Clarion is a development tool and programming language designed specifically for business database application development. Its optimized programming language and development environment provide tools for rapid application development and maintenance. Clarion’s template driven paradigm uses templates to generate code, increasing productivity and flexibility. With various data access methods and output file formats, Clarion is a robust software development framework that has evolved since its initial release in 1986.
Key Takeaways:
- Clarion is a development tool and programming language specifically designed for business database application development.
- Clarion’s template driven paradigm increases productivity and flexibility by generating code through the use of templates.
- Clarion is compatible with various data access methods and can output to different file formats.
- Three main Clarion products are available to meet the needs of different users.
Understanding Clarion’s Programming Language
At its core is the Clarion programming language, which is a fully object-oriented programming language optimized for business database applications. It provides developers with a high level of productivity through its powerful set of features and tools, as well as a consistent and efficient programming model.
One key advantage of Clarion’s programming language is its ability to generate standard code for standard tasks. This is achieved through the use of templates, which are pre-built code structures that can be used to quickly create database applications. Clarion’s templates are customizable, allowing developers to adapt them to their specific needs, and can be modified without losing any customizations.
Clarion’s programming language has evolved over the years to include features such as a data dictionary, language extension modules, and support for Windows-like user interfaces. This makes it a powerful and versatile tool for building efficient and robust business database applications.
Introduction to the Clarion Development Environment
The Clarion language is part of the larger Clarion development environment, which includes a set of integrated tools for rapid application development (RAD), rapid application maintenance (RAM), and rapid application enhancement (RAE). This development environment is optimized for building business database applications using the Clarion programming language, which is a fourth-generation, fully object-oriented language.
Clarion’s RAD tools allow developers to quickly build applications without manual coding, increasing productivity and efficiency. The RAM tools help developers maintain and update applications easily, while the RAE tools enable customization and extensibility of the generated code for specific application requirements.
One of the key features of the Clarion development environment is its use of templates, which provide customizable code generation tools for simplifying programming tasks. These templates include Procedure Templates, Control Templates, Extension Templates, and Code Templates, which can be modified or extended with custom code to meet specific application needs.
The Clarion language and development environment are designed to work with various data access methods, including ISAM, SQL, and ADO. It can read and write multiple flat file database formats and connect to relational databases through ODBC or native drivers. Additionally, Clarion supports output to different file formats, such as HTML, XML, plain text, and PDF.
Clarion has evolved significantly since its first release in 1986, integrating a data dictionary and a component called Designer for creating Windows-like user interfaces. The development environment is available in different editions, including Professional, Enterprise, and .NET, to cater to different user requirements.
In conclusion, the Clarion Development Environment is a comprehensive toolset for rapid application development in the field of business database applications. It provides a high level of abstraction, code generation capabilities, and customization options, allowing developers to work smarter and more efficiently.
The Fundamentals of Template-Driven Programming
The concept of template-driven programming is fundamental to Clarion’s paradigm. Templates are used to generate computer code based on specific requirements, eliminating the need for developers to write the code themselves. This approach allows developers to work at a higher level of abstraction, increasing productivity while maintaining flexibility. Template-based development is all about using predefined templates to generate code for standard tasks such as displaying data grids or generating complex queries.
Templates in Clarion generate computer-generated code which is inserted into the source code of the program. The computer-generated code is reusable and can be used in other programs as well. This reusability saves developers time and effort as the code does not need to be rewritten every time it is required.
Benefits of Clarion’s Templates
Clarion’s templates provide many benefits, including reusability and the generation of object-oriented Clarion code using the Application Builder Class (ABC) Library. By using templates, you can quickly generate code for standard tasks and focus on the design of your application.
The templates in Clarion are template-driven, meaning they generate code based on the requirements of the template you are using. For example, if you use a procedure template, Clarion generates the code needed for a procedure. If you use a control template, Clarion generates the code needed for a control. This approach provides the benefits of object-oriented programming and allows you to easily modify the generated code by adding your own code.
The ABC Library is a set of pre-built classes that can be used to create application-specific objects, such as menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes. These classes are designed to work with Clarion’s templates, allowing you to customize the generated code and build reusable components that can be used across multiple applications.
