Clarion’s Architecture For The Modern Chef

Pretend we’re talking about food. Cooks, broth, steak and cake.

Clarion’s simplicity is one of it’s greatest strengths. You can break down it’s architecture very simply. I guess the other side is that simple minds need it broken down (ha ha), but anyway.

The following image first appeared in the About page.

windowslivewriterclarionsarchitectureforthemodernchef-133e5pimpmyclarion-about3

There is far more to Clarion than this. But sometimes you need to see a simple picture to imagine your path better.

Clarity.

 

Purpose.

 

Energy.

They can all (and much more) be gained from renewing a simple global understanding. And for those new here, visiting, or coming back to Clarion after a long absense, maybe this will help. I’m using Clarion most every day, and it’s as important now as it was when I began to be clear about these things.

5 Reasons To Begin A Clarion Blog

To begin PimpMyClarion’s entry into this world, I thought it fitting to examine Origins.

1. Clarion Is An Awesome Tool

Make no mistake. There is not another tool in the market that can give you what Clarion offers. – Easy Data manipulation via the Dictionary and FM3. – Powerful Template language (think Modding for the Non-Gaming application) – Some of the best 3rd Party Developers around (who make products like FM3, Handy Tools and NetTalk, just to name a few). – You can put together a simple app in minutes, but in a few hours, you can put together an Ass-Kicking piece of Data Manipulation genius.

2. Clarion 7 Is Around The Corner

It’s in Alpha testing right now. And whatever that means, it is better than not. Clarion 7 is going to change everything. In what direction remains to be seen, but I’m gonna battle on the side of .. Laziness. Clarion 7 is going to enable me, a Clarion programmer, to _know_ .NET. Not only that. The new IDE looks to bring about something I’ve longed for. A swanky editor where I can <ctrl>backspace and other new-fangled pieces of functionality. It’s also going to bring an influx of new blood.

3. People Read Opinions

The new blood is going to want to see life. It’s going to want to see people who are pushing forward with the outside world. Clarion is going to need opinions, and that’s where we (ha ha) come into the picture. Not to be left out, there are plenty of opinions to be found on the newsgroups, but ..

4. The Community Needs More Than Newsgroups

Newsgroups are pretty cool. But not as cool as newsgroups + blogs + wiki + <whatever new dream is realised next>. These things together are going to grow the community. That’s what we are about.

5. Because I Can Do It

Finally. The last reason is a simple one. I’ve created PimpMyClarion because I can. That’s about as good a reason as any in the end. People will agree or disagree. They’ll come or they won’t. But you are here. So cheers! If you’d like to know more about Clarion, I suggest (at this point in time) that you visit,

a. The Newsgroups, at news.softvelocity.com (comp.lang.clarion is the main)

b. sites like ClarionMag, Capesoft, Handy Tools, ClarionShop, StrategyOnline, ClarionX, Tom Ruby and lastly (hopefully getting a revamp soon) is SoftVelocity.

c. Email me, stu (at) pimpmyclarion (dot) com

About PimpMyClarion

Clarion.

Draw yourself a mental picture of a world where Databases and Screen Design meet together and dance around the Tree of Templates.

Clarion (Soft Velocity) is a tool. It is nothing more than what you can do with it, as goes with others. In the end, it is up to you.

With this in mind, we bring you PimpMyClarion. It’s a site dedicated to telling people about Clarion.

Nifty Facts :-

– Dictionary + App = (compile) Application

– Template functionality means POWER

– 3rd Party Tools blow the lid open

– Clarion 7 is bringing .NET

– Dev Cons Rule!

PimpMyClarion_About

Stu has been using Clarion for a couple of years now. Long enough to know he’s just dipping the edge of the water.

His personal blog can be found at crumbsandstuff.com.

The Day The Whiner Cried .. A Call To Arms

A while back, I posted a short story on the main Clarion newsgroup. It was a tale of Foxes and Forests, inspired by some of the newsgroup messages posted in the presumed calm before Clarion 7 is released.

Some people are born to be whiners. Some people have an amazing ability to point out fault. Some people have genuine complaints against SoftVelocity. Others dutifully get about their work, barely raising their heads. Some, fewer than the rest, toil hard to encourage respect for SoftVelocity. There are plenty more categories.

In light of the firestorm on the newsgroups, I have a question that’s burning a big charred hole in my brain:

Is the community of Clarion important enough?

If we truly want a community that will thrive (and I believe most of us do), then enough. Enough of the crap that is spanked about on the newsgroups. Enough crazy weird-ass socially inept comments and agendas.

