We have summer 2025 and VisionX 6 was the last release in December 2024. Usually we release a VisionX update in the middle of the year, but this year it will be a little bit later.

The reason is: Security.

Our next update release of VisionX will be a big security update because of found security vulnerabilities from used libraries. We take the time to update to secure versions of used libraries and this is not a simple task. Also in the last month many used tools have changed like Maven central or Browsers. We try to hide technology problems from our customers because things should just work. It should be easy for our customers to work with latest technologies but it's not so easy for us to achieve this big goal.

We had to take care of changes and did updates of some tools in our development chain as well.

As a big extra, we now officially support IBM DB2 iSeries (AS400) with VisionX. We don't support every feature because such systems are always maintained by professional software developers. It's not a system for citizen developers. Anyway, a citizen developer is now able to create professional and modern applications with VisionX for IBM DB2 iSeries. If you're interested in details, just send us a message.

What's next?

You know that we play around with AI since 2023 and we still use AI in our product development process. Currently, every low code tool has some support for AI, but we think different and wait until it's not just nice to have it integrated. So AI is on our roadmap, but we still research. We're always open for feedback in this area

Why we think different is also because VisionX is different. It's completely Java based and you have full control about the Source Code - no vendor lock-in. So you can use any AI to integrate any feature in your VisionX application. If you know the prompt, just use copilot or chat GPT. If you ask for Java Source Code, you'll get it out and just use this in your VisionX application. We made so many tests with this approach and it was really helpful and easy - also without a custom AI integration in VisionX.

We also have a new option for your cloud applications. Our Monitoring Tool will be available for cloud installations. You will be able to get detailed information about your installed application if you want or need.

Also on our roadmap for 2025 is an update of our VisionX Previewer app. Because Google and Apple have changed the requirements for apps, we will also make improvements here. It's also planned to update the integrated push mechanism.

You can look forward to it — we'll keep you posted!

If you don't know IDX, you should read more about it!

In short, it's development workspace in the cloud.
Not interested because cloud development environments are not new?
Stop reading and have a nice day

IDX is different!
It's still beta, but it's so cool and it already works. The cool thing is the architecture and the visions behind it.

We tried different cloud dev environments in the past but IDX is the first which worked like expected. One click and everything will be up and running, super fast, easy to manage (because it just works).

Our use-case is simple. Create a mobile demo app with Flutter UI like our example app.

It was super easy because copy/paste of source files was enough. Here's the result:

Flutter UI Android preview

Flutter UI Web preview

To be honest, it wasn't possible to develop without manual configuration because supported flutter version was too old. But a simple

fixed this problem. The Android emulator preview had some problems and didn't work at first but it suddenly worked. We have no idea why, but IDX is beta. The overall performance is not super fast but the IDE part itself is fast enough. The preview and build could be better. Also the Android simulator integration lacks.

But if everything would be configured by a custom template, your online IDE is ready in 30 seconds - ready to work.

For us it's not a replacement for desktop development but it's perfect for collaboration or if you need complex environments e.g. docker, databases. It makes sense to create a development environment in some seconds and share the environment with your team or just to provide a development environment for Low-Code citizen developers. Not every citizen developer has the skill to configure a development environment. But a click on a link and modifying existing files is not a problem.

If you're interested, just try out IDX on your own.

With next VisionX Previewer release we'll have a really useful feature. It's an automatic feedback in case of unexpected application errors.

It's entirely possible that the app can't handle all use cases equally well. This can lead to overflows or even unexpected display issues. Usually your users won't report such problems if they don't persist. For such cases, we have implemented an automated feedback handling. Any unexpected issues are reported automatically. The application will send the internal error message and stack trace to the backend and a Screenshot of the current application if possible.

Examples:

Text overflow

Exceptions

This will be reported to the backend e.g.

Overflow feedback

Exceptions feedback

No worries, it's just a demo screen. It doesn't look fancy. Just use VisionX to create your own cool screen.