Using templates in Clarion allows for rapid application development, maintenance, and enhancement. The templates are stored in the template registry file, which can be modified and extended to suit your needs. By customizing the templates, you can create code that fits your specific requirements and reuse it across multiple projects.
Customizable code is another benefit of using Clarion’s templates. Templates generate code that can be easily modified and extended to suit your needs. This feature allows for greater flexibility and tailoring of your applications to meet specific requirements.
Overall, the use of templates in Clarion can help increase developer productivity and reduce the time and effort required to build complex business applications. With infinite extensibility, Clarion’s templates offer developers the tools needed to create efficient and effective software with ease.
Operating at Higher Abstraction Levels
The use of templates in Clarion enables developers to operate at a higher level of abstraction, which increases productivity. This means that developers can focus on application design rather than writing standard code. Operating at a higher level of abstraction allows Clarion to generate the code needed to implement the design, reducing the amount of time and effort required to develop the application.
Clarion programming language is designed to operate at higher abstraction levels, which means that it provides a complete toolset for rapid application development. This results in faster turnaround times for project completion. The language uses templates to generate code that is required to implement the software application.
The advantage of using templates is that it allows programmers to work smarter, not harder. Templates generate standard code, freeing the programmer to focus on the application design. By using templates, a programmer can write an application faster than if they wrote all the code from scratch. The Clarion language also allows programmers to customize templates and extend the code generation capabilities, giving them the flexibility they need while maintaining productivity.
Operating at higher abstraction levels is a concept that allows programmers to be more productive by working further away from the low-level details of the computer. The Clarion programming language is designed to operate at higher abstraction levels, providing a complete toolset for rapid application development. Clarion uses templates to generate code, allowing programmers to focus on application design rather than writing standard code. The templates can be customized and extended, giving developers flexibility while maintaining productivity. Overall, operating at higher abstraction levels allows programmers to work smarter, not harder, and Clarion facilitates this through template-driven programming.
Flexibility in Clarion’s Template-Driven Approach
Clarion’s template-driven approach strikes a balance between productivity and flexibility by allowing developers to operate at different abstraction levels and customize the generated code as needed. This approach provides developers with the flexibility to add custom code while taking advantage of the generated code, allowing for rapid application development, maintenance, and enhancement.
Developers can customize the generated code in Clarion by modifying the templates or creating their own, making the toolset infinitely extensible. This means that the Clarion development environment is not limited to a specific set of templates, and developers can modify existing templates or create entirely new ones to meet their specific needs.
By operating at higher levels of abstraction, developers can be more productive. The use of templates in Clarion allows developers to focus on design issues rather than writing code, freeing up time to tackle more complex problems.
Clarion’s templates provide flexibility without sacrificing productivity. They offer the ability to customize the generated code using the Application Builder Class (ABC) Library, making it possible to tailor generated code to meet specific needs. This means that developers can work smarter and more efficiently by taking advantage of Clarion’s template-driven approach.
Overall, Clarion’s approach offers a high level of flexibility, allowing developers to work at different abstraction levels and customize generated code as needed. This approach has been refined over the years, and it continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern software development. Whether developing business applications or other types of software, Clarion’s template-driven approach provides a powerful and flexible framework for developers to work with.
Working at the Best Level with Clarion’s Abstraction Levels
The Clarion development environment offers multiple levels of abstraction, allowing developers to work at the best level for their specific needs. Clarion’s programming language is a fourth-generation, fully object-oriented language designed for developing business database applications. It is optimized for speed and efficiency, with code generation tools that quickly produce standard code for common tasks. This means that developers can focus on designing applications rather than writing repetitive or boilerplate code.
Clarion operates at different levels of abstraction, providing developers with the flexibility to work at the level that best suits their requirements. Working at high levels of abstraction allows developers to focus on the application design and user experience. Low-level customization gives developers more control over the details of the code, allowing them to fine-tune performance or optimize specific functionality. The ability to work at different levels of abstraction enables developers to work smarter, not harder, and increases productivity.
The use of templates is a fundamental aspect of Clarion’s template driven paradigm. Templates are pre-built code structures that can be customized and reused to generate specific code. Clarion’s templates are stored in a template registry file and can be modified or extended as needed. This provides a convenient way to tailor the application code to the developer’s specific needs.
