4D: Business Application Development Platform
4D helps software companies and consultants create customized business applications. It is designed for teams needing to deploy across macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
At a glance
- Category
- Software Development
- Best for
- Software Companies, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), Software Consultants, In-house Developers
- Pricing
- Pricing starts at $30 per user per month for 4D Server with a 2-user minimum. Additional costs include $30 per month for a web server and $30 per user per month for user extensions.
- Key use cases
- Custom Business App Development, Rapid Prototyping, White-Label Software Publishing, Academic and Research Tooling
- Official website
- www.4d.com/
4D is a full-stack development environment designed for creating business applications. It provides tools to manage data models and business rules, supporting deployment across desktop, mobile, and web platforms.
The platform is intended for developers, independent software vendors (ISVs), and software publishers who build native applications for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It includes an object-relational data access system called ORDA, which is designed to map data to real-world concepts.
Version 4D 21 LTS introduces AI capabilities through Vibe Coding, which supports the use of natural language prompts for prototyping and debugging. This may help reduce manual effort during the early stages of application development.
Buyers should confirm the specific user minimums and additional costs for web servers and user extensions when planning their budget, as these impact the total monthly cost.
Key Features
An object-oriented approach to database interaction that maps data to real-world concepts.
AI-enabled functionality in version 4D 21 LTS that uses natural language prompts for prototyping and debugging.
Supports the development and deployment of applications for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android.
Provides classes for the data model to help manage application services and maintenance.
A security architecture based on privileges and resources to protect data from unauthorized access.
Includes lazy loading and contexts to help manage how data is exchanged between the server and client.
Use Cases
Building tailored software solutions for web, mobile, and desktop environments.
Using Vibe Coding and natural language prompts to build and test application prototypes.
Developing applications under a company's own brand and chosen business model.
Supporting the development of tools for institutions, researchers, and administrators.
Best For
Pricing
Pricing starts at $30 per user per month for 4D Server with a 2-user minimum. Additional costs include $30 per month for a web server and $30 per user per month for user extensions.
FAQ
Vibe Coding is an AI-enabled feature in version 4D 21 LTS that allows developers to use natural language prompts for prototyping, debugging, and optimizing performance.
The platform supports the development and deployment of native applications for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android, as well as web applications.
Pricing starts at $30 per user per month for the server, with a minimum requirement of two users. Web servers and additional user extensions also incur monthly fees.
Source category: Software Development
Source subcategory: Application Development Platform
