Editing 4th Dimension (software) (section)

== History ==
Silver Surfer, as it was known during early development, was developed by [[Laurent Ribardiere|Laurent Ribardière]] in 1984.  Following negotiations with Ribardiere it was planned that [[Apple Inc.]] (formerly Apple Computer Inc) would publish the software but Apple canceled the plan, reportedly due to pressure from other potential database publishers who claimed that if Apple had their own "brand" database, third party products would be disadvantaged in the marketplace.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://archive.org/details/macintoshway00kawa/page/18
| title = The Macintosh Way
| last = Guy
| first = Kawasaki
| publisher = Scott Foresman Trade
| year = 1989
| isbn = 0673461750
| location = United States
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/macintoshway00kawa/page/18 18]
| url-access = registration
}}</ref> Apple tried at the time to ensure well-known software publishers supported the Macintosh platform, and as a result the project reverted to [[Laurent Ribardière]], who with the French businesswoman Marylene Delbourg-Delphis published 4th Dimension. Although independently published, Apple supported the new venture and used 4D extensively throughout the organization for projects including fitness center management and [[Computer Integrated Manufacturing|CIM]] (Computer Integrated Manufacturing). A number of Apple personnel became 4D experts, including Lance McAndrew in Apple's [[Cupertino]] headquarters and Andrew O'Donoghue in Apple's [[Ireland]]-based European manufacturing headquarters, where a 4th Dimension application managed the European Service Center administration.

Over the next few years 4th Dimension's installed base grew, and the publisher ACI established a US-based subsidiary called ACIUS, initially led by [[Guy Kawasaki]]. After 16 years of operating as ACIUS up to 2000, the name was officially changed to [[4D Inc]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Good Bye ACI US, Hello 4D, Inc.|url=http://www.macnews.com/content/good-bye-aci-us-hello-4d-inc-0|website=MacNews.com}}</ref>

In 1993, 4D Server v1.1, the client/server version of 4th Dimension was introduced along with the release of 4th Dimension v3.1.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FzsEAAAAMBAJ&q=4d+server+1993&pg=PA22
| title = 4D Server delivers on the promises of others
| last = InfoWorld
| date = 27 December 1993 – 3 January 1994
| publisher = InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
| language = en
}}</ref>

In 1995, 4D v3.5 went cross-platform and has since then supported both the [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Apple Macintosh]] operating systems.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=aEpNXuyUcfoC&q=4d+server+1995+windows&pg=PT72
| title = Database maker opens new Windows
| last = ComputerWorld
| date = 24 July 1995
| publisher = ComputerWorld
| language = en
}}</ref>

In 1997, 4D v6 was the first version of 4D to contain a fully integrated web server, allowing developers to translate 4D forms into HTML on the fly using only the 4D language.<ref>{{Cite book
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3zsEAAAAMBAJ&q=4d+server+1997+web+server&pg=PA109
| title = 4th Dimension suitable for mixed Mac, Windows sites
| last = InfoWorld
| date = 9 June 1997
| publisher = InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.
| language = en
}}</ref>

In 2004, 4D 2004 was the first version of 4D to allow developers to create standalone, client/server, web and Service Oriented Applications (SOA) without changing any code.<ref>{{Cite press release
| url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20040831005181/en/4D-Ships-4D-2004-Featuring-Streamlined-Design
| title = 4D, Inc. Ships 4D 2004 Featuring a New Streamlined Design Environment and New Deployment Technologies {{!}} Business Wire
| website = www.businesswire.com
| access-date = 2016-02-29
}}</ref>

In 2008, 4D v11 added a SQL layer to the 4D database engine and extending native SQL in to the 4D programming language which allowed 4D developers to write native SQL code to connect to either local or remote servers.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/4d-announces-the-worldwide-release-of-4d-server-v11-sql-57535092.html
| title = 4D Announces the Worldwide Release of 4D Server V11 SQL
| website = www.prnewswire.com
| access-date = 2016-02-29
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
 |url          = https://www.macnn.com/articles/08/06/25/4d.server.v11.sql.unveiled/
 |title        = 4D Server v11 adds SQL, optimizes performance {{!}} MacNN
 |website      = MacNN.com
 |access-date  = 2016-02-29
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305114300/https://www.macnn.com/articles/08/06/25/4d.server.v11.sql.unveiled/
 |archive-date = 2016-03-05
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>

