Uncovering the Best Xojo Alternatives for Your Development Needs
Xojo, formerly known as Real Software and Real Studio, has empowered developers to create a wide range of applications, from commercial software to internal tools, games, and utilities. As an object-oriented, multi-platform development tool, it allows users to build extraordinary apps for Desktop, Web, Console, and soon, iOS. However, like any software, Xojo might not be the perfect fit for every project or developer. Whether you're seeking different pricing models, a more specialized environment, or a broader feature set, exploring a robust Xojo alternative can open new possibilities for your development workflow.
Top Xojo Alternatives
If you're looking to broaden your horizons beyond Xojo, these powerful alternatives offer diverse features, platform support, and development philosophies to cater to various programming needs.
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is a comprehensive integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft, offering extensive capabilities for developing computer programs for Microsoft Windows, web applications, and more. Available as Free Personal, and on Mac, Windows, Web, and .NET Framework, it boasts features like code completion, an embedded debugger, Intellisense, .NET support, C# and F# support, a compiler, and a form designer. It's a robust Xojo alternative for those deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem or seeking a highly feature-rich IDE.
Lazarus
Lazarus is a Free and Open Source cross-platform IDE for the Free Pascal compiler, designed to provide a Delphi-like programming experience through its 'Lazarus Component Library'. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, BSD, and OpenSolaris, it's an excellent Xojo alternative for developers seeking an open-source, RAD tool with strong visual design capabilities and native assembly code compilation.
Xcode
Xcode is Apple's premiere Free development environment for Mac OS X. Packaged with every copy of Mac OS X, it's an ideal Xojo alternative for developers focused on the Apple ecosystem. It features a powerful compiler, an integrated development environment (IDE), code completion, and color coding, making it perfect for building native macOS and iOS applications.
Delphi
Embarcadero Delphi is a Commercial software development environment for Microsoft Windows applications, with strong support for database access and Android Development. As a robust IDE with multiple language support and RAD capabilities, Delphi serves as a powerful Xojo alternative, especially for developers creating data-driven Windows applications.
B4X
B4X offers Commercial cross-platform development tools for native iOS, Android, desktop, and server applications. It's a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool available on Windows, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, and iPad, making it a versatile Xojo alternative for developers aiming for true multi-platform native app creation with features like code completion and native Java Libraries.
CodeTyphon
CodeTyphon is a Free and Open Source fork/distribution of Lazarus, bundling thousands of Lazarus/Free Pascal components. Available on Windows, Linux, and BSD, it's an excellent Xojo alternative for those seeking a highly extended, open-source IDE with strong RAD capabilities, cross-platform support, and the ability to compile to native assembly code.
Cevelop
Cevelop is a Free C++ IDE for professional developers, available on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It focuses on features like robust coding, developer tools, refactoring, and unit testing, making it a strong Xojo alternative for those who specialize in C++ and require a high-performance, open-source development environment.
PureBasic
PureBasic is a Freemium native 32-bit and 64-bit programming language based on established BASIC rules, offering multi-platform support for Windows, Linux, MacOS X, and AmigaOS. Its key features include native application compilation and an integrated IDE, making it a compelling Xojo alternative for developers who prefer a BASIC-like syntax and desire high performance across various operating systems.
LiveCode Platform
The LiveCode Platform is available under both GPL (requiring GPL for derivative works) and proprietary licenses, offering cross-platform development capabilities for Mac, Windows, Linux, Windows Mobile, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, Windows Phone, and iPad. With its live editing feature, it serves as a flexible Xojo alternative for developers looking for a highly visual and interactive development experience.
React Studio
React Studio is a Freemium tool for Mac users, designed to help create app flows and components, visually express their properties, and manage data linkage. Focusing on developer tools, RAD, and web development, it's a unique Xojo alternative for those interested in building React-based web applications with a strong visual design approach.
The world of software development is vast and varied, offering numerous tools beyond Xojo to bring your app ideas to life. From powerful IDEs like Microsoft Visual Studio to open-source gems like Lazarus and specialized tools for specific platforms like Xcode, there's an alternative out there to suit every need. We encourage you to explore these options, consider their platform support, features, and licensing, and choose the best fit to elevate your next development project.