UNIX GDT supports display devices through an X Window System driver and also offers a wide variety of hard copy device support. The DOS GDT and OS/2 GDT and UNIX GDT are source code compatible. Applications developed with one can be relinked using the other to operate in any of the environments.

The toolkit provides a portable and device-independent graphics programming environment for PCs. With the GDT's device drivers, developers don't have to write code to support input, display, and hard copy devices.

The UNIX GDT is now available from GSS and its distributors. The suggested list price is $995 and includes both 3½-inch or 5¼-inch disk formats. For more information, contact Graphic Software Systems, 9590 SW Gemini Drive, Beaverton, OR 87006, (503) 641-2200; FAX (503) 643-8842.

The emulator includes 131,072 hardware breakpoints that work at speeds up to 16MHz with no wait states. Breakpoints can be set on virtually any condition or machine cycle type. The user can set complex IF_THEN conditions up to five levels deep; breaks can thus be deferred until a highly specific sequence of events, involving different data value transfers, cycle types, and addresses, has occurred. A pass counter lets the user delay breakpoint execution for up to 65,536 cycles.

The emulator includes a real-time performance analyzer that has 256 variable-width bins. The source-level debugger automatically sets the bins to exactly correspond to the user's C functions. After collecting performance data, a histogram identifies exactly how much time is spent in each routine.

The 68000 UEM-Series emulator costs $5,995 and is available from stock. For more information, contact Softaid, 8930 Route 108, Columbia, MD 21045-2101, (301) 964-8455; FAX (301) 596-1852.

Memcheck also identifies out-of-memory conditions that can cause program crashes. For more intensive debugging efforts, the Memcheck libraries support calls to verify memory integrity and produce current memory allocation lists.

Memcheck supports all memory calls for the Microsoft C and Borland Turbo C compilers for the IBM XT, AT, 386, 486, and compatibles. It requires four bytes of overhead per allocation at runtime. Installation on any project requires the addition of one #include per source file and linking with the appropriate Memcheck library; the package includes a "smart utility" for quick configuration of existing projects. Memcheck's allocation monitoring can be enabled or disabled at compile-time, at link-time, or at runtime.

Memcheck is priced at $139.95. It is available from StratosWare, 230 Collingwood, Suite 160, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, (313) 996-2944; FAX (313) 996-0966.

The proposed Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) for programming language C will be based on a recently approved ANSI C Standard from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Perennial will provide NIST with the certification test system used to validate conformance of implementations to the proposed FIPS C. The new standard will apply to C compilers acquired for federal use to allow portability of C applications across a variety of hardware configurations.

The cornerstone for ACVS is Perennial's existing C Compiler Validation Suite, CVS-A, licensed worldwide since 1984. Origianlly, CVS-A was developed to provide testing of early C language implementations as well as the draft for ANSI C Standard.

For more information, contact Perennial, 4699 Old Ironsides Drive, Suite 210, Santa Clara, CA 95054, (408) 727-2255.

LC-Port is a collection of libraries and header files that duplicate the features of the Lattice system libraries. The kit contains several hundred library functions from the system libraries and from the OS/2 simulation library. These functions are provided in object form for current versions of Borland, Microsoft, Watcom, and Zortech compilers. All object versions are in the same kit.

The kit also contains Lattice-compatible header files that won't conflict with the header files from other compilers, macro files to simplify conversion of assembly language functions, and comprehensive documentation including guidelines for converting to each of the supported compilers. The Lattice Compatibility Kit is available for the single-copy price of $125 without source code.

For more information, contact Crystal Software, P.O. Box 4316, Wheaton, IL 60189-4316, (708) 653-4414; FAX (708) 653-4667.

The CodeStalker suports full speed emulation at clock rates to 33MHz. No wait states are inserted or required, so it works non-intrusively even in systems designed with cache memory.

The CodeStalker comes with a fiber optics communications link that downloads code at a sustained rate of more than 250K per second, essentially eliminating download delays. The unit is supplied with a short-slot fiber interface board for PCs.

The CodeStalker includes four independent hardware breakpoints that can be set anywhere in the processor's 32-bit address space, in either RAM or ROM locations. Any number of software breakpoints can also be set. All run at full speed without injecting wait states. It provides a breakpoint input to stop emulation when an external hardware event takes place.

CodeStalker sells for $9,995. For more information, contact Softaid, 8930 Route 108, Columbia, MD 21045-2101, (301) 964-8455; FAX (301) 596-1852.

This release adds support for Think 4.0 OOPs (C++ derivative) and Microsoft C 6.0. Other new features and options include ANSI function prototype generation for any C source code; a new "click and fix" facility that enables easy movement between specific entries in an error log report and the actual C source code that caused the report entry.

McCLint works with any Macintosh system that has System 4.2 or later and at least 1Mb of memory. McCLint runs as a standalone application and fully supports MultiFinder foreground and background processing. McCLint is priced at $149.95. An update is available for existing McCLint customers for $25.

For more information, contact MMC AD Systems, Box 360845, Milpitas, CA 95036, (415) 770-0858.

The contest format consists of two sections. The first section contains three programming questions which require objective answers. The second section contains a challenging programming problem. The contest can be entered either by an individual or a group. There is a high school version of the questions and a more difficult college version. A panel of Symantec engineers has designed the contest questions and will also serve as the judging committee.

