REAL Software is working hard to create a new platform layer for REALbasic based on Cocoa, the API for Mac OS X. Some of you are probably interested if REALbasic 2009 Release 5 will offer a option to build Cocoa applications…
In August, REAL Software announced that Cocoa REALbasic would be in beta by the end of the first quarter of 2009 and shipping by the end of the second quarter. As they say… they are making excellent progress but the schedule for shipping a beta is going to conflict with the schedule for REALbasic 2009 R2 which is going to ship in mid-April.
Since REALbasic 2009 R3 is likely to be the release in which REAL Software ship Cocoa support, REAL Software will make Cocoa available for testing with the first R3 alpha release. If you are on REALbasic beta list email list, REAL Software will announce the alpha there most likely in the first two weeks of April. So we aren’t going to make the end of first quarter date but we will be close.
The transition from Carbon to Cocoa is a big one and REALbasic developers are sure we will all agree that the important thing is that it’s done right. While there will be some new features, REAL Software goal for the first release is compatibility with existing projects.
Geoff Perlman posted a comment on REAL Software blog with some new info about releasing REALbasic Cocoa update. There are some good and some bad informations.
The good thing is that REAL Software has only a few features left to implement. After that, there will need to be a period of testing and bug fixing. Unfortunately for this reason Cocoa will not ship with REALbasic 2009 Release 5. We can only keep our fingers crossed that we will see Cocoa update in Release 6.
PS.
When Cocoa update will be available for most of us, this won’t require any changes to our code. We will just choose a new option when we build our application. No learning form scratch required 
REALbasic City is a part of TUTSPOLIS where you can find tutorials about creating cross-platform software for Mac, Windows and Linux using REALbasic 2009. Learn a object-oriented dialect of the BASIC programming language and create your own games and software such as browsers, periodic tables, catalogs for your
personal book library, e-mail clients, weather clients, instant messengers, unarchivers etc.
I seriously doubt that there will be an RB 2009 R6 since it’s so late in the year. The only way I see an R6 happening is if R5 has too many bugs (which I don’t see happening).
The transition to Cocoa will be interesting. I suspect that it will take a couple of releases to become stable.
Yeah, I don’t think we will see an R6 either. After 2009r5, we will see 2010R1. Will cocoa be in the R1 release? If it is not, RS better sell the company as they are already losing customers left and right, partly because of there slowness in implementing worthwhile changes and features. They have been promising Cooca since RB 2006! Yes it is true, look in the PR archives. If they do not get Cocoa out the door by R1 and you work for RS, I would update your resume and try to find a new job.
That said, based on the feedback system, 2009R5 is at FC2, which means Final Candidate. So I expect a release of R5 within the next week or two.
Hmm…
I hope that REAL Software will show us a demonstration of Cocoa update so we can see what was implemented and what can we expect from this release. If almost everything is ready why don’t show this the community or if this will sound better costumers?
I hope they demo Cocoa too, but am not holding my breath. I am also not holding my breath that they get this done and released by 2010 R1. RS makes very critical mistakes when it comes to RB and announcements and timelines. It is almost like they are shareware developers that are just starting out. They make the same mistakes. You would think, with all their experience, they would have figured it out by now.
And Andrew what are you thinking about the policy to not discuss about anything from the beta list outside of the beta program? It was always like that?
It was always like that. But before, (RB 5.x era) they had an open mailing list that you could join and it was archived so anyone could see. Technically if you are in the beta program, you are not supposed to discuss private information. I am not in the beta list, so I am not bound by that policy. Also this article is about a publicly posted comment by Geoff on the RS Blog so it is also not bound by the RS policy.
Hi!
I’m new to RB and interested in buying RB, but when I read comments like this, I quit.
What it means that they will implement Cocoa? What we get with that?
Thanks!
This means good. Cocoa is Apple’s name for the collection of frameworks, APIs, and accompanying runtimes that make up the development layer of Mac OS X. By developing with the Cocoa frameworks you will be writing applications the same way that Mac OS X itself is written, with complete access to the full power of the operating system, including the signature Mac look and feel. Cocoa is simply the best way to create native Mac applications.
More informations http://developer.apple.com/cocoa/
Thanks!