Help needed to get started

[Joannes]

Hi all, as you might guess, I am new to LiveCode. I have downloaded a trial (free) version to play around with and I really like what the application seems to promise: it looks like it suits exactly what I am looking for.
But...
I am struggling with very basic problems that keep me from even creating the simplest stack.
Actually I do not know where to start with but maybe it is good to check with you if the version I am currently running is a stable one (the performance got worse with two updates that I have installed).
I now have version 8.0.0-dp-12 | build 13012.
Is it me or are others also experiencing bad behaviour like no reaction when clicking on menu items, spooky movement of objects after copying them in the Project browser, having to click on Edit Script twice before the scripting window appears (after the first click only my cursor changes to a watch)?

I am not sure if I should invest in this tool or better search for another a this point.

Thanks

[Lagi Pittas]

Hi

my twopence worth

Don't learn with version 7 or version 8. use the 6.xx series.

The only thing you will miss is widgets some extra html stuff and Unicode.

Learn with version 6 and by the time you are in a position to use those other "options" hopefully any major slowdowns,bugs or showstoppers will have been erased.

Feel free to pipe up out there but when I was using 7 in the early days my thesaurus ran out of expletives.

I know its much better now as I do occasionally use 7 mainly for opening stacks saved with it but there is nothing anybody new to livecode really needs to learn the LIVECODE way of doing things.

I am speaking from somebody who has now jettisoned 30 years of /FoxPro experience .

There is nothing you cannot do - At least business wise - in LIVECODE version 6, all the other stuff is just turbocharging what you can do already with a concomitant reduction of code in most cases.

I checked out alpha5,servoyXOJO and many others they always promised more than they could supply especially write once deploy anywhere.

LIVECODE gives me at least a 95% and maybe higher reuse of code across all platforms sound being the only real bugbear.

Stick with it warts and all ... The warts are much smaller than the others trust me and it doesn't take a year and thousands of pounds to find out.


Lagi

[jacque]

I agree with Lagi, don't use version 8. It's still in development and won't be finished for quite some time. Only those who know the product well and are willing to test and report bugs should use it, and even then, never for production work.

I have found version 7.1.1 to be fairly stable. The advantage of using 7 is the native unicode features, which the 6 series doesn't have.

[dunbarx]

I agree. Start with v. 6.7.8.

Have you gone through the tutorials and skimmed the User Guide? Checked out the lessons at Hyperactive Software?

http://www.hyperactivesw.com/revscriptc ... ences.html

LC is fast and stable. And simple and fun. We have to make sure that you are on a level playing field, so that your questions are structural, and not of the type that you cannot even start. This forum has endless patience and even humor for new users. I expect dozens of posts from you.

Get going, write back...

Craig Newman

[Joannes]

Thanks all, in the mean time, going back to version 7, gave me a much better performance. I'll stick with that for a while and won't install the updates before I am sure they are an improvement (when in doubt I'll check with you guys first).
I'll keep version 6 in mind but I think that I will have to start over again in that case as it looks like stacks made with 7 or 8 are not compatable with 6 (?).

Anyway I am back on track and able to really get going with this promising tool.

Thanks also for welcoming, I expect to need some more help or advise in the future.

Happy coding to you all

[SparkOut]

Just for info, a free "trial" version doesn't really apply. LiveCode has two licence models, an open source Community version and a commercial subscription based version which has tiers of cost according to the business size and use. You can use the Community version without it expiring, and afaik the only difference in the versions is to do with saving and running password protected stacks. Any applications you make with the Community version must be provided in accordance with the open source licence terms, but you can do all development with the Community version and only licence up when you're ready to deploy.