4D SAS

4D SAS is a French software company associated with the 4D development platform, also known historically as 4th Dimension. The company’s principal product combines database functionality, a programming language, development tools, and runtime capabilities for building and deploying business applications. This integrated approach places 4D between traditional database software and rapid application-development environments: developers can model data, write application logic, create interfaces, and distribute applications within a related toolset. Development began in 1984 under the early codename Silver Surfer. The first product release followed in 1987 and included its own programming language, establishing the foundations of the 4D product family. Rather than being only a database engine or a general-purpose programming language, 4D has historically been presented as a complete environment for creating commercial and organizational software. Its use cases include business applications and other database-driven systems, although the available reference material does not provide a reliable breakdown of industries, customer segments, geographic revenue, or operating scale. 4D SAS develops and publishes the 4D platform. The company also has a United States-based subsidiary, 4D Inc., indicating an international corporate presence, although the available material does not specify the full list of markets, offices, or distribution channels. 4D SAS is owned by Laurent Ribardière. The supplied references do not establish whether he was the original founder, so no founder attribution is made here. The company is also identified as the original developer of Wakanda, a separate development platform associated with web application development. The available source confirms the historical development relationship but does not provide enough detail to describe Wakanda’s ownership, current status, product roadmap, or commercial position. Likewise, no verified information is available here about acquisitions, public listing, annual revenue, employee count, current product versions, or major marketing campaigns. Today, the most defensible description of 4D SAS is as a specialized business-software developer centered on the 4D platform and its related development ecosystem. Its historical significance comes from combining database management and application programming in a single environment beginning in the 1980s. Specific claims about current leadership beyond ownership, headquarters, detailed product editions, or present-day market share require additional authoritative sources.

4D SAS developed from work that began in 1984 on a software project initially codenamed Silver Surfer. That project became the 4D platform, also known as 4th Dimension. The first release arrived in 1987 and included a proprietary programming language, marking the product as more than a standalone database: it was an environment intended to support the construction of complete applications. The 4D platform combined data management with programming and application-development facilities. This design served developers creating business and database-driven applications, allowing related elements of an application to be developed within one product family. The available reference does not provide a detailed chronology of later releases, technical generations, pricing changes, or shifts in target markets, so those aspects are not expanded here. 4D SAS is described as the developer and publisher of 4D. The company also maintains a United States subsidiary, 4D Inc., reflecting a cross-border corporate structure. The source identifies Laurent Ribardière as the owner of 4D SAS, but it does not establish his role in the original 1984 development effort or identify other founders and executives. The company was also the original developer of Wakanda. The available material confirms that historical connection but does not establish the full chronology of Wakanda, its current ownership, or whether it remains an active offering. On the evidence available, 4D SAS is best understood as a French software company whose identity has been built around a long-running integrated database and application-development platform.

• 1987

  Initial 4D product release

  [1]4D SASen.wikipedia.org

  The first 4D release was published with its own programming language, establishing the platform’s integrated database and application-development model.

• 1984

  Development begins under the Silver Surfer codename

  [1]4D SASen.wikipedia.org

  Development began on the project that would become the 4D platform, initially using the codename Silver Surfer.

A specialized software provider offering an integrated database, programming, and application-development environment for business software.

• Application development and database software · 1987

  4D

  4D, also known as 4th Dimension, is the company’s principal software platform. It combines database capabilities with a programming language and tools for building, deploying, and running business applications. The platform’s integrated design distinguishes it from a database engine used separately from an application framework. The available reference confirms the product’s origins and general function but does not document current editions, supported operating systems, pricing, or detailed technical features.

• Application development software

  Wakanda

  Wakanda was a development platform for which 4D is identified as the original developer. The available reference establishes this historical relationship but does not provide enough information to describe its detailed capabilities, launch date, ownership arrangements, current availability, or product status. It is therefore included as a historically associated offering rather than as a confirmed current flagship product.

1. 14D SASen.wikipedia.org