Clarion’s templates are divided into different types, including Procedure Templates, Control Templates, Extension Templates, and Code Templates. Each template type has its own set of features and benefits, providing developers with a range of options for generating code. Using templates is a powerful way to generate code quickly and efficiently, allowing developers to focus on the application design rather than the details of the code.
Working at the best level of abstraction with Clarion’s abstraction levels also means developers can work with object-oriented Clarion source code. Object-oriented programming provides a way to structure the codebase around objects and their relationships with one another. This makes the code more modular, easier to understand, and simpler to debug. By working with object-oriented source code, developers can write more maintainable and scalable applications.
Furthermore, Clarion’s development environment offers a high level of customization. Developers can modify default design elements and settings, providing infinite extensibility and flexibility. This makes it easy to tailor the application to specific business requirements or user needs.
In conclusion, working at the best level of abstraction with Clarion’s abstraction levels is a key aspect of utilizing the Clarion programming language. It enables developers to work more efficiently, allowing them to focus on application design rather than writing repetitive or boilerplate code. The use of templates provides a convenient way to generate code quickly and efficiently, while customization options allow developers to tailor the application to their specific needs. Clarion’s programming language and development environment have evolved over time, providing developers with a powerful set of tools for developing business database applications.
Exploring Clarion’s Template Types
The Clarion toolset includes various templates such as Procedure, Control, Extension, and Code Templates. These templates are designed to accelerate the development of applications by providing pre-built code for commonly used tasks in applications such as creating dialogs, reports, menus, and toolbars.
Procedure Templates in Clarion are used to create pieces of code that are modular in nature, allowing developers to create reusable subroutines. The templates enable developers to create standard code for tasks such as manipulating strings, dates, and times, as well as creating windows, dialogs and menus. The templates are pre-built and can be customized to meet specific requirements.
Control Templates are used to create reusable custom controls. These are typically used in applications where a developer wants to build complex controls that can be reused across multiple projects. Developers can customize these controls to meet specific requirements and then reuse them across multiple projects.
Extension Templates are used to add functionality to the Application Generator tool. Developers can create extensions to the standard templates to generate their own source code. This functionality allows developers to customize the templates for their specific needs, rather than relying on the standard templates provided by the Application Generator.
Code Templates in Clarion are used to generate code for specific situations or tasks, such as generating database code or code to handle web services. These templates can be customized to meet specific requirements. Typically, the templates are used to generate code for tasks that are not covered by the standard templates included in the Application Generator.
Overall, Clarion’s Template-driven programming paradigm allows developers to create applications rapidly with the help of pre-built templates. These templates can be customized to meet specific requirements, making template-driven programming efficient and flexible. Developers can focus on application design and functionality while relying on the Application Generator to handle standard tasks, increasing productivity.
Customizing Templates in Clarion
The Template Registry is where all the templates in Clarion are stored. Developers can modify the default design of templates to fit their specific needs. This customization allows for infinite extensibility, enabling developers to tailor their application generation process to their liking.
The Application Generator tool in Clarion enables developers to add third-party or custom templates to the toolset. These templates can be used to develop standard code generation for specific application types. Clarion’s custom templates also allow for rapid application enhancement and maintenance, saving developers valuable time and effort in their software development efforts.
Customizing templates in Clarion is an important feature of the development tool. Developers can modify templates to fit their specific use case, creating efficiencies in their software development process. With Clarion’s multi-level abstraction approach and customizable templates, developers can operate at the best level for their needs, increasing developer productivity and application design.
The Power of Clarion’s Template Driven Paradigm
In summary, Clarion’s template-driven programming paradigm is designed to increase developer productivity by generating standard code for standard tasks. This approach allows developers to focus on application design, improving the efficiency of the entire development process. The power of Clarion’s Template Driven Programming lies in its ability to automate the generation of code for business database application development, enabling Rapid Application Development, Rapid Application Maintenance, and Rapid Application Enhancement.
By using templates in Clarion, developers can work at higher levels of abstraction, increasing productivity and improving the quality of code written. Templates are interactive tools that generate source code based on the information provided, making customization and maintenance of code easier. This results in a more efficient development process and enables developers to create software with a higher degree of quality.
One of the key benefits of Clarion’s Template Driven Programming paradigm is the standardization of code generation. This improves the overall quality of code, reducing the likelihood of errors and increasing reliability. The Application Generator in Clarion allows developers to create their templates or use third-party templates, making the tool infinitely extensible.
