Borland Paradox
A relational database for OS/2 and DOS with a version later showing up for MS Windows that was very different from the other two versions although mostly compatible with the exception of the programming language. Paradox was quite a different take on the database that most of the other database packages popular at the time, it was heavily influenced by the spreadsheet package Lotus 1-2-3 in looks and function and this was not the least apparent in the programming language that was shipped with the database, it is know as " Paradox Application Language", commonly known as simply PAL, and although a fairly common 4th generation business language in some way it could be recorded from keyboard actions like a Lotus 1-2-3 macro.
Originally released in 1985 by USA independent publisher Ansa Software in 1985, it was taken over by Borland in 1987, who went on to port it to OS/2. A version for the Mac was not shipped even though Borland was porting most of their software to the Mac range at the tine, but that was simply because the Reflex flat file database that on DOS was a budget software with limited programming abilities, existed in a version for the Mac was already quite an advanced relational database and the two packages would have competed with each other.
Text & programmers editors with Paradox support
- Boxer - PAL syntax highlighting support built in - Commercial - DOS and OS/2 versions discontinued, Win32 version still sold.
Versions
- Version 4 re-written mostly from scratch in Borland C++
- Version 1 for DOS released by Ansa Software in 1985
License
- Commercial software - DOS and OS/2 versions discontinued, MS Windows version still available.
Authors
- Richard Schwartz (Original author)
- Robert Shostak (Original author)
- Ansa Software (Original Publisher)
- Borland
- WordPerfect Corp.
- Corel (Current owner)