Disadvantages of using Basic4Android? [closed]

Question

I am currently researching the pros and cons about Basic4Android. I have a good list of pros (http://www.basic4ppc.com/android/why.html) but what are some disadvantages to using this? What limitations does this tool have?

Thank-you for the help!

Answer 1

The only real down side I see is (potentially) wasting $49.00 ;)

Frankly, I'd encourage anyone to download the Google SDK and become familiar with Android Studio and the Java API.

But this looks like it might be very easy to get started with, shouldn't incur any runtime performance penalty, and allows you to create unencumbered (fully redistributable) APK's.

So if you prefer Basic over Java, and have a spare $49 - sure, go for it!

IMHO...

Answer 2

There are many many pros to using Basic4android. Its a neat package and well supported by the author Erel.

Pros + Feature-rich in terms of settings + Intellisense editor + Many libraries + GUI designer + Plain and easy to pick up language + Debugger

Cons - lack of support for Object orientation - No unique global variables within Subs

Answer 3

After trying virtual every platform from Basic4Android, thru Eclips, RadStudio Xe2, and Windev Mobile which I had high hopes for, I can say I strongly prefer B4A. The easiest I found by far, and the most useful examples by far. As far as limitations, I have found only a few and those are easily gotten around since you can take any Java code and wrap it in a library that B4A can use quite easily. With that capability, I can go to Eclips if needed and generate code and use it in B4A. I am not a fan of Basic. But I also do not know Java. For me that was not the issue. It was the ease of using the interface without getting lost and most important, a solid example of damn near everything the phone can do.

Answer 4

The only disadvantage I see is that not everything from the whole Android Java API is supported. There are some things (like the MapView for example) that are (currently) not usable in B4A. The most important things are available but there are still parts which need some improvement (like the homescreen widgets).

If you want to get good results very quickly and don't need to use every exotic Android feature, give it a try.

If you want access to every feature that is available in Android there is only the way to choose the Eclipse IDE and directly use Java. But you have to invest much more time for developing than you have to do with B4A.