We're happy to announce that our native JVx' flutter client 3.3.0 is stable and available.

It's now flutter 3.35 compatible, supports Android' 16KB Page size and is ready for Android SDK 36.

We’ve invested a lot of time in improving stability and performance. Layout rendering should now operate somewhat faster than before. Additionally, we’ve implemented push and deep links in a way that allows the application to update its display using pure parameters. For example, it’s now possible to update individual fields or open entire screens and select specific data records within them.

How it works?

Deep link example

The app runs on a real device. It has a simple screen with a button which will send an email with two links in it. The first will open the app and sets an application parameter. This parameter will be shown as text of a text field. The second link will open a specific screen and scrolls to a specific record.

Our implementation of native push:

Native push

The app receives a push message while running and shows a local notification. If you tap the notification, the app will be opened as well. In this demo, we don't tap the notification.

The project, as always, can be found on github.

We’ll be updating our VisionX Previewer app in the next few days and releasing it in the stores.

Short Status Update for the Upcoming VisionX Release

We’re currently in the final stages of testing. All our libraries are up to date and free of security issues. We've made extensive updates to our React UI, and our native mobile client has received numerous refinements, including full support for push notifications and deep linking. Background APIs have also been successfully tested with both Apple and Android devices. The native mobile client has been upgraded to the latest versions as well.

At the moment, we're addressing a few visual issues that surfaced during our pre-release testing. These are purely cosmetic and do not affect functionality.

The new VisionX version will include an updated React UI, an enhanced React UI Designer, and the latest native mobile client.

Although the release took longer than expected, it was well worth the effort!

We’ll notify you here once the release is officially available. Thanks for your patience!

We already support badges for standard components. So the next logical step is to support badges in the menu. And that's exactly what we've implemented. See for yourselves:

Menu badges

The badge will appear animated if you change the text.

The API is simple:

Pretty awesome, right? You don’t have to worry about the technical issues, just focus on building your app. We’ll take care of the technical details for you.

We officially support badges for every component. It's super easy to show a badge for e.g. a button, but first let's have a look:

Badge animated

The badge will appear animated if you change the value. The API is simple, because we use our style system, e.g.:

You have many options to customize the badge, e.g. color, border, position:

Another example:

Badges

The app is not available in the app stores because it's still under development, but the feature is already available in our repository.

Also, the app is ready for latest flutter version: 3.35.0
Use all features of latest flutter and dart to create your custom application without limits.

It's truly incredible how quickly you can build database apps using our generic application. The unrestricted native access is unmatched, and the standard components with all included features already enable the creation of outstanding apps.

We're happy to announce that our application monitoring is now available for our VisionX cloud applications.

With next VisionX release, it will be possible to include the optional application monitoring in your applications. It's not necessary to install the Monitoring AddOn. We'll add everything to your cloud installation.

Here's how it looks like:

Application

Monitoring

With application monitoring it's super easy to detect performance problems or to get an overview of used features. If you want to know how many users are using your application, no problem with application monitoring.

The application monitoring is an extra option for your existing VisionX cloud subscription. Please talk to our sales team to get more information.

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!

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.

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