Sure, I’d love for SoftVelocity to be more open handed with the community. I wish they’d employ an evangelist. Change their protocols. Whatever. That’s a separate issue to the behavior I’ve witnessed the last while (and which has been around since day zero I’ve been told) within the community. It’s appalling. Seriously.

If you’re going to whine about some stinking fish that’s been out in the sun for weeks now, then buck up and cry somewhere else. The only thing that a constant whine does is bring down the community.

If you seriously have a gripe, then always pimping said gripe on the newsgroups is worse than foolish. You are obviously not getting anywhere, so find another way to whine. Another path. Get out and play a bit of rugby. Go for a swim. Start a blog about your woes with SV. Write articles. Make songs.

If you are going to write a song, then instead of writing about "hating the Ho-SV-shizzle", get passionate about a vision.

For the community to grow (it’s not right now, not really – middling is a word I’d use), then we need to start believing in a vision. A vision of shipping product. Of DevCons. A vision of making software that will be talked about. Of getting the best that Clarion offers, plus all the other zillion tools the developer has waiting on the interweb.

We, the Clarion Community, should by all rights be a force to be reckoned with. There should be hundreds of thousands of people using it. Loving it. Making it a better product by being part of the Community.

United we stand, whiners we kind of slouch.

I’m glossing over half a hundred issues and concerns, I know. Fixing every little problem isn’t the purpose of this article.

This article is a call to arms! It’s a fire in the belly, the beauty that draws you home. The joy of life. Belief!

There are a number of practical ways to start growing the community. Every good sermon has three points; I’ve got seven. You could do one, all, or another not-mentioned point. Whatever it is, if it builds the community, then awesome!

1. Start a blog and write about Clarion. Visit other blogs, comment. Take time with this, spreading the word out into the world.

2. Write about Clarion. Whether it be articles for Clarion Mag, or for the local newspaper. Really pimp this thing.

3. Join in on good discussions on newsgroups, IRC, Skype etc. Don’t be enticed by the Foxes and Snakes. They’ll pounce quickly and drain your life away, and apathy or anger will set in.

4. Ship products.

5. Ship good products.

6. Ship awesome products.

7. Believe.

Reading back over the article, I wonder if perhaps I’ve used some harsh words and made a few big calls. Normally I’d apologize for any bad mojo that’s going to be caused by this article. But I stand by my words. I don’t have all the answers, but I’m not going to sit idly by. It’s time for the community to grab life by the hojos. It’s time to pick up our torch and pitch-fork. Send the hounds out after the foxes and lets kick this place into gear.

In the words of the great Logan:

‘Nuff said, Bub.

The Fox (A Story of the Forest)

Following is a story I posted to the Clarion Newsgroups recently. I guess I was trying to be clever. Not sure if it works.

The Fox walked through the Forest. He was an intelligent Fox, especially when talking about Chickens. Oh boy, he knew Chickens alright. Of course, they were crafty Creatures themselves, and he had never actually _caught_ a Chicken.

The Fox didn’t let this minor detail discourage him.

The Fox had a secret. He didn’t _try_ to catch and eat any Chickens. Indeed, it was hard work, much harder than walking through the Forest. He couldn’t understand why you would want to go to all the effort of catching and eating Chickens when it was far easier just to tell the other Creatures of the Forest _about_ catching and eating them.

Every Creature in the Forest looked up and respected the Fox, he was sure. They whispered as he walked past, tail high, bristles clean and magnificent.

"They are whispering of my most excellent wisdom in the area of catching and eating Chickens."

As at the start of every day, the Fox walked through the Forest to the High Hill.

The High Hill was the place of commerce and gossip and work for the Forest Creatures. Here goods were bought and sold in the open. Here friendships were made between Lion and Lamb. There wasn’t any bartering or haggling to speak of, except when a piece of fruit was rotten, or contained Flies. Mostly, it was gossip about other Forest Creatures and especially, the Lord of the Forest.

The Lord of the Forest was almost never present. He was a great Tree, Wise and Ancient. His head of green could be seen moving through the Forest, although the Forest was large enough so that some Creatures never caught a glimpse of him.

Today, as at the start of every Today, the Fox made his way up the High Hill, to the Summit. Proudly he trotted, pretending not to notice the whispering. His mission was of the utmost importance Today (as with every Today).

"I must alert my fellow Creatures to the danger. The Great Fox In The Sky has shown me the future, as he showed my forebears. I must preach this gospel to all who will listen. Nay, to ALL."

