A good news for Harbour/QT from Roberto Lopez

[Massimo Belgrano]

Roberto Lopez have write hmg future direction
It is very clear for me that Windows is the past. 

Devices not having Windows installed are becoming more and more popular since the people don't care about that so much.

QT framework (accessible to us via HBQT) provides compatibility with the following platforms:

- Embedded Linux
- Mac OSX
- Windows
- Linux/X11
- Windows CE/Mobile
- Symbian
- Maemo

Is obvious that is time to change, so I've decided the following:

1. I'll stop any new development based on Windows API (HMG 3.0 will be the last one).

2. The next major HMG release (HMG 4.0) will be based on HMG OJECTS + HBQT so it will be:

a. Full standard OOP.
b. Full compatible with HMG semi-OOP style.
c. Multi-platform

3. I'll still work on HMG 3.0 to do maintenance (bug-fixing only).

4. After the base development in the HMG 4 release be complete, I'll create a team (If there are volunteers) to finish the work.

IMHO, the team work will be successful since:

a. HMG windows and controls properties events and methods (our project goals) are fully docummented.
b. QT classes are fully docummented.
c. QT is extremely high-level compared to Windows API.
d. QT classes has .prg level wrappers (HBQT) so, no C programming is required.
e. QT provides advanced functionality (ie: Inputmask for textbox is built in).
f. So, it's only matter of plug the adequate components in the right places 

5. If we are successful, HMG 4 will be YOUR project.

6. Since I have a lot to learn and research yet (added to my others occupations) as I've already announced, I'll reduce my participation in the forum for some time (please don't worry  ).

7. Hopefully, for HMG 10th birthday, I'll be another user/contributor

..

As I've already stated I like GTK more, but HBQT is officialy supported/distributed with Harbour. This is a HUGE advantage.

Regarding license, QT allows the creation of proprietary (closed source) applications if you link it dynamically with QT libraries, so you must redistribute QTCORE4.DLL and QTGUI4.DLL.

Marcos Gambetta noted me that redistribution of these DLLS are allowed by QT license, so, there is no problems about that.

QT is extremely high level compared to GTK, so, will be possible to anyone without C language and Operating system internals knowledge to contribute. This is very important to turn HMG 4 in a true collaborative project. Any average Harbour programmer with an idea, only should to review QT documentation to write the right code to enhance HMG.

Finally, because the structure of HMG OBJECTS will be very easy to exchange back-ends frameworks, so an alternative version based on GTK will be always possible, specially if Harbour officially supports bindings for GTK in the future

..

I've created a new project at Sourceforge and I've started to work with SVN preparing it for the team work:

http://hmg.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/hmg/

Meaning that contributors will be able to upload your changes directly. To do that, I'm using Tortoise SVN.

Contributors will need a SourceForge.net account.

..

--
Massimo Belgrano

[Massimo Belgrano]

I want Remember one of my old post
Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:03:51 -0700

Thanks to Marcos Gambeta for his exciting and inspiring works
HB QT is a Great Milestone for harbour comunity now we will able
develop state-of-the-art graphical user interfaces for harbour, and
easily port them to new platforms
Harbour and QT are either Mature,Modern,Portable,Efficient and the
marriage hb,qta will give Popular and beautiful
Still Thanks also to all harbour developer that have joined to qt idea
--
Massimo Belgrano

2010/8/19 Massimo Belgrano <mbel...@deltain.it>

> 5. If we are successful, HMG 4 will be YOUR project.
>

> 6. Since I have a lot to learn and research yet (added to my others occupations) as I've already announced, I'll reduce my participation in the forum for some time (please don't worry  ).

>
> 7. Hopefully, for HMG 10th birthday, I'll be another user/contributor
> ..
> As I've already stated I like GTK more, but HBQT is officialy supported/distributed with Harbour. This is a HUGE advantage.
>
> Regarding license, QT allows the creation of proprietary (closed source) applications if you link it dynamically with QT libraries, so you must redistribute QTCORE4.DLL and QTGUI4.DLL.
>
> Marcos Gambetta noted me that redistribution of these DLLS are allowed by QT license, so, there is no problems about that.
>
> QT is extremely high level compared to GTK, so, will be possible to anyone without C language and Operating system internals knowledge to contribute. This is very important to turn HMG 4 in a true collaborative project. Any average Harbour programmer with an idea, only should to review QT documentation to write the right code to enhance HMG.
>
> Finally, because the structure of HMG OBJECTS will be very easy to exchange back-ends frameworks, so an alternative version based on GTK will be always possible, specially if Harbour officially supports bindings for GTK in the future
> ..
> I've created a new project at Sourceforge and I've started to work with SVN preparing it for the team work:
>
> http://hmg.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/hmg/
>
> Meaning that contributors will be able to upload your changes directly. To do that, I'm using Tortoise SVN.
>
> Contributors will need a SourceForge.net account.
> ..
>
> --
> Massimo Belgrano

--
Massimo Belgrano