IBM® Informix® 4GL was developed in 1985 by ChrisMaloney and Roy Harrington of Informix Corporation - then known as RelationalDatabase Systems - a Silicon Valley based relational database pioneer in theopen systems market place. Informix was acquired by
IBM July 1, 2001.
IBM Informix 4GL，最初由Informix公司開發，Informix是著名的關係型數據庫系統，IBM公司
於2001年7月1日收購了Informix公司。
Informix4GL comprises procedural (‘fourth generation’) features for database access,reports and forms-based user interaction, making it ideally suited for businessapplications. It has enabled the rapid development of very sophisticatedmission critical business
logic and as a result, is widely deployed in many ofthe world’s largest corporations. It is still used today by over half ofInformix’s customers
Informix 4GL的特點是過程化的存取數據庫、產生報表、基於表單的用戶交互，使其成爲開發商業應用程序的完美套件。可以對複雜的任務以及挑剔的業務邏輯進行快速的開發，世界上的大公司有很多在使用。直到今天，仍有超過一半Informix的客戶在使用。
1985
Informix Corporation launches Informix 4GL. Itquickly becomes one of the most popular development languages with VARs andlarge enterprises in the 'open systems' movement of the eighties and nineties.
1985年，Informix公司啓動Informix4GL項目，此項目迅速成爲那些八九十年代支持開放系統的大公司的最受歡迎的開發語言。
80年代後期
The arrival of client/server computing towards the end of the eighties puts pressure on Informix to enhance the user interface from its alphanumeric foundation to the more friendly and intuitive MS Windows environment.
80年代後期，隨着客戶/服務器計算方式的到來，Informix將其文本用戶界面升級到對用戶更爲友好的類似於MS Windows的圖形用戶界面。
1998
After several abortive attempts, Informix finallysigns an agreement in May 1998 with Four Js Development Tools to deliverBusiness Development Suite - a graphical user interface implementation ofInformix 4GL busily gathering momentum in the market place. BusinessDevelopment Suite with its 99% Informix 4GL compatibility hits an instant chordwith users. Informix renames it ‘Informix Dynamic 4GL’ (D4GL) and sells itunder this moniker for the next 3 years.
經過幾次失敗的嘗試之後，最終，Informix於1998年5月同Four Js公司簽署了一份協議，將商業開發套件賣給了Four Js公司。商業開發套件同Informix 4GL有99%的兼容度。隨後，Informix將之前的產品名字改爲：“Informix Dynamic 4GL(D4GL)並在隨後的3年中採用這一名字進行銷售。
1999
In early 1999, other databases are added bypopular demand.
1999年初期，其它的數據庫也增加了受人歡迎的功能。
2001
This relationship is broadened in December 2001to a distribution agreement with IBM after their acquisition of Informix inJuly. Dynamic 4GL is discontinued in favour of Four Js own brand – BusinessDevelopment Suite.
2001年7月IBM收購Informix之後，IBM於2001年12月簽署了分銷擴大協議。D4GL不再支持Four Js公司的自由品牌-商業開發套件。(IBM放棄了D4GL?)
2003
In October 2003, Four Js announce the arrival ofGenero – its next generation, object-based technology crafted with an XMLoriented user interface capable of rendering one business logic faithfullyacross heterogeneous graphical clients.
2003年10月，Four Js推出了她的下一代產品-Genero,這是一個基於對象與XML技術，精心製作的，忠實的實現用戶的業務邏輯，具有適用於不同平臺的圖形客戶端的產品。
2004
In April 2004, IBM announces the distribution ofGenero as its natural successor to Business Development Suite and Dynamic 4GL.
2004年4月，IBM宣佈Genero是商業開發套件和動態4GL是最成功的接替者，並開始銷售它。
2011
March 29, 2011, Four Js and IBM announce an OEMagreement between to create IBM Informix Genero. Four Js and IBM agree to worktogether on a joint roadmap to ensure that Genero may benefit from the latestfeatures of Informix Dynamic Server.
2011年3月29日，Four Js和IBM公司簽署了生產IBM Informix Genero的OEM協議。Four Js和IBM同意一起工作來確保Genero能夠從Informix Dynamic Server的最新特性中受益。
原文鏈接：http://www.4js.com/en/company/ibm-i4gl-to-genero/four-js-and-i4gl
後記：
IBM的產品目前叫Informix Genero,4js的直接叫Genero,從IBM網站看，IBM的那個跟4js的這個功能上基本一致，也許針對Informix數據庫有做過優化，畢竟4js要面向的是更多的數據庫。
翻譯的水平有限，有些地方可能表達不準確或者有誤，請各位看官包涵並指教。