Introduction to Limnor Studio

- Installation and Getting Started
- Upgrading
- Samples
- "How to" video
- Create platform-specific programs

Limnor Studio -- IDE for visual programming


Method editor using control-flow


Math expression editor

Limnor Studio and 5GL

People expect 5GL to be easy to use, to be visual. There are many excellent visual programming languages and systems available now. One issue is that while each visual programming innovation has its unique advantages in some aspects it also has its limitations in other aspects. If different visual programming systems may work together then developers may take advantages of different systems and avoid the limitations. 5GL may solve the problem by being an abstraction layer for visual programming.

Following criteria may define an abstraction layer for visual programming:

• All visual programming systems can use the abstraction layer to represent their programming results.
• Given a programming task, if visual programming system A and visual programming system B may be used to accomplish all or parts of the task then A and B may use the same representation of the abstraction layer for the parts of the task they both can accomplish.

The first criterion requires the layer to have a wide coverage. Most programming languages, such as C/C++, Java, C#, VB, etc., meet this criterion.
The first criterion does not restrict each visual programming system to have its own programming elements for unique visual representations.
The second criterion requires the layer to be an abstraction for visual programming and makes it possible for different visual programming systems to work together.
It can be deduced that when designing a 5GL to meet the criteria, such a 5GL should allow decorative expansions by individual visual programming systems. When the 5GL compiles/interprets a program, it ignores those decorative expansions.

When events were added to classes it enabled rapid application development, especially the visual development of graphic user interface. But event handling is still expressed via texture programming languages.
The idea of Limnor codeless programming is to add "Actions" to classes. Adding actions to classes eliminates the need of texture programming languages, making generic purpose codeless and visual programming possible without sacrificing programming power.
A class in Object-Oriented Programming is defined by properties, methods and events. Now it is enhanced by actions. Visual programming by "properties, methods, events and actions" can be a fifth-generation programming language.

An action is defined by Action-Executer, Action-Data, and Action-Condition. An action has an owner which defines the scope of data available for the action.
There are 3 types of actions:
Method-Invoke Action. It is the execution of a method of a class. The Action-Executer is the class defining the method. The Action-Data is the values provided to the method parameters. Method return value can be assigned to a value (a property or a variable).
Property-Setting Action. It assigns a value to a property of a class. The Action-Executer is the class. The Action-Data is the value provided to the property.
Event-Firing Action. It fires an event of a class being developed. The Action-Executer is the class. The Action-Data is the values provided to the event parameters.

Action data can be a constant, a variable, a method/event parameter, a property of a class/variable/parameter/property, or a math expression.
An Action Condition is a math expression evaluated to a Boolean value.
A math expression is a math formula with its variables linked to constants, properties, variables, parameters, and math expressions.
A math expression must be displayed and edited graphically for codeless and visual programming and for intuitive using of the programming tools. The math expression programming tool must be able to handle math elements and functions developed by third parties to enable unlimited expansions.

Compare with Limnor 3.3

Like Limnor 3.3, Limnor Studio is a generic purpose codeless visual programming system. It can be used to create computer software without using computer languages. It is a powerful end-user-development tool. It opens the door of computer programming to a much broader population. With it, almost anyone can do computer programming. Programming is no more complicated than using daily office software. People can make their own vivid presentations, data managing applications, kiosk applications, etc., without hiring extra software engineers. It is a new bridge between computers and users. Now non-technically oriented users can use computers in new ways and gain a greater control of their PCs.
Comparing to the current Limnor Codeless Programming System 3.3, Limnor Studio uses the same concepts of “create actions” and “assign actions to events” to do programming.

Below are the major differences between Limnor Studio and the current Limnor 3.3.

• Limnor Studio uses Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5. Limnor 3.3 uses .Net Framework 1.1.
• Limnor Studio uses native .Net types as programming elements (.Net Types are Performers). It generates native .Net types. Therefore it works seamlessly with other .Net programming languages and software libraries.
• Limnor Studio compiler generates C# source code from visual programming projects.
• Limnor Studio is an open platform for hosting other visual programming innovations. Visual and codeless programming will be better done via different paradigms working together. Each visual programming idea may have its specific advantages over texture programming; each of them will have its limitations if used alone. Different visual programming ideas may be developed as plug-ins for Limnor Studio and it allows them work seamlessly together.
• Limnor Studio uses math expression in its original form instead of in textural computer language form.
• Limnor Studio uses action diagram to visually represent and develop programming logic.
• Limnor Studio makes use of Microsoft Visual Studio (Isolated Mode) for its project management, graphic user interface design, and other mature IDE functionality Visual Studio provides.

Getting started with Limnor Studio

Please send your feedback and sample requests to feedback@limnor.com. Thanks!