Saving an application from an application?

[Emily-Elizabeth]

In the Community version, can we have our application save an application?

[stam]

I'm gonna guess probably not, if what you mean is attaching all the bits of engine to a standalone...

Potentially you could imitate this with an app created with a splash screen app, which then launches a mainstack to actually represent your app (that way you've built the full app once, but the actually running stack can be variable).

In theory at least you could modify a copy of that mainstack and copy all the rest of the app to a new location with the modified main stack. No idea if that would crate a new app, but it might do... I would imagine that the new main stack would need to be in a location that will always be found by the splash screen app (eg same folder).

[richmond62]

Creating an application from within any version of LC would be a conflict of interest: I could author an app development kit in LC and then hive off a standalone in direct competition with LC.

[stam]

Creating an application from within any version of LC would be a conflict of interest: I could author an app development kit in LC and then hive off a standalone in direct competition with LC.

This is what the EULA actually states:

b) You are prohibited from creating or distributing Created Software to be used and marketed as a generic rapid application development tool, or a low-code or no-code platform for app creation.

So I guess it depends on how much the final app resembles a generic RAD, as opposed to a machine that churns out individualised copies of essentially the same app.

If any doubt it’s useful to reach out to Heather/LiveCode Ltd to ensure the planned app doesn’t exceed the limits of the EULA…

[ClipArtGuy]

I think that EULA quoted is actually for the commercial version. The Community Edition shouldn't have those restrictions since it runs under the GPLv3 license. I'm no lawyer, but that's always been my understanding.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

The use case in my example: On another forum, the end user asked if Secure Text could save out as an executable so the encrypted file could be opened by someone without the program.

[richmond62]

Saving a secure text file is NOT saving an application from an application, it is exporting a file.

[FourthWorld]

The use case in my example: On another forum, the end user asked if Secure Text could save out as an executable so the encrypted file could be opened by someone without the program.

I'm missing the benefit in that use case. What is gained by opening in one application rather than another?

[stam]

Saving a secure text file is NOT saving an application from an application, it is exporting a file.

Agree completely, but to remind you, the original question was:

In the Community version, can we have our application save an application?

Which I take to mean is it legal to do so, as in theory there is no technical reason you can't.
I've mostly used commercial versions (purchased mainly to support LC, I never profited from such a licence), and under commercial licence you can't.

But weirdly under community version you probably can. Although Community 9.6.3 is licensed under a 'special' GPLv3 licence, having re-read it I don't see why not, hence it's also legal to create OpenXTalk, which would have been forbidden with a commercial licence with it's 'non-compete' clause.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

It was a feature request someone had mentioned on another forum, but if it can't be done it can't be done. This is the program <https://www.dcmembers.com/f0dder/download/fsekrit/> that does it, but it is written in C++

[FourthWorld]

Thanks. A purpose-built engine written in compiled object code makes that a more practical option.

LC is a great solution for many things, but as a generalized scripting language with a broad feature set, the engine size alone would make it undesirable for this purpose.

It's technically possible, of course. The LC IDE is written in LC. And if GPLv3 is a good fit fit a project, there would be no licensing restrictions for making an app that makes apps. It would be a bit of work to pull it together, not no less doable than anything else the IDE stacks do.

But the size. Oh lordy that's a lot for an app with one feature.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

But the size. Oh lordy that's a lot for an app with one feature.

Yeah fSekrit is only 47 KB whereas Secret Text is 15 to 20 MB, but is cross-platform (thanks Livecode!)

[FourthWorld]

But the size. Oh lordy that's a lot for an app with one feature.

Yeah fSekrit is only 47 KB whereas Secret Text is 15 to 20 MB, but is cross-platform (thanks Livecode!)

With modern download speeds 16 megs isn't the barrier it used to be.

Been meaning to tell you,, glad to see you posting here again. You do good work, and bring good thinking the these discussions.

[Emily-Elizabeth]

Been meaning to tell you,, glad to see you posting here again. You do good work, and bring good thinking the these discussions.

Thank you for the kind words. Looks like I am late to the party though as it seems like Livecode is going to be axed for Livecode Create. So long as the Community version can pump out executables for Windows and Linux, I'll keep using it.