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🧭 Set your XBASE_WORKSPACE

Choose your OS and copy the command to set a default xBase workspace folder.

Step 1 — Environment 
# create workspace directory (example)
mkdir -p "$HOME/xbase_workspace"

# set for this session
export XBASE_WORKSPACE="$HOME/xbase_workspace"

# to persist: add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc (append)
echo 'export XBASE_WORKSPACE="$HOME/xbase_workspace"' >> ~/.bashrc
# or for zsh:
# echo 'export XBASE_WORKSPACE="$HOME/xbase_workspace"' >> ~/.zshrc

# reload shell or source file:
# source ~/.bashrc
Open Docs
Tip: Replace $HOME/xbase_workspace with any path you prefer.

On Windows I use c:\dev, on Linux ~/dev 

# create folder (example)
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\xbase_workspace"

# set for current PowerShell session
$Env:XBASE_WORKSPACE = "$env:USERPROFILE\xbase_workspace"

# persist for current user (requires no admin)
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("XBASE_WORKSPACE", "$env:USERPROFILE\xbase_workspace", "User")

# you may need to restart shells / apps to see the updated variable
Open Docs
Note: For system-wide use, run with admin and set "Machine" instead of "User". 
:: create folder (example)
mkdir "%USERPROFILE%\xbase_workspace"

:: set for current cmd session
set XBASE_WORKSPACE=%USERPROFILE%\xbase_workspace

:: persist (User-level)
setx XBASE_WORKSPACE "%USERPROFILE%\xbase_workspace"

:: note: new cmd windows will see the variable; restart apps if needed
Open Docs
Warning: setx truncates values over 1024 chars on older Windows. Use PowerShell for complex paths.
After persistent changes, restart your shell or apps (IDE, terminals) to pick up the new variable.
Continue: Install Compilers →

Install xBase Compilers and GUI Libraries

Choose one or more compilers to work with. Click a card for quick links and setup hints.

Step 2 — Compilers

FoxPro Visual FoxPro

Legacy Windows-only environment. Use for maintaining or porting classic VFP apps.

VFP page VFP9 (archive) VFPA (archive) VFPX (projects)
Quick hints
  • VFP is Windows-only — install on Windows 7/10/11 or in a VM or install wine.
  • Store projects under $XBASE_WORKSPACE/VFP_Projects.
  • Consider VFPA/VFPX extensions for modern fixes and tools.

Harbour Harbour

Modern open-source xBase compiler — cross-platform, C-based, actively developed.

Harbour page Repo (GitHub) Official site
Quick install (example) 
# clone and build (Linux example)
cd $XBASE_WORKSPACE/HB_Projects
git clone https://github.com/harbour/core harbour-core
cd harbour-core
make

Harbour Qt HBQT

Use if you want native GUI with Harbour front-end powered by Qt.

Harbour Qtcontribs Repo (SourceForge) Qt downloads Alternate Qt downloads
Quick notes
  • Install Qt (matching version) before building HbQt.
  • Put HbQt projects in $XBASE_WORKSPACE/HBQT_Projects.
  • Prebuilt binaries may speed up setup on Windows.
After installing compilers, place SDKs/binaries under workspace folders and add compiler bin paths to your PATH.
Continue: C/C++ Compilers →

Install C/C++ Compilers

To work with Visual FoxPro, Harbour, and extensions at the native code level, you need the installed C/C++ compiler.

Step 3 — Native Compilers

💻 Windows

Recommended compilers for Windows development.

Visual Studio MinGW-w64 LLVM/Clang
Подробности
  • MSVC Community — enables the compiler (2017–2022)
  • MinGW-w64 — popular open-source GCC для Windows
  • Clang — modern compiler C/C++/Objective-C

🐧 Linux

Standard development tools for Linux distributions.

Clang docs
Installation Commands 
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install build-essential

# Fedora/RedHat
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools"

# Clang (optional)
sudo apt install clang

🍏 macOS

Apple's Clang-enabled development tools.

Xcode tools
Installation Command 
# Installing Developer Tools
xcode-select --install
After installing the compiler, make sure that it is available in the PATH.
Continue: GCC + libc Setup →

GCC + libc Setup для Linux

Detailed configuration of GCC and C standard libraries for compiling Harbour and related projects.

Step 4 — Advanced Linux Setup

⚙️ GCC Toolchain

A complete set of GCC tools for compiling C/C++ projects.

