History of Powerbuilder

Note: I'm the author of this article. I published 4 articles at http://allaboutpowerbuilder.blogspot.com a year ago, and some how I lost the log-in ID for the account :( So, I re-write the article in my new blog.

Starting when the year marked 1991. A company named Powersoft, launched Powersoft Powerbuilder version 1.0, exactly in July 1991. A product (code name "Headstart") with totaly sold in $5.2 million in just six months.

Less than a year later, Powersoft Powerbuilder 2.0 was lauched with sales climbed to $22.1 million. Some of new features was introduced in version 2.0 including Picture button control, some events, and Embedded SQL for BLOB support.


In 1993, version 3 went released, with huge of new feature, including MAPI, rbuttonclicked event, and also Watcom SQL.

Year later, Powerbuilder 4.0 lauched with some new features and enhancements, including Data pipeline and OLE 2 support.

Powerbuilder version 5.0 was released in 1995 under Sybase, Inc umbrella (www.sybase.com). Sybase introduced the new feature, call Powerbuilder Foundation Class (or PFC). PFC is a foundation class or "platform" to help developers easier in they work. Also Info Maker was first introduce in this version.

Early 1997, Powerbuilder reached version 6.0, following by 6.5 a year later. This is the most stable of Powerbuilder has ever made (at least for me who started as Powerbuilder programmer, since this version). Lot of enhancements and new features in this version, including Internet Tools (mid of 90's is starting time for Internet technology booming), and Multi Platform support (Windows & Unix),

March 1999, Powerbuilder 7.0 was lauch to replace earlier version. With a new GUIs, this version brings some new feature, like New OLE DB database interface and New in component development and deployment (Building Jaguar components, Building Jaguar clients, etc)

Ten years since the first version launch, Powerbuilder reach version 8.0. Introduce Workspace and Target methode in this version, Powerbuilder version 8.0 came with Powersite Tool fully integration as the new Web targets feature. This means that you can now use PowerBuilder to create Web applications in addition to client executable applications and EAServer components

2003, Powerbuilder version 9.0 was launched, following the minor variant 9.01 and 9.02. In this version, programmer can set the script to save data in PDF file format, save Datawindow data in XML format, and support for Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Version 10.0 and 10.5 of Powerbuilder, release between 2005 and 2006. Brings the .NET technology for the first time called: Datawindow .NET (Windows form). There are 2 minor change before 10.5 released: 10.01 (support Windows XP SP2) and 10.2 with Ink controls for the Tablet PC as a new feature.
For version 10.5 itself there are some new feature like DataWindow TreeView Presentation Style, DataWindow Autosize Height on all DataWindow Bands, DateTime Picker Control, Rich Text Control, BYTE and 28 Digit Decimal Data Type Support, New Icons and Bitmaps, etc.

Powerbuilder became version 11.0 in 2008 following by 2 minors version: 11.1 and 11.2. First time introduce .NET technology for Web form, and able to build non visual object as .NET web service. Version 11.1 has added feature for Windows Vista support, where AJAX support added in version 11.2.

The next couple of month (Q3 of 2008), Sybase release Powerbuilder 11.5 which include RichText Edit style for DataWindow columns, 3D Graph styles, Tooltips for DataWindow columns and controls and PNG support, also support for Ms. SQL 2008.

Sybase has a planning to release Powerbuilder 12.0 somewhere in 2009. Some new features including .NET graphical control integration, Complete .NET interoperatbility and a new type of target: the WPF target, will be introduced in this version.