I’ve been using REALbasic for many years and I’ve spoken at multiple REAL World conferences.  I’ve partnered with REAL Software to sell my REALbasic add-ons via their store.  Before becoming an Association of REALbasic Professionals board member, I was an adviser to the board.  If you’re wondering, the board membership receives no monetary compensation.  I really like REALbasic and if one needs to develop cross-platform software, there is nothing better.  And that is what makes me concerned for the state of the community.  Let me explain:  Recently there was a thread on the REALbasic forums where people were complaining about the quality of the examples provided at the ARBP web site.  It was said that the examples were “unprofessional” or “beginner level”.

Granted, the person who complained about the examples being unprofessional was probably a kid who wanted ready-to-go, drop-in-place, “professional” code, with no effort of their own.  If that is what one wants, then go buy a license for the Einhugur plugins.  We’ll call this person the “pie-in-the-sky-everything-should-be-free-and-open-source-give-it-to-me-because-I-deserve-it-and-don’t-want-to-work-for-my-education”, or “type 1″.

The other complaint was that the examples were too “beginner level”.  Beginner-level is completely relative.  While one may know how to use databases, perhaps they have never used the graphics object.  In one skill set this person is extremely proficient, and in the other, they are a “beginner”.  We’ll call this person “I-pick-nits-because-I-am-bored”, or “type 2″.

What do person Type 1 and person Type 2 have in common?  They are both willing to complain, but neither one is willing to help to make the existing ARBP examples better or provide new ones.  If the REALbasic community is to survive & prosper, then the community needs to start fending for itself.  We can not continue to wait for REAL Software to spoon feed us.  If there are examples from the REALbasic distribution or the ARBP repository, that are sub-par, “unprofessional”, or too “beginner level”, then feel free to make your own (or improve the originals) and upload them to the ARBP repository.  There is virtually 100% chance that your example will be available at the ARBP repository within days.

If you are a REALbasic fan, then just like a relationship the community needs to be nurtured.  If you do not give back, the relationship will die.  It is time to fend for yourself.  Get dressed on your own.  Learn to fly… whatever your metaphor.  The truth is this:

- REAL Software canceled REAL World.

- REAL Software announced and then canceled the “mini” REAL World events.

- REAL Software is busy getting REALbasic Cocoa ready.

- ARBP helped put on the REALbasic conference in Colorado.

- ARBP is part of your community.

- You need the community just as the community needs you.

Stop abusing the community:

- Try to solve your problem before you ask your question.

- Search the NUG Archives or the Forums before you ask your question.

- If you figured something out, create a quick example project and upload it to the ARBP repository.

- Support REALbasic 3rd party developers. They are a critical part of the community and represent the level of health for the REALbasic ecosystem.

One final note.  Do you want REALbasic to fail?  If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.  Let’s all be a part of the solution and support the language that we love.

Programming, Tech