Visual Programming tools that can be used for practical app development

Question

I've been interested in Visual Programming Languages (VPL) for a while. However I've hardly seen any environments that can be used for practical projects such as Windows apps or web services.

I've heard of the following:

• LabVIEW - electronics and instrumentation
• Microsoft VPL - robotics
• Game Maker - games
• Google App Inventor - Android apps
• Tersus - web apps

Are there any other VPL environments that generate executable programs and can be used for practical applications?

Answer 1

I don't know if it is practical enough for you but you can have a look at Thyrd, which was recently featured in the last Emerging Languages conference:

http://thyrd.org/

It is not just yet another visual stuff, there is really something there

Answer 2

i recomend Outsystems for .net/java , it´s a great app Outsystems

Answer 3

You may have a look at the WPF based TUM.CMS.VPLControl

Answer 4

Yahoo Pipes has a somehow limited scope, but I suppose it is one of the more popular examples of visual programming tools that are really used in practice.

Answer 5

DRAKON Editor http://drakon-editor.sourceforge.net/ It generates code for compilation or interpretetion, not actual executable. It it supports visual programming in several programming languages, including Java, Processing.org, D, C#, C/C++ (with Qt support), Python, Tcl, Javascript, Lua and Erlang. Why to use DRAKON than other diagramming systems?

• No line intersections. You will never find in DRAKON diagram two or more lines intersecting each other! Not seen in other diagramming systems!
• Silhouette structure. It allows to break one diagram in to several logical parts. Not seen in other diagramming systems!
• No slanting or curved lines. Only straight lines with right angles.
• Icons are placed only on vertical lines.
• Branching is done in a simple, visible and consistent way.
• Each diagram has one entry and one exit.

More about DRAKON here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DRAKON

Answer 6

Probably a bit too late for this answer, but I'm interested in the same thing and for anyone else might read this and find it useful. Here is a new one just for creating windows applications, it's called Korduene, however beware it is alpha just now.