Runtime Revolution 4.0 Offers New Web-authoring Option

Runtime Revolution has released version 4.0 of its self-titled application-authoring software. New in this release is the ability to deploy applications directly to the Web in any of the major browsers running in Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.

Developers working within Revolution can create desktop applications and convert them into revLets--standalone Web apps that require no prior knowledge of HTML or other Web standards. A revLet can vary in size and power, ranging from a simple banner or survey to a full-fledged multimedia presentation, game, or database frontend.

There's just one catch: End users are required to download a plugin before their browsers will run revLets.

Built on the legacy of Apple's venerable HyperCard, Revolution is a self-contained development environment, complete with its own English-like programming language. Where HyperCard and the programs it created were exclusive to the Mac, Revolution is aimed at by programmers running any of the big three operating systems, giving them the ability to author software for any of those systems. A Mac developer, for example, can use the Mac version of Revolution to create a program that will run on Linux, Windows, or the Mac OS.

Revolution comes in three flavors with varying sets of features: revEnterprise ($499), revStudio ($299), and revMedia (free).