List & Label Cross Platform — Reporting for Linux and More

What is List & Label Cross Platform (LLCP)?

LLCP is a cross-platform reporting solution that runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, among others. With a brand new core based on .NET 9 (and soon .NET 10), LLCP offers a modern, high-performance printing engine—completely free from native dependencies. This enables you to deploy your applications flexibly across a wide variety of platforms.

Technological Transformation: From C++ to C#/.NET

To achieve the desired platform independence, we have reimplemented large parts of our previous C++ components in C# for the current .NET Framework. This step offers the following advantages:

• Flexibility & Future-Proofing: For migration, we rely mainly on our own developments and modern open source libraries such as Antlr and Skia.
• Modular Architecture: Skia forms the foundation of our new rendering engine, which is already delivering impressive results in the early stages of development when exporting to PDF and SVG.
• Efficiency Through AI: Artificial intelligence supports us in repetitive tasks, extensive code refactoring, and optimization — making development faster and more efficient.

Platform Independence: Flexibility in Deployment Scenarios

LLCP can be deployed in the environment of your choice:

• Desktop: Windows, Linux, and macOS.
• Container & Cloud: Use in Docker containers as well as in cloud environments (e.g., Azure Containers, AWS, Azure App Service).
• Mobile & Web: Support for ARM architectures, Blazor/WebAssembly, and even on iOS/Android.

Rendering, Performance & Integration

• Rendering & Performance:
  Thanks to numerous optimizations, LLCP achieves significant performance improvements. LLCP is typically five times faster than the classic List & Label engine. Optimized caching, rendering, and multithreading ensure a stable, high-performance environment.
• Integration & Data Formats:
  The API remains compatible with many aspects of the classic version. Data connections are established via the standardized IDataProvider interface, and logging is possible using ILogger (Microsoft Extensions Logging). New JSON project files replace the previous LST files, making them easier to use in web applications.

Supported Reporting Features & Export Formats

LLCP is initially delivered without its own designer. However, you can use the designers in the classic List & Label. You just need to convert the resulting LST project files to JSON format for seamless use with the Cross Platform version.

LLCP will support a wide range of reporting features:

• Text & RTF: Formatted text including fonts, colors, and styles.
• Graphic Elements: Rendering of lines, rectangles, ellipses, and pictures.
• Barcodes: Support for numerous barcode types (e.g., Code 128, QR Code, EAN-13, Code 39, DataMatrix).
• Tables: Tables with subtables and flexible layout, including formatting properties, conditional formatting, and much more.
• Formulas & Multi-pass Processing: Support for most of the 250+ functions in the List & Label formula language as well as for multi-pass processing to calculate the total number of pages.
• Labels & Embedded Fonts: Flexible label layouts and the use of embedded fonts—ideal for use in Linux or Docker containers.

Export & Print Formats:
Since Skia does not offer native printing functionality, physical printing is initially achieved indirectly through generated PDF documents. The following formats are currently supported:

• PDF
• SVG
• PNG
• JPEG

Future versions will offer additional export formats.

Key Benefits at a Glance

• Cross-Platform: Operates on various systems and in containerized environments.
• Cost-Efficient: Cost savings achieved by running on Linux servers.
• Seamless Integration: Compatible with all .NET technologies such as Avalonia, WinForms/WPF, Blazor, ASP.NET,…
• High Performance: Modern technology ensures significantly faster printing processes.
• Easy Migration: The familiar API and infrastructure largely remain intact.
• Future-Proof: JSON-based project files and a modern API ensure long-term stability.

Roadmap & Release Highlights

• First Release: Q4/2025
  The first cross-platform version will be released with List & Label 31 in the Enterprise Edition. The classic version will continue to be developed in parallel.
  • Highlights of the First LLCP Version:
    • Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux & macOS)
    • High-performance PDF export for web and cloud applications
    • Minimal hurdles when switching thanks to familiar API and identical data model
    • New, JSON-based project files for improved readability and easier processing

• Ongoing Enhancements & Updates: Q1/2026 – Q3/2027
  After the initial release, regular updates will follow featuring:
  • Support for charts, crosstabs, project includes, subreports and more
  • More export formats

• “Feature Complete”: By Q4/2027 (Estimated)
  • All of the planned features will be supported in LLCP

• After Q4/2027:
  • Integration of the Web Report Designer and Web Report Viewer in LLCP

Show, Don’t Tell: A First Look at LLCP

Check out our YouTube playlist to see what LLCP can do. We show you how our cross-platform reporting solution works in real-world scenarios. You will see live demos of our modern printing engine and seamless integrations, as well as practical examples of efficient migration and performance optimizations. The videos give you an in-depth look at what LLCP can do.

Of course, we will keep you updated on all the progress and new features of List & Label Cross Platform through our usual channels.