This is my first post about HTML5 Builder, the “new”product included in RAD Studio XE3. I’m quoting it as “new”, because is not actually a new product in itself, but the next version of RadPHP, with a huge amount of changes. The scope and the goals of HTML5 Builder suppose a drastic change over RadPHP XE2, so the name change was something that needed to be done.
I’m getting lost with so many product name changes!!!
Well, you are right, initially this product was called qstudio before being released, it was first released as Delphi for PHP, there was Delphi for PHP 2, after that was RadPHP XE, then RadPHP XE2 and now HTML5 Builder. I can’t think of any product that has changed its name so many times, but be sure we have had every time a reason for the change, and I think (crossing fingers) that this new name is here to stay for long, unless HTML6 is released 
Why HTML5 Builder? No more PHP in the product?
Yes, but now the product is not fully focused on PHP, now PHP is a subset of what the product can do. A lot of work on this release has been spent on providing a lot of “client” capabilities, targeted even to customers which doesn’t know anything about PHP and just want to get the HTML/CSS/JS, but get the benefits of a visual designer and a component library.
What is all that client stuff about?
In the repository, now there are “client” and “server” items, server items are the same type of items you are used to, a Server Page, is a Page in RadPHP XE2, a Server Unit, is a php script, etc. The new “client” items hide all the PHP stuff and you only write client code, that is, Javascript. That way, you don’t need to know PHP in order to use the product, you place your component, generate an event handler, which is Javascript, and write Javascript code inside. That page then, generates all the client-code you need, for example, to create a native mobile application, or simply, you can connect it to a server technology of your choice, ASP, for example, is up to you.
So, if it’s the next release of RadPHP, will my previous RadPHP applications work, isn’t it?
Yes and no, we have also made a lot of changes in the RPCL library that needed to be done in order to setup the base for the future. When the RPCL (originally WCL) was created, no jQuery existed (as we know it now), and all the code was produced in a single page, no matter if it was Javascript, CSS, etc. We are now using jQuery everywhere and when you see the code that is generated, you will see a clean HTML5-compliant code, and two requests to get the CSS and JS for that document. That was a long-time request from the community and we have done it.
I have downloaded the demo, and there is a lot of controls that have been dropped!!!
Yes, and others have been added. We have dropped qooxdoo and several other controls that were causing some incompatibilities. If you use an (excellent) framework like qooxdoo, you cannot mix it easily with other frameworks like jQuery. Also, including a lot of controls, required a lot of maintenance work, a work which was impossible to do to provide the quality we were aiming in this release. On the other hand, we have added a lot of HTML5 controls and you can find replacements for trackbars, progressbars, spinedits, etc, that now use the HTML5 widget instead qooxdoo ones.
The new UI is too different of what I’m used to, I don’t like it at all!!
When you are used to a UI, a dramatic change like this one will require some time to get used to it, in fact, the same happened to us, but after some weeks using it, we are sure you will see the previous UI outdated as we see it now. In any case, I’m going to prepare a series of articles regarding the new UI to let you know the why’s and how’s of the change, stay tunned!!
As this is the first post, I just want to give a small introduction to the product, I will provide more articles in the coming days, please, feel free to send comments about it!
Hi, Jose-san
I’m going to have technical session about HTML5 Builder at 23th developer conference in Tokyo Japan, tomorrow.
Thanks for the great product.
Thank you very much!
Hi José
There’s not much info about at the moment re HTML5 Builder. So, as you’ve blogged about it, I wondered if I could ask you just a quickie question….. we still have a ‘sensitive’ install of D2007. In fact we have some major software projects written in D2007 that we simply cannot port any further onwards due to some 3rd part component deprecation.
I did make a massive mistake once of installing an XE trial on the same machine as we have D2007 and it was a mess! D2007 no longer loaded, I was in a panic for a day or 2 etc etc. Eventually got it back to some working equillibrium.
Our next major project involves a lot of integration between a desktop system and web based stuff. I have been trying a NuSphere trial to help withe web stuff. But would like to try the HTML5 Builder as I think that will help more with where we need to be going.