Reaching the Summit of the High Hill, the Fox turned around, and waited for silence.

The Creatures of the Forest continued their commerce, gossip and work.

"Creatures of the Forest! I have grave tidings!" The Fox pronounced in somber but magnificent (he was sure) tones.

A Bear rambling past turned her head. "Grave Tidings?" She snorted. "Have you caught any Chickens yet oh Great and Mighty Fox?"

The Fox smiled. "Good Bear, why, that is not important. I cannot enter into such conversations when that which I came here to speak is of such import!"

The Bear shook her shaggy head and continued on.

"The Lord of the Forest loves us no more!"

This turned heads. Some Creatures came forward. A small Turtle, slow and ponderous began to make his way to the Summit. A Hare hopped across and watched the Fox.

"He has forsaken us! His true people, who have done nought but Love and Cherish him!"

More Creatures of the Forest came and sat in front of the Fox, listening. Although more still went about their business.

A Lion, down at the bottom of the High Hill looked at the Fox. The Lion looked, and the Fox pretended not to notice the Look.

"Fellow Creatures! Although my words may bring fear, let us be Brave and Courageous! It is no longer time for the Leaf! It is the Claw and the Tooth that will prevail, bringing us victory!"

The Snake, ever an ally of the Fox, joined him at the Summit.

"Yeessss. It is soooo. The Fox speaks great wisdom."

The Turtle had finally made his way to the Summit.

"Fox. Why should we fight the Lord of the Forest? Without him, the Forest would not exist. You would have no home. All the Creatures of the Forest would have no home. The Forest provides us with safety. It provides us business here, at the High Hill, and the other Hills. And the Lord, he grows the Forest ever onwards."

The Fox waited a moment.

"Yes Turtle. You are correct. We do have the Lord of the Forest to thank for our past blessings. But what of the Now? Where is he?"

The Snake whispered, although loud enough for those around to hear. "Yesssss, I have not seen the Lord of the Forest for months, even years."

The Turtle persisted. "That doesn’t mean the Lord of the Forest has abandoned us. Why, just yesterday I spoke with him."

The Snake laughed. "And where is your proof Slow One? What did the great lord say to you?"

The Turtle twisted slowly, uncomfortable. "I have no proof. And I cannot speak of what he told me. It will be revealed soon."

The Fox joined in the laughter with Snake.

"Foolish Turtle. Why do you seek to deceive these loyal Creatures of the Forest who stand here, only wishing to hear the Truth. Begone with you."

The Turtle turned, sadness in his eyes, and walked down the hill, slowly.

That day, the Today, many Creatures of the Forest were disturbed by the preaechings of the Fox (and the Snake). They went to their homes confused. Did the Lord of the Forest really care for them? Why hadn’t they heard him? Seen him? Or even, as the Snake had finished with, seen Evidence of his passing?

The dawn broke across the Forest. The Creatures of the Forest awoke, blinking in the sunlight.

The Forest was gone.

The Fox was gone, as was the Snake.

The Lord of the Forest stood before them.

"Beware the words of Foxes and Snakes, for they breed heresies and lies."

Then he was gone.

They were no longer Creatures of the Forest.

In the days that followed, some Creatures sought out other Forests. Some passed away, longing for a place without Foxes and Snakes. Others stayed where they were, stubbornly refusing to leave their home. They began to grow new trees, or at least they tried.

Finis.

Bob’s Post In Full

I spoke about Bob’s post to the community in a previous post. He’s given me permission to regale it here in all it’s glory. So here ’tis.

——–

Update on the Clarion UKCUG meeting

I’m back in the USA after a great trip to the UK and France. The Clarion UK user group meeting in Cambridge was a very good time. I had a chance to meet with some great folks, and it was a superb location. My thanks to Richard Rose for organizing the event, and to all of the developers who attended. I had a chance to speak with many of those who attended, and I came away with a clearer understanding of what developers want and need for both Clarion 7 and Clarion.Net.

Between Scott and myself we covered the gamut, from updates to the Clarion 7 UI feature set, to the new functionality in the Project system, Class Browser, Window and Report Designers, source code Editor and much more. Then I did code walkthroughs and ran live Clarion WinForm applications, WebForm apps, Web services, and Mobile applications. My presentation alone ran about 4 hours.

Because we covered so much new territory it’s natural to expect that some of the information would be misinterpreted, and upon my return I found that some information posted at devdawn.com and at clarionmag.com is a bit off the mark and has created some confusion.

