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Review
RB Codex Online
Issue: 1.3 (December/January 2002)
Author: Brian Jones
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 4,208
Starting Page Number: 10
RBD Number: 1306
Resource File(s): None
Related Web Link(s):
http://www.macest.com/rbcodex
http://www.macest.com/rbcodex
Known Limitations: None
Full text of article...
Information concerning REALbasic can sometimes be difficult to wade through on the web. REAL Software does a good job of keeping users up to date on information concerning REALbasic in particular, but the section of their site dedicated to providing support to developers in the form of examples or plug-ins could leave something to be desired. Other sites feature message boards that can provide great personalized help, but are not the best general repository of information. Still other sites show promise, but disappear after a few months. RB Codex Online (available at http://www.macest.com/rbcodex) promises to bring a little order to all of this madness and, eventually, to become an important part of any REALbasic developer's search for new plug-ins, code snippets, and tutorials.
RB Codex takes a bit of a different approach than other REALbasic developer support sites. Rather than being a discussion oriented site or a downloads oriented site, RB Codex primarily focuses on providing examples and tutorials for its users. There are plug-ins available to download and links to other REALbasic sites, and these sections of the site are much more detailed and helpful than similar information provided elsewhere. However, the main benefit from using RB Codex is the large library of unique content comprised of its code examples and tutorials.
RB Codex has a long list of code examples available for browsing (44 at press time). The code snippets are browsed by title, and when one is selected any description and the contents of the example are then displayed. There are also tutorials available, which are more in-depth explanations of new techniques. The topics covered in these examples span from quick fixes, to problems experienced by those of all skill levels, to in- depth discussions of more complicated tasks, and basic introductions to techniques for novices.
The interface for RB Codex makes it very convenient to browse through its library of information without having to do too much obnoxious scrolling. There is simply a listbox on the left with a display area on the right. Based on the item selected on the left, the appropriate content is displayed on the right. As the site grows, however, this system could become cumbersome, as is already the case when browsing through the more than 200 plug-ins available for download.
RB Codex is a new site that is advertised as currently being in the beta stages. At times, this unfinished state shows through as in the case of the aforementioned problem with the interface. However, the site already provides a great service and now only needs larger scale exposure in the REALbasic community in order to grow and fulfill its potential. Next time, rather than digging through message boards and discussion list archives for an answer to what you think may be a frequently asked question, first stop by RB Codex Online and see what they have to offer. Also, if you find a fun solution to a problem you've been working with, include it in their archive. All the site needs to become an important part of any REALbasic developer's routine is more content and community participation.
In Brief Product RB Codex Online Manufacturer Macest Software Price Free System Requirements N/A Contact Info http://www.macest.com/rbcodex
james-at-macest.com
Pros Great variety of information; Potential for community contribution Cons Site could outgrow its current interface Rating (1.0-5.0): 4.5
End of article.
Article copyrighted by REALbasic Developer magazine. All rights reserved.
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