Editing 4th Dimension (software) (section)

{{Short description|Relational database and programming language}}
{{Redirect|ACIUS|the 3rd-century Christian martyr|Acius}}
{{Infobox programming language
| name = 4D Programming Language
| logo =
| logo caption =
| screenshot = <!-- (filename) -->
| screenshot caption =
| paradigm = <!-- or: | paradigms = -->
| family =
| designer = [[Laurent Ribardière]]
| developer = [[4D SAS]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1984}} (dev) {{start date and age|1987}} (official)<ref name="1987LangRef">{{cite web|title=High-End Mac Database Offers Own Programming Language|date = 16 March 1987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PDwEAAAAMBAJ&q=4th+dimension+silver+surfer+release+date&pg=PA6|publisher=InfoWorld}}</ref>
| latest release version = v18 R5
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2021|01|19}}
| latest preview version = v18 R6 Beta
| typing =
| scope =
| programming language = C, C++
| discontinued =
| platform = Cross-Platform
| operating system = Windows, macOS
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| file ext = 4DB, 4DC
| file formats = Interpreted, Compiled
| website = {{URL|us.4d.com}}
| implementations =
| dialects =
| influenced by =
| influenced =
}}
{{Infobox software
| name = 4D
| logo =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| collapsible =
| author = [[Laurent Ribardière]]
| developer = [[4D SAS]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1984}} (ss) {{Start date and age|1987}} (v1)
| programming language = [[C++]], [[C (programming language)|C]]
| operating system = [[Windows]], [[Mac OS]]
| latest release version = v18 R5
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2021|01|19}}<ref name="lifecycle">{{cite web |url=http://www.4d.com/products/lifecycle.html |publisher=4D |title=4D Product Lifecycle |access-date=2016-01-10}}</ref>
| latest preview version = v18 R6 Beta
| size =
| language =
| language count = <!-- Number only -->
| language footnote =
| genre = [[Rapid application development|RAD]] [[relational database management system|RDBMS]] [[integrated development environment|IDE]] [[programming language|Language]] [[Graphical user interface builder|GUI Designer]] [[Web Server]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = {{URL|us.4d.com}}
}}
{{Infobox software
| name = 4D Server
| logo = Logo4D.svg
| logo size = 72px
| screenshot =
| caption =
| collapsible =
| author = [[Laurent Ribardière]]
| developer = [[4D SAS]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1993}} (v1)
| programming language = [[C++]], [[C (programming language)|C]]
| operating system = [[Windows]], [[Mac OS]]
| latest release version = v18 R5
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2021|01|19}}<ref name="lifecycle">{{cite web |url=http://www.4d.com/products/lifecycle.html |publisher=4D |title=4D Product Lifecycle |access-date=2016-01-10}}</ref>
| latest preview version = v18 R6 Beta
| size =
| language =
| language count = <!-- Number only -->
| language footnote =
| genre = [[relational database management system|RDBMS]] [[Web Server]] [[Application Server]] [[SQL|SQL Server]] [[Database server|Database Server]] [[programming language|Language]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = {{URL|us.4d.com}}
}}

'''4D''' ('''4th Dimension''', or '''Silver Surfer''', as it was known during early development) is a [[relational database management system]] and [[integrated development environment]] developed by [[Laurent Ribardière]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4d.com/company/about/team.html|title=4D People - 4D|work=4d.com|date=19 June 2018 }}</ref> 4D was created in 1984<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.4d.com/company/about/innovation.html|title=A History of Innovation|work=4d.com|date=19 June 2018 }}</ref> and had a slightly delayed public release for Macintosh in 1987<ref>{{cite web|title=Overdue Apple Server Goes to Market|date = 26 January 1987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qSErMDyLDosC&q=4th+dimension+silver+surfer+release+date&pg=PA1|publisher=ComputerWorld}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Database Software Program Moves Macintosh Into The Big Leagues|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/06/28/new-database-software-program-moves-macintosh-into-the-big-leagues/|website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Seeking 4th Dimension? Take Heart, It's Now In Town|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1987/07/12/seeking-4th-dimension-take-heart-its-now-in-town/|website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref> with its own [[programming language]].<ref name="1987LangRef" />

The 4D product line has since expanded to an [[SQL]] [[front and back ends|back-end]], integrated [[compiler]], integration of [[PHP]], and several productivity plug-ins and interfaces. Some of the plug-ins created by 4D include 4D Write (a word processor), 4D View (somewhat like a spreadsheet, but with extra functionality) and 4D Internet Commands (which allowed for the addition of Internet-related functionality to a database). There are also over 100 third-party plugins, free and commercial.

4D can also be used as a [[web server]], to run compiled database applications.

Today, 4D is published by the [[France|French]] company [[4D SAS]] and has a sales, distribution and support presence in most major markets, with the United States, the United Kingdom, and France being the primary markets. The product is localized in more than a dozen languages.