Overview of B4X
B4X is more than a programming language. It is an open source suite of high-level development tools designed to make it relatively easy to create new and innovative inventions that function in a wide range of platforms and environments. B4X includes the following components:
B4A - a development language for creating applications for the Android platform.
B4i - enables developers to create software and apps for iOS.
B4J - Specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT), B4J is ideal for working on desktop, server, and Raspberry Pi.
B4R - works specifically with Arduino and ESP82656 boards.
B4X's flexibility for working on IoT projects has made it extremely attractive for those who wish to become involved in hardware hacking projects.
One of the best things about B4X is its ease of use; the language itself is very straightforward and simple to learn. While powerful, and as mentioned, able to work on many different platforms, it is also extremely useful for teaching software development to learners of all ages.
Not only does it give people of all knowledge levels the ability to learn to code; the language itself is flexible enough to be able to create many larger applications and can easily be modified for a wide range of purposes.
Transition to Open Source Software Through Financial Backing of Leo Radvinsky
Originally created as a closed-source licensed tool for developing applications, with Leo Radvinsky's input, investment and vision, B4X was converted into an open source tool. Since then, its popularity and diversity of use have grown exponentially and it has had the ability to reach a much wider audience.
Leo Radvinsky has been visionary in his recognition that tools such as B4X, with the right amount of investment, could become game-changers in how software development is learned and how the language itself is used.
Open Source Benefits Overseas
One of the prime advantages of converting to open source is the ability to reach audiences who might otherwise be barred from access. Open source software opens up many opportunities in a wide range of countries, especially those where access to licensing software is either difficult to attain or prohibitive in cost.
Open source tools and software make it possible for many who might not necessarily have access to traditional software, to be able to truly innovate and create new solutions to long-existing problems.
Digital technologies can serve as a truly disruptive force in many developing nations as much as it has in developed countries. Some fear that it undermines market forces which are seen to drive development. If one believes that money is the only motivating factor, this might be true, however, the reality is that there are many other forces at work, such as the need to serve basic human necessities.
Due to the growth of the internet and open source tools, technological literacy is growing dramatically around the world. Many people have become adept at shaping software and applications to their ends. The availability of open source tools has become a game-changer for many.
In reality, implementing open source initiatives in many third-world countries can significantly drive business opportunities because of the reduction of barriers to success. This can be applied to governments as well; increased efficiencies can create untold benefits.
Beyond the basic external rewards of self-sufficiency, open source software developers are highly committed and driven by their interest in learning, and the pleasures associated with programming. Tools of this nature can help the self-actualization of many in wide areas of the globe.
Free to Use
The fact that open source software is in most cases, like B4X, completely free, it can circulate, be modified, repurposed, understood, and learned from. If we look at software much like we might consider other projects such as bridges or roads, more will benefit from the freely available knowledge of how to use these resources.
Library of Information
One of the great things about open source software is that there are ever-growing sets of resources available for those who need to make use of them. Digital libraries are open, and it becomes possible to find modules or segments of working programs that are necessary for a wide range of projects. Huge libraries of open source software are readily available for developers online.
Working Alongside other Developers
At the heart of open source software is a drive to learn, and to create a level of self-actualization. There are vast communities within the open source community designed specifically for this purpose. Because there is no licensing structure and the basic aspects of the software and code are free, materials are shared freely, and there are many projects in which people are encouraged to participate. This creates a level of competence, not just in software development, but through the learning of cooperative skills which can be applied broadly to many more aspects of life, both professionally and socially.
Apps and Projects Built Internationally
A wide number of software applications have been developed using B4X in many parts of the world. Here is a brief sampling of some of the projects which have helped expand the use of this language.
During an IoT hackathon in Ethiopia, many interesting projects were built using B4R. The use of this tool became an immediate benefit for many people in this developing nation.
These tools include solutions for controlling the waste of drinkable water through the creation of a smart water faucet. A huge benefit in areas of the world where clean water is scarce; B4R made it possible to minimize waste.
Other solutions were developed which have similar utility. A "Smart Irrigation System'' was also created by several developers from Eritrea. One of the projects included a "smart waste bin," a home automation system, and another a simple push-up counter which aids in physical well-being.
B4X also worked incredibly well for some inexperienced developers in Brazil who found that it was difficult to find translations in Portuguese of manuals for many languages. They utilized the cooperation found in B4X forums to be able to create a million-dollar company churning out many apps on a daily basis.
Conclusion
Tools that can help people not only learn to code, but to find genuine solutions to real-world problems are in great need. Beyond this, the self-actualization possibilities of these tools can have a real impact on many people's lives. Through the use of open software tools like B4X, a great number of benefits can be achieved. Thanks to luminaries like Leonid Radvinsky, this has become a real possibility for many.
