# Simple cross-platform desktop programming with cloud interactions?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-cross-platform-desktop-programming-with-cloud-interactions/582537>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 20, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-cross-platform-desktop-programming-with-cloud-interactions/582537 "2011-05-20T03:29:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-cross-platform-desktop-programming-with-cloud-interactions/582537/1 "2011-05-20T03:29:35Z")

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I’d like to make a few simple programs for basic data manipulation, and I’d like them to run on Windows, OSX, and Ubuntu.

My primary consideration is ease of deployment, meaning ideally no JRE, Mono, or Adobe Air required; small, self-contained binaries are best, or maybe small, self-contained installers if absolutely necessary.

The programs would just get data from either a serial port, a local database (SQLite), or a CSV file, and then do some regex processing would upload them to various web services using public APIs. They’re the kind of thing that would be easy to whip up in a few hours in .NET, but Linux and Mac compatibility are important too.

A native GUI look is preferable, but I’ll settle for command-line programs if need be. I’m considering the Mozilla Application Framework, but I’m not at all familiar with it. Might it suit the task at hand? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-cross-platform-desktop-programming-with-cloud-interactions/582537/2 "2011-05-20T03:40:05Z")

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Who wouldn’t have the JRE installed these days?

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-cross-platform-desktop-programming-with-cloud-interactions/582537/3 "2011-05-20T08:31:10Z")

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I don’t have it, and I think some of my college friends don’t either. I don’t remember the last time I even saw a Java app that wasn’t some obscure business thing. It’s old and clunky and always wants to take over my system tray and nobody knows what to do with jar files, etc.

But, granted, I haven’t bothered looking into it in years. Have things improved?

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**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\
**Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-cross-platform-desktop-programming-with-cloud-interactions/582537/4 "2011-05-20T09:03:29Z")

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[MDM Zinc](http://www.multidmedia.com/software/zinc/) is a wrapper for flash that runs on Windows, OSX and Linux

It also extends the possible functionality offered by a plain flash executable, and from your description sounds as if it could work for you. The flash player can be embedded into the app, making it completely stand-alone.

It is expensive at $849.99 but there is a free trial available.