Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Proton Native VS B4X

Compare Proton Native VS B4X and see what are their differences

Proton Native logo Proton Native

A React environment for cross platform native desktop app

B4X logo B4X

Cross platform development tools for native iOS, Android, desktop and server applications.
  • Proton Native Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-28
  • B4X Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17

Proton Native features and specs

  • Cross-Platform
    Proton Native allows developers to build applications that run on multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux with a single codebase, enhancing accessibility and reach.
  • Native Performance
    By using native components, Proton Native applications often achieve better performance and responsiveness compared to web-based solutions.
  • JavaScript and React
    Developers familiar with JavaScript and React can quickly adapt to using Proton Native, leveraging their existing skills to build desktop applications.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source framework, Proton Native allows developers to contribute to its development or customize it to better fit their project needs.

Possible disadvantages of Proton Native

  • Maturity and Stability
    Proton Native is less mature compared to other frameworks like Electron, which means it might have more bugs or lack certain features that developers expect.
  • Community and Support
    The community around Proton Native is smaller, which can make finding support and resources more challenging for developers new to the framework.
  • Limited Libraries and Tools
    Compared to more established frameworks, Proton Native may have fewer third-party libraries and tools available, limiting the ease of development for more complex applications.
  • Documentation
    The available documentation for Proton Native may not be as comprehensive or updated as other frameworks, making it harder for developers to understand and use effectively.

B4X features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    B4X allows developers to write a single codebase that can be deployed across multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, and desktop applications, which significantly reduces development time and effort.
  • Ease of Use
    B4X offers a simple and intuitive environment for developing applications, making it accessible for beginners while still powerful for experienced developers.
  • Strong Community Support
    B4X has an active and supportive community that provides plenty of resources, tutorials, and forums for troubleshooting and mentorship.
  • Rapid Application Development
    The visual designer and powerful libraries included in B4X allow for quick prototyping and development, helping to accelerate the overall development process.
  • Cost-Effective
    B4X offers a free version with substantial features, allowing smaller developers and hobbyists to get started without incurring high costs.
  • Native Performance
    Applications developed with B4X leverage native controls and performance, which ensures that apps run fast and efficiently on their target platforms.

Possible disadvantages of B4X

  • Limited to B4X IDE
    Developers are largely locked into the B4X IDE, limiting flexibility in terms of using other development environments and tools.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic development is straightforward, mastering advanced features and functionalities requires time and effort, which could be a hurdle for some developers.
  • Less Popular
    B4X is less popular compared to other development frameworks like React Native or Flutter, which could mean fewer third-party resources and plugins.
  • Limited Enterprise Features
    While excellent for small and medium-sized projects, B4X may lack some of the advanced features or extensive third-party integrations needed for large enterprise-level applications.
  • Inconsistent Documentation
    Some users have reported that the documentation can be inconsistent or outdated, making it challenging to find up-to-date and accurate information on certain topics.
  • Platform-Specific Customization
    Despite being cross-platform, extensive customization for each platform may still be required to ensure optimal user experience and compliance with design guidelines.

Analysis of B4X

Overall verdict

  • B4X is considered a good option for developers looking for a versatile and efficient development platform. Its ease of use, cross-platform capabilities, and strong community support make it a valuable tool, especially for those who prioritize development speed and multiplatform deployment.

Why this product is good

  • B4X is a suite of rapid application development tools that simplifies the coding process by providing a cross-platform development environment. It uses a simple, yet powerful programming language suitable for beginners and advanced users alike. The platform boasts a strong community, extensive documentation, and a rapid development cycle. Additionally, it is known for its ability to develop native apps for Android, iOS, and desktop systems from a single codebase.

Recommended for

  • Beginners who want an easy introduction to programming.
  • Developers looking to create cross-platform applications with a single codebase.
  • Small to medium-sized development teams needing rapid prototyping and development.
  • Educators seeking a simple yet effective tool to teach programming.
  • Independent developers or startups who need to quickly deploy apps across multiple platforms.

Proton Native videos

Getting Started With Proton Native

B4X videos

Little Bear B4X: A Short Sound Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Proton Native and B4X)
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
IDE
0 0%
100% 100
Rapid Application Development
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Proton Native and B4X

Proton Native Reviews

Electron.js Alternatives For Cross-Platform Development
Proton Native allows developers to create effective cross-platform solutions using React Syntax. It uses the same syntax as React Native and allows developers to utilize all the available react-libraries for creating complex desktop solutions with ease.
Source: www.atatus.com
Electron Alternatives﹣5 Best JavaScript Frameworks for Desktop Apps
Proton Native is a fresh release. It was made available on GitHub in the early months of 2018. What Proton Native does for desktop app development is similar to what React Native has done for mobile.
Source: brainhub.eu

B4X Reviews

Top 10 Android Studio Alternatives For App Development
B4X is a cross-platform tool that helps in creating applications on platforms like Google Android, Arduino, Apple iOS, and so on. The syntax of B4X is similar to BASIC.
10 Best Android Studio Alternatives For App Development
B4X is a suite of rapid application development IDE’s. This platform allows you to create applications on the following platforms: Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS, Java, Raspberry Pi, and Arduino. B4X is a popular tool for Android app development. It is not only used by developers, but popular companies are also using this amazing tool like IBM, NASA, and others.
Source: techdator.net

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Proton Native and B4X, you can also consider the following products

Electron - Build cross platform desktop apps with web technologies

Android Studio - Android development environment based on IntelliJ IDEA

NW.js - nwjs

Qt Creator - Qt Creator is a cross-platform C++, JavaScript and QML integrated development environment. It is the fastest, easiest and most fun experience a C++ developer could wish for.

Flutter - Build beautiful native apps in record time 🚀

DeskGap - Framework for building cross-platform desktop apps with web technologies (JavaScript, HTML and CSS).