We've released an early public version of our brand-new visual PHP tool.
TurboPHP is a Windows program which uses a Delphi or VB-like component model for PHP-based web programming.
More info is here:
http://www.least-resistance.com/turbo/
We are looking for feedback and suggestions.
Thanks!
Scott J. Miles
http://www.least-resistance.com/turbo/
Sure, I'll check it out, it better not suck! 
Yes, I will check this out.All though PHP is itself fast enough to make but any such things will be good.
---Nikunj
It looks good, but I don't think this is the right approach for PHP in general.
PHP was designed to be an easily understandable scripting language. Hiding the source behind a 'drag-n-drop' interface turns the code back into a black-box where you can only make your script do things that have been defined as an object.
Ofcourse you can define more objects, but looking at the HUGE number of functions in the PHP manual I fear that that is an nearly impossible task.
Your graphical interface thingy could be usefull for designing HTML-forms and output pages (tables basically), but the current approach is not nearly flexible enough to be usefull for every-day programming.
Yea, I agree, I think it looks pretty good, though -- and maybe because I got dropped on my head when I was a kid -- but I kinda foound it confusing, and the lack of help, well, didn't help. Plus, I'm a hard sell, cuz I don't normally use these types of programs... and why is there code already in the PHP tab? I wasn't sure what it was for...
Thank you for your comments.
To be clear, I'm not trying to put the PHP in a black box, as much as I am trying to automate common tasks and simplify the annoying problem of synchronizing PHP and HTML.
The bottom part of the main panel unfolds into PHPBefore/PHPAfter code panels where the user can insert PHP code to perform any complex task.
Regards,
Scott
Sorry for the lack of help. Maybe I shouldn't have released so early, but I don't want to waste my time with it if there is a lack of interest. =P
The PHP/HTML panels are there to display code generated by the tool. For example, if you put down a SELECT box, TurboPHP automatically generates PHP code so that the input remains persistant (retains it's value across page invocations).
The PHPBefore/PHPFollows boxes (bottom of the main panel) are there for adding custom PHP into the generated program.
Thanks for checking it out!
Scott
naw, don't get me wrong, Scott. I think it's awesome you even wrote it...
"The bottom part of the main panel unfolds into PHPBefore/PHPAfter code panels "
aha, I missed that one. :-)
That is a good feature, but it is still very very limiting. (read: confusing)
<rant>
I think the emphasis should be more on helping the programmer to do what he is already doing instead of trying to make him do his programming in a completely new way.
One of the most common mistakes when writing PHP code is that you use the wrong variable names. It would be very helpfull to simply have an editor that highlights an 'undefined' var in a different color.
Similarly, this is a very nasty FOR loop:
for ($iT=0; $iT<100; $it++)
it causes an infinite loop because $iT and $it are different. It would be very nice to see the $it light up.
As far for prefab goes I think it would be nice to have small prefab 'objects', a bit like most HTML editors let you create a table or selectbox and later edit the properties. But I'd like to see it in normal code, so it get's inserted at the cursor position and not a 'magic' location.
Then in case of a database connection 'object' the editor should be aware if that connection identifier, and list it as 'the only option' as an argument to the rest of the database functions to prevent the nasty 'not a valid link-indentifier' error.
Something like that would be really helpfull.
</rant>
Thanks again for the feedback, V.
Personally, I find the Delphi style visual programming vastly more efficient then straight code style. For people like me, it's not a 'completely new way' of programming, it's our favorite way!
Re: code insertion, one could argue that with straight PHP code, the HTML will simply appear in some 'magic' position. With TurboPHP, the desired output drives the position of the code, rather that the reverse.
You make a good point about variable checking and error trapping. Surely though, these are feature issues and not problems with the architecture. Remember this release was only verion 1.0a (now updated to 1.1), there's lots of room for adding features. 
"Personally, I find the Delphi style visual programming vastly more efficient then straight code style."
opinions, opinions :-)
"For people like me, it's not a 'completely new way' of programming, it's our favorite way!"
I understand that (I have a few windows-liking friends too), but I still feel that the 'turbophp' approach is only useful for creating forms and such. It generates far too much overhead to use for regular coding.
"one could argue that with straight PHP code, the HTML will simply appear in some 'magic' position."
One could, but one would be wrong. With straight PHP coding the HTML appears where you put it, not where PHP decides it should be. TurboPHP just has the advantage of being able to kind of predict that the output will look like, that is why it would be a good tool for designing GUIs.
"You make a good point about variable checking and error trapping"
At the moment that is what is lacking most, so it would make sense (to me anyhow) to write something like that rather than putting lots of effort in trying to make a new kind of PHP. (Let's face it, by the time you have created prefabs for all of PHP's functions and ported it to linux we'll be using PHP 8.9 )
Ok, I basically disagree with you on most of this stuff. =)
a good tool for designing GUIs.
Right, that's the point. Much of my work in PHP involves DB front ends, report generators, etc.
by the time you have created prefabs for all of PHP's functions
Not trying to create 'prefabs for PHP functions.' The components are designed to form a type of library like PEAR or other lib, not replacements for PHP itself.
At the moment [variable checking ]is what is lacking most
opinions, opinions.
lol
well have fun developing!
Thanks very much for the discussion, Vincent. I won't forget what you've said.
Your friend,
Scott