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Break Free from I4GL Constraints
Modern capabilities. Same trusted logic.
Informix 4GL still runs. But it doesn’t scale, integrate, or evolve. Genero BDL, the core language of the Genero Enterprise platform, lets you keep your proven logic while moving to a modern, portable, and maintainable environment built for the future.
Break Free from I4GL Constraints
Modern capabilities.
Same trusted logic.
Informix 4GL still runs. But it doesn’t scale, integrate, or evolve. Genero BDL, the core language of the Genero Enterprise platform, lets you keep your proven logic while moving to a modern, portable, and maintainable environment built for the future.
From text To graphical UI
Fully compatible with your original forms, enhanced visually.
Genero brings your 4GL forms into the modern era with graphical interfaces that reflect today’s user expectations — all while preserving your business logic. Your original .per forms render instantly as full graphical interfaces — without rewriting your business logic.
Key Benefits
- Improved user satisfaction through intuitive UI
- Reduced training time for new employees
- Fewer input errors and better data quality
- Better productivity in mission-critical workflows
Key Capabilities
- Automatic GUI rendering from legacy .per form files
- Native support for windows, buttons, menus, tables
- Retains form logic without structural rewrite
- Full compatibility with keyboard and mouse navigation
From text To graphical UI
Fully compatible with your original forms, enhanced visually.
Genero brings your 4GL forms into the modern era with graphical interfaces that reflect today’s user expectations — all while preserving your business logic. Your original .per forms render instantly as full graphical interfaces — without rewriting your business logic.
Key Benefits
- Improved user satisfaction through intuitive UI
- Reduced training time for new employees
- Fewer input errors and better data quality
- Better productivity in mission-critical workflows
Key Capabilities
- Automatic GUI rendering from legacy .per form files
- Native support for windows, buttons, menus, tables
- Retains form logic without structural rewrite
- Full compatibility with keyboard and mouse navigation
Unlock new capabilities
Less code, fewer bugs, better scalability.
Genero delivers essential modern language features out of the box — reducing technical overhead while opening the door to broader integration, automation, and code clarity. No need for C extensions or workarounds: native STRING type and extended data types, built-in dialog & event loop management, integrated libraries (JSON, XML, temp files, pipes, etc.).
Key Benefits
Key Benefits- Faster development with fewer dependencies
- Lower maintenance effort over time
- More scalable and modular application structure
- Better collaboration across teams thanks to standardized practices
Key Capabilities
Key Capabilities- Built-in STRING type (no CHAR workarounds)
- Native support for JSON, XML, temp files, pipes
- Integrated dialog blocks and event loop engine
- Consistent behavior across platforms — no external C code required
A stable runtime to build on
Enterprise-grade runtime built to scale.
At the heart of Genero Enterprise is a proven cross-platform runtime designed for long-term scalability, operational consistency, and peace of mind — wherever you deploy. Genero compiles your 4GL code to portable p-code and runs it on a stable virtual machine (VM) across platforms (Linux, Windows, Unix).
Key Benefits
- Infrastructure flexibility: deploy on the OS of your choice
- Reduced deployment complexity across environments
- Increased system resilience in production
- Simplified lifecycle management (patching, upgrades, monitoring)
Key Capabilities
- Portable p-code compiled from source
- Cross-platform VM (Linux, Unix, Windows)
- OS-agnostic behavior, no need for system-level tuning
- Predictable, stable runtime maintained by Four Js
A stable runtime to build on
Enterprise-grade runtime built to scale.
At the heart of Genero Enterprise is a proven cross-platform runtime designed for long-term scalability, operational consistency, and peace of mind — wherever you deploy. Genero compiles your 4GL code to portable p-code and runs it on a stable virtual machine (VM) across platforms (Linux, Windows, Unix).
Key Benefits
- Infrastructure flexibility: deploy on the OS of your choice
- Reduced deployment complexity across environments
- Increased system resilience in production
- Simplified lifecycle management (patching, upgrades, monitoring)
Key Capabilities
- Portable p-code compiled from source
- Cross-platform VM (Linux, Unix, Windows)
- OS-agnostic behavior, no need for system-level tuning
- Predictable, stable runtime maintained by Four Js
Backward compatible by design
Your proven apps — evolved, not replaced.
Genero preserves the value of your Informix 4GL applications by enabling direct recompilation of existing source code — including your .per forms and business logic. There’s no rewrite, no functional regression, and no need to change what already works.
Key Benefits
- Faster migration with minimal risk
- Immediate value from existing codebase
- Preserved business logic — no re-validation needed
- Lower change management and user disruption
Key Capabilities
- Direct recompilation of .4gl, .per source files
- Maintains program structure and logic flow
- Compatibility with legacy APIs and data access patterns
- No rewrite required for form, menu, and report definitions
Ready to move forward?
Let’s talk about your I-4GL evolution path
Reuse what works
Unlock what’s missing
Migrate without risk
Quick Comparison
Everything you liked in 4GL — without what held it back.
Features
UI
Data types
Portability 
Integration 
Runtime 
Database
Migration Informix 4GL
Text (TUI only)
Fixed-length CHAR
Platform-bound C binaries
Limited
Static, legacy
Informix-only
Manual rewrite
Graphical UI (GUI)
Native STRING, extended types
Cross-platform via portable p-code
JSON, XML, pipes, OS access
Maintained virtual machine
Multi-database support
Direct recompilation
Quick Comparison
Everything you liked in 4GL — without what held it back.
Features
Informix 4GL
UI
Text (TUI only)
Data types
Fixed-length CHAR
Portability
Platform-bound C binaries
Integration
Limited
Runtime
Static, legacy
Database
Informix-only
Migration
Manual rewrite
Features
Genero enterprise
UI
Text and Graphical UI
Data types
Native STRING, extended types
Portability
Cross-platform via portable p-code
Integration
JSON, XML, pipes, OS access
Runtime
Maintained virtual machine
Database
Multi-database support
Migration
Direct recompilation
Frequently Asked Questions
Informix 4GL vs Genero BDL
Is Genero BDL compatible with my existing Informix 4GL code?
Yes. Most I-4GL applications recompile directly in Genero BDL without changes.
Is Genero BDL a standalone product?
No. Genero BDL is the core programming language within the Genero Enterprise platform. It’s tightly integrated with the tools, runtimes, and components that enable full application lifecycle management — from development to deployment.
Will I need to rebuild my screens?
Partially. Existing .per form files render as GUI windows automatically, but you should expect some inevitable adjustments. The amount of work required remains very light.
What are the key features I4GL doesn't have?
Genero BDL adds dynamic strings, GUI, JSON/XML handling, dialog blocks, native libraries, and multi-DB support.
Can I use Informix as my database?
Yes. Genero supports IBM and HCL Informix and many others, including PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, and SQLite. Others, such as IBM Db2 or MySQL, can be used through ODBC connectors. This gives you the flexibility to evolve your database architecture without changing your business logic.
Does Genero generate C code like I4GL?
No. It compiles to portable p-code executed by a virtual machine — consistent across platforms.
Is the runtime actively maintained?
Yes. Genero’s runtime is updated, patched, and optimized regularly by Four Js.
Can I keep my business logic unchanged?
Absolutely. Genero lets you preserve the structure and logic of your I-4GL programs.
Is this just for legacy apps?
Not at all. Genero is a full platform for building and maintaining modern business apps in 4GL syntax.