What is the MAGIC programming language? Which other language is closest to the syntax?

Question

Recently, I heard about the Magic programming language from several sources and have not thought of it before. It was mentioned that this is a programming language from Israel. I made several searches and could not find much information about this. I could not find code examples, and Wikipedia had no information about this. I think this is the site for him http://www.magicsoftware.com/en/products/?catID=70 , although I'm not sure as he mentions uniPaaS instead of magic. However, other material on the site indicates that this is a new name for him.

I was interested to learn more about this from practitioners, not from the company. I saw several statements on the Internet that it provided very fast application development, similar to the statements of RoR supporters when it came out.

• How does it compare with VB?
• Is this an even better RAD tool than current .net or mvc frameworks like django, ror ... etc?
• How hard is it to study?

If you can post some sample code, this will be very helpful.

Is this a site possible? Although it links to the previous page.

Answer 1

You are right, my friend, Magic is the original name of the "programming language", which is currently called UniPaaS (Uni Platform as a service), I use it to develop some kind of business application. Perhaps this is the fastest way to create applications (data manipulation), you can create applications in just a few days, but, like everything in life, there are drawbacks:

• This is very strange, which makes it hard to learn.
• you don't have all control over what happens in the background
• and you need to pay a lot for licensing (servers, clients, etc.).

If you are interested in this, you can download the “free” version of the software, which only works with sqlite databases called UniPaaS Jet.

Answer 2

The magic language is today called uniPaaS, it used to be magic than eDeveloper, and now uniPaaS , like PachinSV menchend before. uniPaaS is an application platform that enables enterprises, independent software vendors (ISVs), and system integrators (SIs) to more successfully create and deploy business applications.

You can download the free version of uniPaaS Jet here: http://web.magicsoftware.com/unipaas-jet-download , try it yourself and see how easy it is to use.

The magic technology that you described is the Magic Software Enterprises (uniPaaS) tool, you can find more information about:

• official website : www.magicsoftware.com/en/products/?catID=70&pageID=55
• uniPaaS Jet development team on facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/unipaasJet/
• Developer Magic Zone : devnet.magicsoftware.com/en/unipaas

Let me know if you find useful information.

Bean

Answer 3

As PachinSV explained, there is a RAD, once called Magic, and then eDeveloper, now UniPaaS. This RAD is for database applications. Programming in this RAD is not like anything else that I know, you basically do not write code, as in ordinary languages, but it is almost impossible to explain only in words. Applications are interpreted, not compiled.

As PachinSV said, you must follow the UniPaaS method when developing. This is probably why many people have not been able to use Magic correctly: if you thought that Magic before you know about it, you can easily adapt to it. but if you have a long and successful experience using other database development tools, then often the Magic paradigm will never become natural for you. The learning curve is pretty steep, you have to learn a lot before you can write a small application.

Previous versions retained the "code" inside the database table. The latest version, UniPaas stores code in xml files. I could give you an example if PachinSV doesn't answer you sooner. But the files are quite large: the smallest xml file that I have in the test application is 4000 bytes, and any application consists of at least 11 files, the empty application is 7600 bytes. You should also understand that developers never use these files (they are undocumented by AFAIK), they represent only the storage format used inside UniPaaS. The only way to use them is to configure them as a UniPaaS application.

Answer 4

I'm still an active MAGIC Developer ... This uses the old name and its completely different paradigm, as some of you mentioned. I developed it from Magic version 8.x in eDeveloper 9.x to 10.x, and then renamed it UniPAAS.

The newer version is much easier to use, and it is still very RAD in the sense that the code you are writing does not exist or is missing at all, many common programming tasks such as IO, SQL command ... etc . are processed (so even less code for writing, since we use it in almost all types of applications) ... Basically it is an Enterprise tool ... you would not use it for a small application ... You can download the free version to study paradigm ... but enterprise licenses are expensive. You need both a development tool and a runtime license if you want to deploy ... so it can be expensive for small projects ..

I like it personally, especially when you have to quickly prove the concept or quickly transfer data or transfer to any db platform and connect any existing system through a wide range of gateways that they provide with the licensed version. until today with widely used web technologies there ... like SOAP, RIA ...

It is more popular in Europe ... The headquarters in the United States is located in Irvine ... we had 2 branches in Canada, but in 2001 it closed ... Visit the Magic User Group on Yahoo ... This is a very active forum with a lot of cool people to help you on your quest ...

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/magicu-l/

Answer 5

I programmed Magic for 6 years and found it to be an amazingly fast tool that is easy to understand if you are a competent database programmer, because all operations really concern data manipulation. This, of course, a niche area is developing, and because of this work is small and far. Since this is interpreted, there are actually no errors. It will work with many databases / connections at the same time, but there is a large amount of memory and a processor.

Disadvantages:

• Little control over communication between machines and devices.
• No mobile API yet
• A niche area in which there are so few qualified practitioners or companies willing to invest.

Good points:

• You can say that you are a wizard; you can impress people with fast uber app development (really)
• Easy to understand if you do not have PHD in Maths
• zero programming of "errors" can be painted over. What you do is what you get.

Answer 6

Designed in the original Magic PC, referenced by some of the above people.

This is exactly so: FAST, FAST, but expensive and tough in what it allows you to do. He works on a tick tie similar to a matrix. Removing commands in various sections determines when they will be launched. The middle column starts endlessly until you break the loop. It is like a loop before a loop. If you need to make an element, as soon as you put it in this endless loop and finish it after one loop. The first column procedures start first, ONCE, before the infinite middle column starts. The third column of commands starts after an infinite loop once. This is very effective and logical when you get to the idea of ​​an infinite loop.

You can specify types and the appropriate program to represent the type. Then everywhere the type is used, all settings automatically work. I especially like the fact that you can write a program, and after 5 months change the variable name and transfer it throughout the program. In fact, the program does not use your name for anything. The internal name of all and all variables is hidden to the end user, therefore, of course, it is not a problem to change the name. It takes a minute to write an input program for any table. It takes a minute to write an export / import program for all data files in the database.
Joining a database type, such as Btrieve or SQL, regardless of the program itself.

I stopped using the language because they require more for the execution engine than I could charge for the programs I wanted to use for this. Bill Gates went in the opposite direction. VB is superior in its characteristics and is able to drop 10 data representations on the same screen, but development is 10 times slower.

Then this is a niche - it is a PROOF of the concept of a program in a large company or conversion, import, export for a development company. This is good for programs worth $ 25 thousand, which are heavy and do not move in the database.

uniPaaS, Magic PC

Answer 7

I practiced magic in 1993. It was a 4GL based DOS that came from Israel. I haven’t seen it since.

Answer 8

How does it compare with VB?

This is not true.

Is this an even better RAD tool than current .net or mvc frameworks like django, ror ... etc.

If you mean "it's more like Rapid," then yes, otherwise not.

How hard is learning?

This is as complicated as learning MS Access.

By the way, if you want to understand what it is and how it works, I found that it is very convenient to compare it with MS Access. It works in much the same way as from the point of view of the user or developer. Obviously, what happens in the background is very different, but if you've ever designed a form in Access design, Magic will seem very familiar.

Answer 9

The only Magic programming language that I know of is used by Meditech . This is a proprietary language derived from MUMPS .

Language is really poor - here is an example .

Answer 10

Google also tells me MAGIC / L. All I could find was in this commercial:

Procedural language written in Forth. He originally worked on the Z80 under CP / M and was later available for IBM PCs and Sun 3s.