My question is, can I install the HTML5 Builder trial on the same machine as D2007? I do not want to spend days undoing incompatible install problems again. I’m concious this is another product in the ‘Delphi’ family and just wanted to check if you knew if there was going to be any issues at all with D2007 if I install the trial on the D2007 PC?
Many thanks,
Trevor
HTML5 Builder doesn’t share anything with RAD Studio, so you can freely install it on any machine where RAD Studio is installed.
“HTML5 Builder doesn’t share anything with RAD Studio”
Does HTML5 Builder requite .NET environment to run? Your reply implies it does not. Please clarify.
Your assumption is right, it doesn’t require .NET.
Hola Tio, you are right about the new UI, at first it seems very dificult, but after a few minutes i start to feel it fluid, it is a positive change, congrats, Felicidades.
I’m looking foward the presentations.
By the way i couldn’t help notice the lack of spanish, i assumed that there’s no much castillian clients. Could you talk more about this, please?
On previous releases, we (spanish team) were the ones responsible for the translation, and in this release, the translation for the product has gone through the standard Embarcadero translation system, which doesn’t provide Spanish translation. Be sure I will push to get it at some point, being spanish myself
Hello Jose,
The RadPHP will be incorporated into HTML 5? We used the RadPHP to develop our projects, we will have a continuation of the product?
I tested HTML5, I was surprised to not even own a GRID. The current components does not allow a commercial development. Lack much.
I follow D4PHP since the first version. The product works, we have applied for the financial market, 100% developed in RadPHP.
I hope that HTML 5 is developed.
Greetings.
If you mean RadPHP “incorporated” into HTML5 Builder by providing the same features, it’s exactly that, so you can keep working in the same way. Regarding a Grid, you are 100% right, we don’t provide one as the previous one was based on qooxdoo, and we have removed those components because of the compatibility problems between them and jQuery. We are evaluating at this moment several jQuery-based grids to write the wrappers for them, so the plan is to provide a grid anytime soon.
The release of HTML 5 was not precipitated? Do not you think that the lack of a Grid can expose the product?
I’m rooting for the product and want to continue to use the tool.
I will await the addition of component GRID so I can buy the HTML 5.
Thank you for your attention.
I don’t think so, you can show your data in many ways without using a Grid. A grid is absolutely needed for desktop apps which are control-based, but for text-based apps, you don’t need a Grid at all.
The lack of a grid is a huge impediment. I can’t move over any but my simplest apps without it. Approximately when would you expect a replacement grid so we can migrate.
I can’t answer that, just say we are working on it.
Erick,
I agree with you does not like riding without a GRID ..
I do not know what other solutions that Jose Leon said he could replace the GRID.
But DBRepeater is a solution that does not work properly or the first version of D4PHP.
I really want to buy the HTML 5. but I’ll wait a GRID for migration of my projects.
You can try to use grid from this vendor: http://www.jomitech.com/compforphp.php
Totally agree with above comments. I would LOVE to put the product to use – but the lack of a grid is a deal breaker. Hoping you guys can get that straightened out.
I recommend using the GRID (PlatinumGrid) for HTML 5 and RadPHP.
The PlatinumGrid is very good in its version 11.
http://www.jomitech.com/blogs.php?blogid=73
With the addition of jQuery, RadPHP’s evloution is becoming more eye-striking. Based on just a few days’ experience with the trial version, it really look like a good tool I would pay for. Maybe after the first update. By the way the name HTML5 Builder is both a good name and a bad name. When you google for it, you get a lot of irrelevant results. But of course somebody looking for html5 may hit it, then it becomes a clever decision in terms of marketing. The issue of documentation is still around for almost thousand years. Instead of putting hundreds of projects with a few lines of code, a wholistic approach with a good tutorial alongside may be much more useful. Creating a login – authentication – application configuration – data persistence / orm – business objects kinda workflow based on best practices even if very primitive stuff, would lead new people who are unfamiliar with Delphi product family, to the product. As a beginner in jQuery I had to skim a lot of web sites and ebooks just to achieve a basic validation warning not knowing where to start. And it did not end up as it was meant to be. Anyway, I still like the product, I really consider purchasing, and I hope the issues will be solved.