In 2010, 4D v12 integrated the ability to execute PHP functions/scripts from within the 4D programming language. This version also supported new replication and synchronization commands and included a 64 bit version of 4D Server.<ref>{{Cite web
| url = http://www.iclarified.com/9842/4d-v12-is-now-available
| title = 4D v12 is Now Available
| website = iClarified
| date = 4 June 2010
| access-date = 2016-02-29
}}</ref>

=== Version history ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Branch
!Latest version
!Initial release
!Final release
!Status Feb 2022
!Notes
|-
|v19.x
|v19.LTS
|12 Jul 2021
|Ongoing
|Supported
|Native support for Apple Silicon, Classes
|-
|v18.x
|v18.LTS
|16 Jan 2020
|Ongoing
|Supported
|Project Databases for Version Control, Built-in encryption tools, 4D for iOS, 4D Write Pro, 4D View Pro
|-
|v17.x
|v17.4
|10 July 2018
|13 Dec 2020<br />(4D v17.5)<ref name="Cycle de vie produits">{{cite web | url=https://fr.4d.com/cycle-de-vie-produits | title=Cycle de vie produits | date=13 January 2020 }}</ref>
|Support ended 13 Dec 2020
|ORDA (Object Relational Data Access), Collections, Object Notation, Dynamic forms
|-
|v16.x
|v16.6
|10 Jan 2017
|24 Jul 2019<br />(4D v16.6)<ref name="Cycle de vie produits"/>
|Support ended 24 July 2019
|New Cache Management System, Preemptive Multithreading, 4D Dev Pro 64 bit
|-
|v15R
|v15R5
|10 Nov 2015
|14 Sep 2016
|Superseded by 16.x
|Preview of features to be in v16.x
|-
|v15.x
|v15.6
|16 Jul 2015
|25 Apr 2017
|Support ended 25 Apr 2018
|64 bit 4D Server for Mac servers; New network layer
|-
|v14R
|v14R5
|May 2014
|March 2015
|No longer supported
|preview of features to be in v15.x
|-
|v14.x
|v14.6
|12 Dec 2013
|20 Dec 2016
|No longer supported
|4D Mobile (Connectivity options for 4D Server as a datasource for Wakanda (software)); Structured JSON objects (C_Object); SQL views; new tools for maintenance and monitoring, new journaling system.
|-
|v13.x
|v13.6
|14 Feb 2012
|18 Jun 2015
|No longer supported
|New multithreaded HTTP server; automatic session management; new extensible HTTP client; webkit integration and extended Javascript support; enriched list box; external document management.
|-
|v12.x
|v12.6
|3 Jun 2010
|8 Oct 2013
|No longer supported
|64 bit 4D Server for Windows servers; PHP integration; Synchronization and Replication
|-
|v11.x
|v11.9
|23 Sep 2008
|7 Jul 2011
|No longer supported
|SQL engine; integrated maintenance center (MSC); SVG management; Integrated Web Area
|-
|2004.x
|2004.8
|31 Aug 2004
|30 Jun 2009
|No longer supported
|Revamped interface; Integration of high-level ODBC commands, 4D Customizer, 4D Backup and 4D Engine
|-
|2003.x
|2003.8r2
|17 Mar 2003
|11 Apr 2006
|No longer supported
|XML; Web Services; Embedded Compiler
|-
|v6.8.x
|6.8.6
|15 Apr 2002
|24 Sep 2004
|No longer supported
|
|-
|v6.7.x
|6.7.5
|
|
|No longer supported
|
|-
|v6.5.x
|
|18 May 1999
|
|No longer supported
|
|-
|v6.0.x
|6.0.5
|1997
|27 Feb 1998
|No longer supported
|Integrated Web Server
|-
|v3.x
|
|
|
|No longer supported
|4D v3.5 was the first cross-platform version (mac/win),
|-
|v1.x
|
|1987
|
|No longer supported
|Mac only
|}
<ref name="lifecycle" />