Pedalling Fast: The 4.6 Cycle
LiveCode 4.6.4 was released last week with improvements all round, building on a relentless release cycle over the last few months
by Heather Nagey
Here at RunRev we believe in hard work. Lots of it. We also spend a lot of time listening to what you need, then trying to provide it for you as quickly as possible. Over the last few months we have been putting out frequent updates adding new features and fixes to LiveCode 4.6. This release cycle has had a major focus on bringing our pre-release platforms like Android and Server up to full release and syncing the engine that all the platforms are using to be the latest engine branch. Since they have all been .0x updates, anyone with a 4.6 license will have had access to all these releases without needing to purchase an update.
A punishing release schedule
Since the release of 4.6 in March, we have put out no fewer than four point releases, culminating in 4.6.4 last week. Thats an impressive release program of almost one a month!
 Android
4.6.1 in May brought you the first full Android release with a raft of features specifically for Android. For the first time you could publish your Android apps to the Android Marketplace, with support for such things as the camera, multi-touch, SQLite, launch/fetch urls and more. This release also added to our iOS feature set and as always we took the opportunity to add fixes and enhancements to the entire LiveCode family.
 iOS Externals
4.6.2 followed in June with the brand new iOS externals interface. Why is this exciting? Because now, with access to outside APIs, you can add any feature on iOS that is available as a C, C++ or Objective C library. If LiveCode iOS itself doesn't support something you need, there is every chance you can simply roll it in from an outside source. We've even created six sample projects for you to use either out of the box or with your own additions. In particular the Socket Support external has been welcomed with open arms. We're also hearing that a number of you are hard at work creating some interesting LiveCode addons using this external interface - stay tuned for more information on this in the future!
 Server
4.6.3 was an important release in July with the first full release of LiveCode Server. The much desired ability to use stacks from the Server engine was added, as well as a Server engine for Windows installation, adding to the existing Mac and Linux engines. We ensured that on iOS and Mac the new Lion OS was supported, with a forward look at iOS 5. We also added some new Android features, and made a full update to the LiveCode Dictionary. The team have assured me that the dictionary from now on will stay in sync with new terms and changes to existing terms, as and when they occur. They never want to have to add over 150 entries in one go again! From the feedback we have received you really appreciate the updated dictionary, which can be accessed under the Help menu inside LiveCode. Copies of the full printed dictionary are flying off the shelves. I'm happy to say this is no longer a pre-order product, it is in print and shipping out just as fast as we can send it.
Finally in 4.6.4 last week we brought some much requested improvements including cookie support for Server - see how to implement this in article 4 of this newsletter - multiline UI text for iOS, and support for the latest SDK for Android. Phew. After all that, you'd think we'd give our entire development team a month off to recover...
...or not. I can't tell you what they are working on now, (unless you're part of our LiveCode Developer Program of course!), but you know its going to be good.
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About the Author
Heather Nagey is Customer Services Manager for RunRev Ltd.
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