Our feedback handling is not comparable with commercial products like Sentry.io which is the recommended system in the flutter docs. But it's simple, free and built-in. If you use our flutter client as base of your own application client it's also possible to use other reporting systems like Sentry.io without any limitations.

We always try to keep things simple for you!

We work hard on our VisionX Previewer app and have some really cool new features for you

You know that we use a table for data representation. It looks like following:

Standard table

We know that a table is not really cool on mobile devices. A table on mobile devices often looks like a list, like this one:

Our problem was the layout of the list elements. This is easy for a table but complex for a list. Anyway, we found a super flexible solution for the problem and now it's possible to show a table as list, like following:

Table as List

You don't need to change your application to show a table as list, just add a style information to your existing tables and everything will work. The list supports same features as the table. It's sortable, editable and you can delete records. The list has some additional style options like as Card, with + button, with border, with arrow:

Style options

This is the default layout implementation of the list. If you want another layout, you can use a template mechanism to create your own customized list. The template is a json file which defines the layout. It's not super easy but with a little patience it will work.

The new list feature will be available together with the next VisionX update in some weeks, because the template mechanism is new and not available in older VisionX versions.

Our VisionX Previewer App 3.2.0 is available. PLEASE read this article BEFORE updating the app.

It's a performance and feature release for flutter 3.24.

The new version fully supports table cell formatting (Cell profiles), fixed table cell size calculation, improved image loading and caching (no more flickering), supports full-screen content without safe are (optional), contains new date and time picker components and comes with updated dependencies.

With next version we will use flutter 3.27 and later.

A full changelog is available here and information about 3.2.0.

If you read the article about VisionX 6 update you saw that E-Plug is also updated from 1.2.60 to 3.0.0.

We released E-Plug 3.0.0 already and 1.2.60 is not available via Eclipse Marketplace anymore. However, if you made a mistake and want to stay with 1.2.60 it's still possible. In this case, simply add a custom update site in your Eclipse settings and use following URL: https://eclipse.sibvisions.com/eplug.1.2.60

This location contains latest E-Plug 1.2.60.

The default location for latest E-Plug is: https://eclipse.sibvisions.com/eplug

We're happy to announce that JVx 3.o is available. It's a feature release and fixes some problems.

All changes are documented in our ticketing system. The release contains 138 tickets and much more work behind the scenes. It is full of experience gained from countless projects. This version is the heart of our low-code platform VisionX and it is a rock star.

JVx 3 is the effort of 34 months hard work.
Thank you Martin and René for your tireless work!

It comes with better database independency, Java code parsing and execution, Image metadata (mobile devices), improved Parameter handling and much more. The full list of changes is available in our ticketing system and in the changelog of our code repository.

Start with JVx

We're happy to announce VisionX 6.0.351

The new version is full with updates. It doesn't contain many new features but many new possibilities because of Java 21, JavaFX 23, latest reactUI, flutter UI and an updated Previewer app.

Before starting with VisionX 6, PLEASE read our update guide and also additional information about our Previewer app update.

What's new?

• Disable translation

  It's possible to disable the translation temporary while you design your application, because sometimes it's not good to show translated labels/names immediate. The VisionX button in your application now contains a checkbox. This doesn't change your application, only temporary in VisionX.

• Improved layout drag/drop

  We changed dragging and dropping elements for our layouts a little bit, to show gaps. This is not a big thing, but it just looks right now.

• Java 21
• JVx application framework 3.0
• Apache Tomcat 11 support
• Postgres database 14
• ARM64 support (Apple silicon (M1), linux, windows)
• Version update for all AddOns and Modules

As usual, VisionX 6.0.351 is available in the download area for our customers or as trial.

Have fun!

We'll release VisionX 6 by the end of the year. Some hours later, we'll release VisionX Previewer 3.2.0 for Android and iOS.

You should know that this app is not compatible with applications, created with VisionX 5 and earlier. If you update the Previewer app and try to use your old applications, it will show a version mismatch message.

So be sure to update all your applications with VisionX 6 or just keep VisionX Previewer 3.1.0.

