lazarus comes in heads up first on this. The VCL (Visual Component Library) Toolbar contains a large number of Database visual components (see screenshot below) and has SQLite connectivity. This means that for those wishing to develop software tools for e-Sword, would have no problems in doing so.

Lazarus Programming IDE running on Windows XP
[attachment=383:Lazareth IDE.jpg]

There is extensive documentation available online for Lazareth for both the novice and advanced Pascal programmer. There is also extensive online help and documentation of the Language.

Lazareth comes out for both 32 bit and 64 bit systems.

To download Lazarus: http://sourceforge.n.../lazarus/files/
Lazarus Wiki Page: http://wiki.lazarus....x.php/Main_Page
All documentation can also be found at this site.

Lazarus Manual (Hard Copy)
http://www.blaisepas...bookinfoEnglish Sorry, but this one you've got to buy this one. It aint free.

There is quite an extensive library on the Pascal programming language if you want to learn something new.

If this is the right tool for you to use in your creation of an e-Sword tool, then I'm sure you'll be happy to use it.

Blessings,
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Edited by APsit190, 15 February 2012 - 06:23 PM.

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#2 Olaf Bacon

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Posted 17 August 2022 - 11:48 PM

Lazarus Files as at August 2022. This is no longer on an unsecure http:// website. This is on a secure website https:// 
The Lazarus IDE is a stable and feature rich visual programming environment for the FreePascal Compiler. It supports the creation of self-standing graphical and console applications and runs on Linux, FreeBSD, MacOSX, and Windows.
 

Please notice that Lazarus Files Documentation is at
https://sourceforge.net/projects/lazarus/files/Lazarus%20Documentation/

Please notice that Lazarus Files is at
https://sourceforge.net/projects/lazarus/files/ and provides for Lazarus Windows 64 bits, and Lazarus Windows 32 bits, various options for Lazarus Linux, and also for the Lazarus Mac OS x86-64, Lazarus Mac OS X i386, and Lazarus Mac OS X powerpc.






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