# 4th Dimension

> relational database and programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q238349](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q238349)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Dimension_(software))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/4th-dimension

## Summary
4th Dimension (4D) is a relational database management system and procedural programming language created in 1984 by French developer Laurent Ribardière. It combines a visual database engine with an integrated development environment for rapid application development on Windows and macOS.

## Key Facts
- Created in 1984 by Laurent Ribardière (French programmer, b. 11 Mar 1964)
- Current stable release: 4D v20 (released 10 Jul 2023)
- Developer: 4D SAS
- File extensions: .4DB, .4DC
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows (since 1985), macOS (since 2001)
- Programming paradigm: procedural
- Primary use-case: rapid application development
- Wikipedia articles available in 7 languages
- Freebase ID: /m/04vlmf

## FAQs
### Q: What is 4th Dimension used for?
A: 4D is used for rapid application development of database-driven business applications. It combines a relational database engine with a procedural programming language, allowing developers to build and deploy cross-platform apps quickly on Windows and macOS.

### Q: Who invented 4th Dimension?
A: French programmer and computer scientist Laurent Ribardière created 4th Dimension in 1984. Ribardière, born 11 March 1964, is also a businessman and continues to be associated with the product's evolution.

### Q: Is 4th Dimension still actively developed?
A: Yes. The most recent version, 4D v20, was released 10 July 2023, following versions v16, v17 (Jul 2018), and v19 (Jul 2021). Documentation and downloads are maintained at 4d.com and doc.4d.com.

### Q: On which operating systems can 4D run?
A: 4D runs on Microsoft Windows and macOS. Windows support dates back to November 1985, while macOS support began 24 March 2001.

## Why It Matters
4th Dimension was among the first database systems to merge a graphical relational database engine with an integrated programming language, predating many modern rapid-application-development (RAD) tools. By packaging data storage, business logic, and user-interface design into one product, 4D let small teams build sophisticated desktop applications without separate database servers, middleware, or third-party IDEs. Its cross-platform deployment on Macintosh and Windows made it popular in the 1990s for line-of-business software in French-speaking markets and parts of Europe, where it became a cornerstone for accounting, medical-practice, and logistics applications. Today 4D remains significant for long-tail business software: thousands of legacy systems still power small-to-medium enterprises, and the platform's evolution into a SQL-compliant, REST-enabled, 64-bit engine shows how early RAD environments can adapt to modern deployment models without forcing customers to rewrite codebases.

## Notable For
- One of the earliest commercial database products to combine visual schema design, procedural code, and forms in a single IDE
- Continuously developed by the same company (4D SAS) for four decades, with binary compatibility stretching to 1984
- Native cross-platform deployment from a single project file to both Windows and macOS
- Default file extensions .4DB and .4DC instantly recognizable in French business environments
- Maintains a dedicated developer conference and third-party ecosystem focused on vertical-market solutions

## Body
### Origins and Creator
Laurent Ribardière released 4th Dimension in 1984 in France. A programmer and entrepreneur, Ribardière designed the product to give non-experts a way to create data-centric applications without learning multiple tools.

### Technical Architecture
4D is procedural at its core. A built-in compiler converts high-level 4D code into machine instructions; the same language manipulates relational data, controls the UI, and handles system tasks. The database kernel uses a single-file model (later extended with .4DC structure files) that stores schema, data, and compiled code, simplifying deployment.

### Version History
- 1984 – initial release
- 4D v16 – introduced 64-bit engine, SQL compliance
- 4D v17 – July 2018, added ORDA (Object Relational Data Access)
- 4D v19 – July 2021, expanded web and mobile capabilities
- 4D v20 – 10 July 2023, latest stable branch

### Platform Support
Executables run natively on Microsoft Windows (minimum Windows 7) and macOS (minimum macOS 10.12). The same source project can be compiled for either platform without code changes.

### Licensing and Vendor
4D SAS, headquartered in Clichy, France, owns and markets the product. Licensing is per-developer seat plus runtime royalties for deployed applications.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "4th Dimension",
  "description": "Relational database management system and procedural programming language created in 1984 by Laurent Ribardière.",
  "url": "http://www.4d.com/",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2407", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_Dimension_(software)"],
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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013