Spotlight On posts focus on Xojo community members. We’ll use this space to tell the stories of people using Xojo, share amazing Xojo-made apps and spread awareness of community resources. If you have an app, a project or a person you want to see featured in Spotlight On, tell us about it!
Though he started his development journey on Windows machines, after a seven-year spell at SAIC Ltd. (Science Applications International Corp), Paul decided he wanted to move to Apple computers and started looking for a VB/Access replacement. That’s how he discovered Xojo and built a suite of applications that managed multiple aspects of his hire-boat business, overseeing 17 boats on the British Canal System. Even in retirement, he remains actively coding in 2026.
Mac, Windows or Linux?
Mac.
How did you find Xojo? And when did you start using Xojo?
I started in 2000 with RealBASIC. I needed a database/programming combination to run my boat yard and hire boat business on the British Canal system. I went for RealBASIC and FrontBase database, it was fast reliable and very stable. It enabled me to create a suite of about 10 programs for renting the boats, doing the maintenance, tracking sales and running the cafe. The applications managed the bookings for 17 boats which operated on a varied pattern of 3, 4, 7 and 14 night holidays. The progams stored the bookings, printed the legal documents required at the start of each trip and logged the fuel usage and engineering routines.
Do you earn a living with Xojo?
No, but my business would not have run without it.
Xojo isn’t the only tool in your kit. What is a piece of software more people should know about?
A good knowledge of a database which interfaces well with Xojo is useful. I interfaced my early applications with FrontBase but the plugin does not exist now. I moved to PostgresSQL, it was a bit different at first, but the new AddROW instruction in Xojo has really streamlined my apps.
Which three Xojo language features or framework capabilities do you find yourself relying/using on the most?
My three main items are Listbox, Graphics – items loading pictures and drawing on top of the picture, and the database plugins. Shame we lost FrontBase but PostgreSQL seems to suite me almost as well.
What do you build with it now?
I currently help a very good friend who owns a canal boat marina in the heart of the UK, sadly he uses Windows machines and some rather clunky Access database applications, I would love to get my hands on them!
How would you explain your most recent project to a new developer?
I wanted to maintain a visual display of the boats in a marina and track the ownership and movements of the boats. Initially, I created a Listbox to display the database table which allowed me to count and record vessel details. But I wanted to visualise the position and load it as a picture. Using the DesktopBevelButton, I recorded the position on the plan. They are the red and green squares along the edge of the piers and clicking on an individual location fetches the boat data. I am now looking to locate all the technical resources electric and water points and pontoon detail for our service and engineering crew.
Do you use it for any hobbies?
At nearly 80 I just enjoy the mental exercise, but I still build games for my granddaughter and things to help at the office where I do some administration. I retired and sold the business, but I do some part-time work at a canal marina where we live. Using Xojo and PostgreSQL I am developing a visual boat management system. We moor nearly 200 boats of varying lengths on pontoons of varying lengths! A real juggling job!
What’s your biggest Xojo success?
Sticking with it for such a long time, all through changing RECORDSET to ROWSET, and how simple INSTR grew. I mastered the new graphics methods after much effort – but I did it!
If you were introducing Xojo to a friend, which three words would you use to describe it?
Flexible, fast with great technical backup when you need it.
Thank you to Paul Garfield for answering questions and sharing his Xojo experience with the community. If you have an app, a project or a person you want to see featured in Spotlight On, tell us about it!