For a while now, I’ve been trying to make Xojo my first programming language because it claims to compare itself to modern Visual Basic, but the documentation assumes you’re already coming from another language. The initial steps focus on using the IDE, but not the language itself. Fortunately, I found the “Introduction to Programming with Xojo” book, but it’s too outdated. Most of the projects no longer work due to changes in the API and the language. The minimum version that aligns with the contents of the book is Xojo 2015, but logically, it can’t be used for learning.
Another issue that I believe is not being handled fairly is the license pricing. It doesn’t seem fair to me that Xojo hasn’t adjusted the price of the license after making Linux compilation free. I find it unfair to pay the same price, considering that the desktop license is no longer the same as it used to be. Not everyone wants to create commercial software—some people, like me, just want to create free applications for personal use. I don’t think it’s fair that we have to pay for this when other platforms, like Visual Studio and Delphi, offer free versions.
Another major limitation is the inability to test Android applications. The emulator is useless if you’re trying to create applications that utilize a device’s sensors. It’s also useless for applications that use networking because the emulator is too slow. But the worst part is the high price, especially considering that you can’t even create your own libraries or add-ons without resorting to C++, whereas Visual Basic allowed this. In other words, on top of the $799, you have to spend additional money on external add-ons.
At no point do I mean to sound hostile. I’m choosing Xojo because it truly is a multiplatform solution. Visual Studio and Delphi can only create applications for Windows, Android, and Mac, but not for Linux. However, I feel that Xojo needs to improve its flexibility, as well as the way user interfaces are created. The current capabilities remind me of 16-bit applications. It would also be nice if they allowed payment via PayPal directly without having to contact Xojo.
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