If you update your applications with VisionX 6 and keep VisionX Previewer 3.1.0, the same version mismatch message will appear because VisionX Previewer 3.2.0 is required for VisionX 6 and later.

Why is it incompatible?

The Previewer app now supports features which were not available in VisionX 5 and earlier. Such features are cell styling with fonts, images, colors (Cell Profiles) and readonly cells (Read only checker).

But no hurry, no rush. Take your time to update to VisionX 6, update your installed applications and if you're done, just update the Previewer app.

Our next big VisionX update is just around the corner.

We'll release it by the end of the year and sorry for missing EA versions. We did not release EA versions, as there is no way back to older VisionX versions. So please read update guide carefully!

Before you can work with VisionX 6, you should know some important things about it and also that there is more to do for you than just an installation of an Update!

VisionX 6 comes with updated binaries of Java and Postgresql and many updated open source libraries like JVx, reactUI or flutterUI.

1. Create a backup of all your applications and external databases
   • Create an update export of your application with database, with your current VisionX version
   • If your database is an external database or you use multiple database schemas, create a backup of it because VisionX doesn't backup external databases or multiple schemas
   • If you use a version control system like svn or git - commit everything
2. Keep your current VisionX version and use the zip version of VisionX 6

   Don't uninstall or remove your old VisionX version, keep it until everything is moved to VisionX 6. Simply use VisionX 6 zip archive and unzip it in your home directory. Don't use VisionX 6 installer until everything is working with VisionX 6.

3. Request a new VisionX license

   If you have a subscription license of VisionX, you don't need a new license because everything will work with your credentials. If you don't use our subscription model, please request a new license for VisionX 6. We'll send you a new license. Please be patient with us if it takes a little longer. In the meantime, you can work with your current VisionX version.

4. Request a new E-Plug license

   Please request a new E-Plug license BEFORE updating E-Plug. Please be patient with us if it takes a little longer. In the meantime, you can work with your current E-Plug version.

5. Install AddOns

   Be sure that you install all AddOns which you're using in your current VisionX version.
   This is important and don't do it later because it makes it much easier for you!

6. Update E-Plug (after you got your license)

   Please update your E-Plug version from 1.2.60 to 3.0.0 after all your applications are working in VisionX 6. Just for your safety!

7. Import your application(s) with VisionX 6

   If you don't use an apps.xml with VisionX (usually only development companies will use that), just import your application(s) in VisionX 6 and everything should be fine. If VisionX doesn't show an information, you're one step further.

   If you use an apps.xml, be careful and be sure that you have a backup!
   In this case, it's not possible to use the same application directory with your current VisionX version AND VisionX 6. You should revert all files before using the application with an older VisionX.

   If you copy your apps.xml into your VisionX 6, it should work as well without additional tasks. If VisionX doesn't show an information, you're one step further.

8. Update modules

   It's important to update ALL modules for every single application. Also update the user management module!

9. Known problems / Problems

   If you use custom libraries, created for older VisionX versions, please update all custom libraries! In this case, VisionX will show a warning which will look like following:

   

   Dependency warning

   This is a warning will be shown if you application contains older/incompatible modules - just update the module(s). But it will also be shown if you have custom libraries which are not compatible with VisionX 6.

10. Remove old VisionX
    If VisionX doesn't show any unusual icons or warnings, you application(s) will work with VisionX 6. Simply start your application in VisionX and do a Live Preview. If everything looks fine, it's time to remove your old VisionX installation and install VisionX 6 with an installer or keep the zip version. The only difference is the OS integration.

If you follow above instructions, VisionX 6 will update everything it needs to use the application(s) with VisionX 6. We tried to keep the update procedure as simple and short as possible, but this time it isn't possible without manual interaction because of fundamental changes.

If you have unexpected problems with the update to VisionX 6, please contact our support team. However, you should note that our support team cannot help you with custom libraries or your own AddOns/Modules. In this case, you need help from one of our Consultants or you just update the AddOns and Modules on your own.

Now you just have to be patient until we officially release VisionX