Please, check the Quick Start Guide, and let me know what do you think:
http://docwiki.embarcadero.com/RadPHP/XE3/en/Introduction
Is there any way to good support on HTML5?, I am a RAD Studio support contract customer. I tried using the dev. forum but I am not getting responses, could you e-mail me off line about how to get help and report bugs about EMB. HTML5?
The problem is the immense “Windows XP + IE8″ user base. HTML5 is barely supported under this, and HTML5 controls like sliders, dropdown calendars and ranges simply do not work. In fact, only Opera really supports these controls properly. How are you addressing this?
здесь http://www.vr-online.ru/blog/pervyj-vzgljad-na-embarcadero-html5-builder-6755#comment-40794
я написал на русском свой небольшой опыт рыботы с HTML5 Builder
Pingback: Blog for product HTML5 Builder » Introducción a HTML5 Builder
Just signed up for the webinar tomorrow and looking forward to learning more about the product. Btw, the youtube videos on the Embarcadero channel are so blurry that they’re useless.
Also you guys should consider incorporating Dart into the IDE somehow especially since it can compile down to JavaScript (and yes it does it 100% more efficiently now than when first released). I know its not gaining as much attention as TypeScript is but it is magnitudes better than TypeScript or JavaScript. Just allowing us to use the plug-in and compile to JavaScript from within the IDE would be great. Could be a great selling point especially for bringing in .Net devs cause C# devs instantly feel at home once they start using Dart. Just a thought!
HTML5 Builder with DBGrid
————————–
http://youtu.be/vPiWL-iDyPM
“My biggest frustration with learning Embarcadero HTML5Builder is that the help system and their web site may say a LOT about WHAT the program DOES but very little about HOW to do it.”
See HTML5 Builder DBgrid component:
====================================
Why is it that in the demos folder, the Mobile demos all have only php files inside… no .js files?
How can those demos help a new developer. I never used Delphi for PHP.
I come from pure Delphi, and have no experience at all with js, php, css3 and html5, but I have no doubt that I will learn how to use them all at some point.
For now it is very confusing : the video tutorials (very few exist by the way) show usage of javascript instead of PHP, however the demos shipped with the product (HTML5 Builder) contain NO project built like that. Shouldn’t someone update them to avoid this confusion?
Also my first most important issue is the Template… why should I bother with the Design Tab, arrange all the components, assign properties to them… when after I do that, I must go to the Template Tab and use HTML tags to show them and struggle with it to make it look like I intended in the Design Tab?
The logic of this escapes me…
Hi, I like the sound of HTML5. I too am a little worried about the lack of a grid. However, more important for me is some reassurance about stability. Can anyone reassure me that the new product will not mess up my code formatting or positioning and that it will not crash so much. Also I have paid to upgrade RadPHP a couple of times and I am worried that I might have to pay again to get a version with a grid. Money is extremely tight, so I can’t upgrade unless there is some feedback about stability. I currently have Rad PHP XE2 with XE2 Enterprise. I used it but only as a text editor really, to build the website linked to this message. I couldn’t use any of the complex features because they tied me up in bugs and crashes. I was actually hoping that HTML5 Builder might be a brand new product. Maybe you can reassure me?
dear Jose,
I try to use html5 builder for create simple web page,
but i can’t find any tutorial to make my page center like this:
ex:
Hello World
Is anyone know?
Thanks.
Hello World
Hello,mr.Leon!
I`m sorry,my english is very bad.
Please see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPhH7nhdfHI,www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0yfCq5plyg and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvCiuUZ-dWQ.
Могу ли я на взаимовыгодных условиях предложить включить мои компоненты в состав HTML5 Builder?
Спасибо. Александр.
Hi José
Where can I find an example that only contains a grid and one form to give give add, modify and delete operations ?
Thanks in advance
Guillermo
Hola José
¿Donde puedo encontrar un ejemplo que solo dar una grilla y un formulario para dar altas, bajas y modificaciones?
Gracias por adelantado
Guillermo
No grid, no use. Sorry. The fact people building the thing cannot even understand that is a worry.
What is the equivalent to findObj(‘Page1′) in html5 builder?
The following jQuery code is what you should use, in order to get the same Javascript object you were getting before:
$('#Page1').get(0)
But I suggest you use jQuery objects.