The contest will run through the end of March 1991. Judging decisions will be made and prizes will be awarded in June 1991. Two grand prize winners will each win a $5,000 scholarship and a Macintosh llci system. In addition to the two grand prizes, the runners up will also receive prizes.

To register or request contest information, interested teachers and students can call the Contest Hotline in Symantec's Bedford, MA office at (617) 275-4800.

Version 5 software also supports source-level and symbolic degubbing of Microsoft C 6.0, Borland C++ 1.0, and Borland Pascal 5.5. Users may select CodeView or Turbo Debugger function-key emulation instead of using the standard Periscope function keys, or they can customize the function keys.

Other features include support for debugging spawned (child) processes; the ability to debug at ROM-scan time, which enables users to debug most of the boot process; passive remote debugging wth Model IV to enable the use of a host system to capture and examine real-time events in a target system; and the ability to symbolically debug background and foreground programs in the same debugging session using two symbol tables.

Prices for the various models of Periscope with the Version 5 software range from $195 to $2,395. For more information, contact The Periscope Company, 1197 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30361; (404) 872-1973.

The X Guide provides a brief history of the X Window System, a working definition and descritption of how the system works, its effect on the LAN and mainframe environments, and its future.

To receive a free X Window System Guide to Technology, call (619) 587-6969, or write X Guide, c/o Sprectragraphics Corporation, 9707 Waples St., San Diego, CA 92121.

Optlink/Compress generates smaller .EXE files, allowing larger programs to be stored on a single floppy disk. The quick self-extract code is effective for most applications and needs less than 1K of extra memory for decompression.

Optlink/2 is a complete linker for 16-bit OS/2 and PM applications. Included with this linker is Optimp, a import library builder.

Optlink/Windows is compatible with Optlink/Windows 3.0 and generates DOS, Windows, and OS/2 .EXE files.

Each of these packages sells for $250. For more information, contact SLR Systems, 1622 N. Main St., Butler, PA 16001, (412) 282-0864; FAX (412) 282-7965.

The 8051 C cross compiler supports all members of the 8051 family with its improved code generation. C library and runtime support, including I/O calls, memory management, floating point math and arithmetic functions are supplied with the compiler. The compiler has a three-layer development design that helps simplify maintenance.

The compiler is offered on several different hosts, including PC, VAX, SUN, HP, Apollo, and IBM. Prices start at $1,695 for the compiler, assembler, and linker. For more information, contact BSO/Tasking, 128 Technology Center, P.O. Box 9164, Waltham, MA 02254-9164.

Language dialect extensions include full formatting support for Symantec's THINK C OOPs (C++ derivative) and Microsoft C 6.0. Pseudo operators, such as EQU in varA EQU varB, and imbedded database commands of the form EXEC SQL are now supported. Also, the formatting of imbedded comments, multiple continuation lines and multiple, contiguous string constants have been improved.

McPrint works with any Macintosh system that has System 4.2 or later and at least 512Kb of memory. McCPrint runs as a standalone application and fully supports MultiFinder foreground and background processing. McCprint is compatible with all Macintosh and non-Macintosh C compilers, including Apple's MPW C and Symantec's THINK C.

McCPrint is priced at $99.95. An update is available for existing McCPrint customers for $25. For more information, contact MMC AD Systems, Box 360845, Milpitas, CA 95036, (415) 770-0858.

C-Cover works with ANSI C compilers running on MS-DOS and sells for $495. For more information, contact Bullseye Software, 5129 24th Ave. N.E., Suite 9, Seattle, WA 98105, (800) 421-8006.

All versions of the C Executive offer the optional DOS-compatible file system, CE-DOSFILE. With this file system, any CISC or RISC microprocessor can be used to maintain MS-DOS file sytems online.

For more information, contact JMI Software Consultants, 904 Sheble Lane, Spring House, PA 19477, (215) 628-0846.

For more information, contact Mark Williams Company, 60 Revere Dr., Northbrook, 1L 60062, (708) 291-6700; FAX (708) 291-6750.

The Canonizer writes a data model in seveal types of file formats, including ANSI Standard SQL (used by Oracle, Sybase, Informix, Ingres, Revelation 2000, DB2 and others), as well as C, Raima DDL, and Unify 4.0. When used with SQL Converter, the Canonizer can be used to convert an existing data model from SQL to any of these output file formats.

The Canonizer runs on XENIX, UNIX System V, BSD, AIS and Sun OS, as well as MS-DOS. The Canonizer for the RS/6000 retails for $1,995, and the SQL Converter sells for $395. As part of an introductory offer ending Dec. 31, 1990, the SQL Converter is included free when you purchase the Canonizer.

For more information, contact Six Sigma CASE, 13456 S.E. 27th Place, Bellevue, WA 98005-4211, 206-643-6911; FAX (206) 641-7501.

The R3000A, an enhanced version of the MIPS R3000, achieves system performance of 33 VAX MIPS at clock speeds up to 40MHz. The R3000A consumes 20 percent less power than the R3000, provides new features for fault-tolerant systems and reduces the number so SRAMs required to build a cache memory. The R3000A also offers dynamic endian switching, a feature that enables application software programs to run on machines configured in either big endian or little endian byte order without recompiling.

Pin-compatible R3000A components are available from MIPS five semiconductor partners: NEC, Siemens, LSI Logic, Integrated Device Technology, and Performance Semiconductor.

For more information, contact MIPS Computer Systems, 928 Arques Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086-3650, (408) 720-1700; FAX (408) 991-7777.