Skip to main content

DotHRB 26

· 3 min read
Lorenzo Fiorini
Lorenzo Fiorini
Main architect and developer

I am thrilled to announce the DotHRB 26 Early Access, a significant milestone in bringing web capabilities to the Harbour ecosystem. DotHRB is a multi-platform, application framework for the Harbour Language. It is engineered to simplify the migration of legacy Harbour code into Web and Cloud environments, enabling everything from REST APIs to high-performance Web UI applications.

You can read here the full story of why and how this framework was designed.

Cross-Platform Powerhouse​

DotHRB applications are built for versatility and portability across desktop, local networks, and cloud environments.

Operating SystemArchitecture
Linuxx64, arm64 (Raspberry Pi)
macOSx64, arm64
Windowsx64
  • Portability & IP Protection: All application code is compiled into standard Harbour classes and bundled into a single, portable .app file. Unlike interpreted script environments, your source code is never exposed on the target machine, and the bundle can be optionally encrypted to guarantee absolute code integrity.
  • Minimal runtime required: A single runtime binary is all that is required to execute the .app file on the target machine—Harbour itself does not need to be installed. The environment remains completely isolated and lightweight (additional support files are only necessary if specific features are used).
  • No C Compiler Required: Only a minimal Harbour compiler installation is required to create DotHRB applications.
  • Embedded SQLite Engine: Beside standard Harbour data drivers DBFCDX, DBFNTX, DBFNSX, SQLite is built directly into the runtime environment. It works out of the box with zero external database configuration, driver installations, or local server setups.
  • Optimized Static Assets: Static assets (JavaScript, CSS, fonts, images) are automatically deployed bundled and minified into a dedicated web folder. This ensures maximum delivery efficiency, allowing browsers to load assets asynchronously without blocking the user interface.
  • Automated UI Generation: The user interface is defined using special CSHTML files augmented with helper @functions(...) to easily integrate complex elements like **grids, forms, html editors, maps and more. These CSHTML files are also fully compiled, minified, and bundled directly into the app file.

Rapid Development Workflow​

The DotHRB workflow is designed for speed and consistency, leveraging SDK templates that users can easily add, customize, and extend to enforce common development patterns.

Ready to use Web components​

  • Easily create data interfaces that streamline your entire application lifecycle. DotHRB is designed to easy data management by providing ready-to-use modules for:

    • ✅ Security: Authentication & Authorization

    • 📊 Presentation: Data Grids, Forms, and Reporting

    • 📤 Integration: Import/Export Capabilities

    • 🌐 Connectivity: Exchange data with external services (JSON/XML)