GCC docs Install guide
Installation by distributions 
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gcc g++ libc6-dev

# Fedora/CentOS/RHEL
sudo dnf install gcc gcc-c++ glibc-devel

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S gcc glibc

# OpenSUSE
sudo zypper install gcc gcc-c++ glibc-devel

# Alpine Linux
sudo apk add gcc g++ musl-dev

📚 C Standard Libraries

The C standard libraries required for compiling Harbour applications.

GNU libc musl libc
Additional libraries 
# Дополнительные dev пакеты (Ubuntu/Debian)
sudo apt install build-essential manpages-dev \
  linux-libc-dev libc6-dev-i386

# For 32-bit compatibility on 64-bit systems
sudo apt install gcc-multilib g++-multilib

# Fedora equivalent
sudo dnf install glibc-devel.i686 libgcc.i686

# Checking versions
gcc --version
ldd --version

🚢 Harbour-специфичная настройка

Оптимизация GCC для компиляции Harbour проектов.

Harbour compiler
Переменные окружения 
# Добавьте в ~/.bashrc или ~/.zshrc
export HB_COMPILER=gcc
export HB_BUILD_OPTIM=yes

# For static libraries
export HB_BUILD_SHARED=no

# Optimization for your architecture
export CFLAGS="-O2 -march=native"
export CXXFLAGS="-O2 -march=native"

# Reboot shell
source ~/.bashrc
After configuring GCC, check the compiler with the command gcc --version.
Continue: xPM Setup →

Community & Discussions

To ask questions, suggest ideas, or discuss the development of a project, join our communities.:

📧 Google Groups 💬 GitHub Discussions and Issues

Git Setup for VFP Projects

Version control is essential for modern development. Here's how to set up Git for your VFP projects:

1. Install Git

Download Git 
# Basic Git configuration
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
git config --global core.autocrlf false  # Important for Windows development

2. SmartGit Hobby License

SmartGit is a powerful Git GUI client. As a hobbyist developer, you can get a free license:

Visit Syntevo Hobby License Registration
Fill out the registration form with your details
Select "Hobby" as the license type
Agree to the terms and submit the form
Check your email for the license key

📸 Screenshot: SmartGit

3. Install and Activate SmartGit

Download SmartGit
Run the SmartGit installer
Launch SmartGit after installation
Go to Help → Enter License Key
Paste the license key from your email
Click "Activate" and restart SmartGit

📸 Screenshot: SmartGit License Activation

[Placeholder for license activation screenshot]

Image: The license activation dialog in SmartGit with the license key field highlighted

4. Configure SmartGit for VFP Projects

Go to Preferences → Git
Set appropriate line ending settings for Windows
Configure your user name and email (should match Git config)
Set up your SSH keys if using remote repositories

📸 Screenshot: SmartGit Preferences

[Placeholder for preferences screenshot]

Image: SmartGit preferences window with Git settings highlighted

5. Recommended .gitignore for VFP

Create a .gitignore file in your VFP project root:

# VFP compiled files
*.app
*.exe
*.fxp
*.err

# VFP generated files
*.bak
*.tmp
*.scc

# Database files
*.dbc
*.dct
*.dcx
*.dbf
*.cdx
*.fpt
*.idx

# Binary files
*.vcx
*.vct
*.scx
*.sct
*.frx
*.frt
*.lbx
*.lbt
*.mnx
*.mnt
*.pjx
*.pjt
*.vue

# Backup files
*._bak
*.~*

# IDE files
*.vcp
*.vw

# Log files
*.log

# Temporary files
Thumbs.db
.DS_Store
Official VFP .gitignore

Next Steps

After installing VFP and Service Packs:

  1. Set environment variable: VFP_Projects=%XBASE_WORKSPACE%\VFP_Projects
  2. Copy common libraries to %VFP_Projects%\Common_Libs
  3. Configure VFP to use your workspace directory as default
  4. Install VFPX extensions and tools as needed
  5. Set up Git repository for your projects
  6. Configure SmartGit for version control
← Back to xBasians.org Explore VFPX Projects SmartGit Docs

📸 Screenshots & Visual Guide

Visual steps for setting up your xBase workspace and tools

Git Global Config

Git global config

Check your global username and email settings

SmartGit Hobby License

SmartGit License

Activate your non-commercial hobby license

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