PowerScript Development
PowerClient is a new deployment option to simplify the process of deploying and updating the client/server application in a LAN. PowerClient apps are compiled at a granular level to p-code. Each object/definition file has its own corresponding p-code. As such, the deployed application can be installed and updated incrementally.
* This feature is available in Professional or CloudPro edition.
Simplified Deployment – developers no longer need to create installation packages. Instead, they just deploy the application to a Web server, and the application is distributed from there.
Seamless Installation – end users install the application by simply accessing a light-weight launcher and the necessary files will be downloaded. You can also specify the command line parameters (i.e. command line to register DLLs/OCXs) in the Preload Events to get those scripts executed before the app starts.
Always Up-to-Date – you can deploy incremental changes to the Web server, which will significantly reduce deployment time, and PowerClient will automatically pull the updates from the Web Server when the application starts.
Starting from PowerBuilder 2019 R3, the PowerBuilder runtime is installed as a separate program from the IDE. In the PowerBuilder IDE, you can now specify the targeted corresponding runtime versions to debug, run, or compile. Decoupling the IDE & runtime allows developers to quickly upgrade their development environment and benefit from updated IDE features without affecting the production environment.
The WebBrowser control has been further enhanced based on customers’ feedback. It adds the capability to integrate PowerBuilder apps with Web content. With minimal code, developers can easily execute JavaScript code inside the WebBrowser control, access the Web content, pass the information to the PowerBuilder apps, and/or trigger a user-defined PowerScript event in JavaScript. The WebBrower also allows you to add basic or digest authentication to the Web content for better security.
More Git & SVN source control functionalities have been integrated into the PowerBuilder IDE. For example, Git users can directly create, switch, and merge different branches; both Git & SVN users can handle merge conflicts; detailed error logs are generated for both Git & SVN to help troubleshoot mistakes.
C# Development
SnapDevelop now supports developing C# projects based on .NET Core 3.1. Besides being an LTS version, .NET Core 3.1 includes a number of improvements, such as new JSON API, support for ARM 64, C# 8.0, etc.
Various new features have been added to simplify asynchronous programming in C# with the .NET DataStore.
Asynchronous query & saving – the .NET DataStore & SnapObjects provide a set of methods to allow developers to perform CRUD operations (including ESQLs and dynamic SQLs) asynchronously (i.e. UpdateAsync, ReselectRowAsync, RetrieveAsync, RetrieveByKeyAsync, SaveChangesAsync, ScalarAsync, SelectOneAsync, ExecuteAsync, ExecuteProcedureAsync, etc.).
Seamless asynchronous debugging – both the Debugger and the Web API Tester allow you to easily catch errors and exceptions in the asynchronous code.
Scaffolding asynchronous services and controllers – it also provides options for you to scaffold services and controllers code in an asynchronous manner.
The enhanced Debugger provides more utilities to enable developers to find and resolve problems more easily and quickly. Developers can control where the breakpoint executes by setting the conditions and follow-up actions (will be available in GA), debugging multiple-threading apps, or attaching another process (will be available in GA) to the current one. It also provides exception settings so that you not only get notifications when an exception happens but also guides you to the specific exceptions to focus on.
Docker deployment has been significantly simplified in this release. You can complete your Docker deployment and image and container management without leaving the SnapDevelop IDE. You can create & edit a Docker File in the IDE with prompt code assistant, manage the image and container from the Docker Explorer (i.e. start or stop a container, create a tag for a docker image, push an image file to a docker registry, etc.). You can also manage multiple container apps via the Docker Compose.
Database Compatibility
New SQL Server Driver – the native client (SQLNCLI) has been deprecated by Microsoft. Replace your obsolete database driver with the new Microsoft OLE DB Driver (MSOLEDBSQL). This new driver supports SQL Server 2012 - 2019.
TLS 1.2 Security – PowerBuilder applications can now connect to SQL Server with TLS 1.2 for greater security and compliance with various regulations.
PostgreSQL Enhancement – you can check database-related information without leaving the PowerBuilder IDE (e.g. view the definition of the PostgreSQL procedure or function, show/hide system procedure, etc.).
More database types have been supported for C# projects using the .NET DataStore.
The following Amazon RDS database types are supported: Amazon Aurora, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server.
The following Azure database types are also supported: Azure SQL, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Database for MySQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
ASE 15, 15.7, 16 is also supported.
PowerBuilder 2019 R3
The fastest path for PB apps and developers to move to .NET and the cloud.