/*Looking Both Ways - How DataFlex Is Both Backwards Compatible And Future Proof*/

Flexibility that supports both legacy and innovation

There’s a clue to DataFlex’s main strength in its name. Flexibility – the ability to connect and integrate with new and old technologies – makes it a strong contender for almost any database-driven software project.

New and up and coming ISVs want a framework that’s sustainable for the future, whilst established software companies often need something that can support existing customers using legacy versions who are yet to transition to newer technologies.

But it’s not just our technology that offers versatility. The team behind DataFlex knows it well. They understand both its advantages and its limitations, so they give our customers expert advice on how to tackle specific development challenges.

One eye on the future; one eye on the past

It’s always a gamble as to which technology to embrace and which to leave behind. We haven’t always got it right, but so far in 50 years we’ve done alright!

The team behind our framework constantly looks ahead to see what’s coming next in the world of tech. At the same time, they continuously grapple with the limitations of backwards compatibility, being highly selective about where to break it.

Interestingly, throughout DataFlex’s long history, that’s mostly been at UI level. For example, the move from MS-DOS to Windows (if you’re old enough to remember that!) and subsequently Windows to web apps.

Right now, we’re currently working on a technology stack project, rewriting the backend code to be able to make DataFlex compatible with all modern platforms (such as WebAssembly).

Evolution guided by customer needs

One of the tricks to evolving our framework in the way that we do, is to always be open to new technologies without necessarily going looking for them. Here’s the secret: development is always guided by the business case.

Taking this approach to evolving DataFlex means we can give them what they need, and not what we think they need. We’re uniquely positioned to get a good feel for the trends going on in software development. A good example right now is the need for web apps with offline capabilities.

Every new project yields new discoveries. Often a new feature will spark other developments. For example, when certain customers requested dashboards for web apps. We determine how to deliver it – bringing in support for dynamic objects – which then became another new feature that could be rolled out to other customers.

Features and functionality are rarely retired

One thing that sets DataFlex apart from other programming frameworks is that we rarely retire features. This ensures smooth and ongoing backwards compatibility for our customers. At the same time, new features are identified and scheduled on a continuous basis. This approach ensures DataFlex is one of the most stable and reliable programming languages on the market.

Our customers’ needs tend to be broadly divided between technical innovations and UI enhancements. In terms of trends, Windows-based customers want a framework that’s stable but gives them the option to evolve their UI over time. More modern web apps are definitely exploring the options for offline support.

What’s next for DataFlex? A look ahead

There’s lots planned for the upcoming year. DataFlex 2025 has the ability to build dashboards into web apps. It also includes a regular expressions engine and a navigation designer to support new developers.

Coming later is the package manager – a project that improves the way code is shared. It also enhances the way we service customers, making it again, much more flexible. It will wrap a whole management system around different dependencies, including versioning and automatic updates.

Also on the horizon is platform independence. Stay tuned for more updates! Catch the latest news on DataFlex by subscribing to the DataFlex Newsletter. Sign up below!