Environment > Distributing IDL Applications > Callable IDL Applications

# Callable IDL Applications

A Callable IDL application is written in another programming language, such as C or C++, and calls IDL as a subroutine. The process of creating Callable IDL applications is described in the External Development Guide.

Unlike applications written entirely in IDL, the process of creating an application distribution for a Callable IDL application is the same whether the application’s end user has an IDL development license or not. This chapter describes the packaging process for Callable IDL applications using any licensing mechanism.

Callable IDL applications are packaged for distribution in much the same way as native IDL applications. Before beginning the process of packaging your Callable IDL application, you should be familiar with the concepts described in Distributing Runtime Mode Applications.

This section describes the additional steps necessary to create and distribute a Callable IDL application.

To create and distribute a Callable IDL application, do the following:

1. Review Limitations of Runtime Mode Applications.
2. Create your application using an IDL development license. Test the application using the type of license you expect your end user to have. See the External Development Guide for information on creating Callable IDL applications.
3. Decide on a licensing option and obtain licenses for your application.
4. Create an application distribution.
5. Create invocation and use instructions for your application.
6. Create an installer, if desired, and installation instructions for your application.

Also see Preferences for Callable IDL Applications.