I’ll try to clarify a few things here, addressing the items posted that were not quite accurate, and also answering some questions sent in via email to our sales/support team that were generated from the incorrect information.

  • Clarion.Net can use every driver that we currently ship
  • All of the standard Clarion file access syntax is supported and is unchanged, i.e. OPEN, NEXT, PREVIOUS, GET, REGET, etc
  • Clarion.Net can utilize any .Net data provider. A .NET Framework data provider is used for connecting to a database, executing commands, and retrieving results.
  • The .NET 2.0 Framework includes the data provider for SQL Server (for Microsoft SQL Server version 7.0 or later), the data provider for OLE DB, and the data provider for ODBC.
  • Almost every SQL backend provides their own .Net data provider
  • The data provider for ODBC lets you connect to any data source where an ODBC driver is available.
  • The Topspeed and Clarion drivers are being ported to .Net managed code as native providers; all of the other drivers are accessed via a bridge layer that is built into the Clarion.Net RTL. The bridge layer is invisible. In other words your code reads exactly as it does today using any version of Clarion, regardless of what driver you are using.

    To make this crystal clear, here is some code that I used to fill a Queue to show databinding of a Queue to a DataGrid control (and to a DataGridView control). It should look very familiar.

    (EDIT (Stu) :: Apologies for the List Bullets, tried my best, but couldn’t get rid of them all using stlye="list-style-type: none;", which is wierd, but anyway, decided to just leave them all in

    MainForm.FillQueue PROCEDURE()
    CODE

    • OPEN(People)
      • IF ERRORCODE() THEN
        • MESSAGE(ERRORCODE()&’-‘&ERROR())
    • END
    • SET(People)
      • LOOP
        • NEXT(People)
        • IF ERRORCODE() THEN
          • BREAK
        • ELSE
          • SELF.QPeople.Id = PEO:Id
          • SELF.QPeople.FirstName = PEO:FirstName
          • SELF.QPeople.LastName = PEO:LastName
          • SELF.QPeople.Gender = PEO:Gender
          • ADD(SELF.QPeople)
        • END
      • END
  • You also have the option to access your FILEs using a combination of the ADO.Net objects; DataTable, DataSet, and DataAdapter. I showed an example of this at the meeting.

    Hopefully the above points will clear up the confusion regarding drivers and file access options in Clarion.Net.

  • As regards the post that stated the Clarion 7 compiler had been ported to .Net managed code – it is incorrect. The Clarion 7 compiler is native code.
  • As regards the post that read "64bit Native Compilers for .NET". It is also a bit of the mark. The 64-bit version of the .NET Framework 2.0 enables .NET applications to run on 64-bit workstations as 64-bit native applications, and in most cases, applications developed using the 32-bit .NET Framework can be ported to the 64-bit version of the .NET Framework without any source code modifications.

    I think the confusion stems from the fact that I asked the attendees .. how many of you would be interested in a 64bit native compiler .. i.e. a port of the Clarion 7 compiler so as to produce 64bit native code.

  • As regards the post that indicated that you’d be unable to access TPS files from other .Net languages. I showed a simple example where in Clarion.Net we read a TPS file, filled a Queue and then loaded (databinded) the Queue into a .Net DataGrid control, and then opened a WinForm to display the data. We then took a C# application, and in 3 lines of code created an instance of the same Clarion.Net WinForm and showed the form displaying the data from within the C# app.

I hope all of the above clears up any items that were confusing. We’ll be posting all of the information presented at the UK meeting right here in a series of movies, and if you have any other questions on the information that came from the meeting feel free to post them here, or in the Clarion Community forum.

Clarion All Road-Mapped

Bob Z has posted again, regarding the Clarion Roadmap.

It’s great (awesome even, although I use that word far too frequently) to see this communcation. Getting another look inside, seeing how the development is going, what purpose and direction they (SoftVelocity) have.

Keep it up Bob!

Here are two snippets of interest ("Spirit" being Clarion 7, and "Hidalgo" being Clarion .NET) ::

Spirit is currently scheduled to be completed and released this year (2006). It will support development of Win32 applications using any version of Clarion from 1.5 to 7.0. We’re considering releasing tech preview builds to Core Subscription users as we get closer to RTM, and before that organizing an Alpha release team, primarily to allow 3 rd party vendors to prepare new editions of their products.

The current plan is to release Hidalgo in calendar year 2006. Prior to the RTM for Hidalgo we’re considering releasing Clarion.Net subscriptions and tech preview builds, but that will depend largely upon how quickly we can get the heap of new language syntax documented, and the new Template sets tested.