Using Clarion’s Template Driven Programming approach, developers can tailor their applications to meet specific needs. The ability to customize generated code provides significant flexibility, allowing for different levels of abstraction. This flexibility allows developers to operate at the best level for their specific needs, enabling efficient development of complex applications.
In conclusion, Clarion’s Template Driven Programming paradigm enables developers to work at higher levels of abstraction, increasing productivity. By automating the generation of code for standard tasks and providing flexibility for customization, Clarion allows developers to focus on application design and deliver high-quality software efficiently. Standard code generation, application tailoring, and developer productivity are just some of the benefits of using the powerful Template Driven Programming approach in Clarion for software development.
Conclusion
Clarion’s Template Driven Paradigm is a powerful tool for developing business database applications quickly and efficiently. The template-driven approach generates standard code for common tasks, reducing development time and increasing productivity. Templates are customizable, allowing developers to inject their own code to modify or extend the functionality. Clarion’s development environment provides code generation facilities via a system of templates, allowing programmers to work at an abstract level higher than code statements. Clarion is compatible with various data access methods and supports output to different file formats, making it a versatile tool for software development. Overall, Clarion is designed to maximize productivity and flexibility for database application development.
FAQ
Q: What is Clarion’s template-driven paradigm?
A: Clarion’s template driven paradigm is a programming approach that generates standard code for standard tasks, increasing developer productivity.
Q: What are the benefits of using templates in Clarion?
A: Using templates in Clarion offers reusability and the ability to customize generated code using the Application Builder Class (ABC) Library.
Q: How does template-driven programming increase productivity?
A: Template-driven programming allows developers to operate at higher levels of abstraction, focusing on application design rather than repetitive code.
Q: Can developers customize the generated code in Clarion?
A: Yes, developers can add their own code to customize the behavior of the generated code without losing the ability to update the template settings and regenerate the code.
Q: What template types are available in Clarion?
A: Clarion offers Procedure, Control, Extension, and Code Templates for generating Clarion language source code.
Q: How can developers customize templates in Clarion?
A: Developers can modify the default design of each template’s window or report by modifying the Template Registry file.
Q: Can developers create their own templates in Clarion?
A: Yes, developers can create their own templates or use third-party templates, making the Application Generator an infinitely extensible tool.
Q: What is the purpose of the Template Registry in Clarion?
A: The Template Registry is where all the templates in Clarion are stored, and developers can modify the default design of each template’s window or report.
Q: Does Clarion support different levels of abstraction?
A: Yes, Clarion’s development environment offers multiple levels of abstraction, allowing developers to work at the best level for their specific needs.
Q: How does Clarion’s template-driven paradigm benefit software development?
A: Clarion’s template driven paradigm increases developer productivity, generates standard code for standard tasks, and allows for customization for specific requirements.
Source Links
- https://clarion.help/doku.php?id=clarion_programming_concepts.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarion_(programming_language)
- https://www.icetips.com/articleindex.php
- https://clarion.help/doku.php?id=lc_clarion_language_tutorial.htm
- https://blog.angular-university.io/introduction-to-angular-2-forms-template-driven-vs-model-driven/
- https://sterlingdata.com/clarion-templates/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth-generation_programming_language
- https://clarion.help/doku.php?id=lc_creating_a_data_dictionary.htm
- https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39142616/what-are-the-practical-differences-between-template-driven-and-reactive-forms
- https://www.pluralsight.com/guides/difference-between-template-driven-and-reactive-forms-angular
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28667803
- https://www.icetips.com/ftp/clarion/learnabc.pdf
- https://media.muckrack.com/portfolio/items/14915730/3ab1bd4f07cd2b226ba4d78f0019584c.pdf
- https://www.carabez.com/templates.html
- http://clarion.help/doku.php?id=clarionhelp_contents
- https://clarion.help/doku.php?id=lesson_13_customizing_the_application_adding_templates.htm
- https://www.windev.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=ItemY2D
- https://sites.google.com/view/clarion-enterprise-edition-60
- https://clarionsharp.com/blog/category/clarion-7/page/2/
- https://academic.oup.com/book/12066/chapter/161405761
