ProVoice synthesizes speech using a dictionary and grammar rules. Users can edit this dictionary to add words or alter pronunciation. ProVoice converts text to speech in two phases, using phonetic translation and pronunciation rules. The software analyzes and translates text into "sound descriptors", a phonetic language that can express pitch, duration, and amplitude codes to produce stress patterns in phrases and sentences. The second phase converts the intermediate phonetic language into speech signals.

ProVoice supports a variety of sound boards, including Sound Blaster, AdLib, Covox Speech Thing, IBM ACPA card, Tandy sound system, PS/1 Audio Card, Street Electronic's Echo PC II, the IBM Speech Card, Sound Source from Disney, Hearsay 100, and the Sound Commander. ProVoice is priced at $595. Contact First Byte Software c/o Davidson & Associates, 19840 Pioneer Ave., Torrance, CA 90503, (310) 793-0600 ext. 230, FAX (310) 793-0601.

Compilable source code is generated in C, various dialects of BASIC, Pascal, or assembly language. Screens are saved in a compressed format to conserve disk space and speed loading, and can be exported in a variety of file formats including: BSAVE, ANSI, WildCat!, BBS, PCBoard BBS, PostScript (EPS), and binary.

Fully-functional evaluation copies are being distributed as shareware and are available from CompuServe, GEnie, ASP-approved disk vendors, and BBSs. The filename is LDOG10x.ZIP or LDOG10.ZIP. Copies can be ordered directly from Yardbird Software. Registration is $35 U.S. (California residents add sales tax) or $45 outside the U.S. Registered users receive the latest version of the program, a bound manual, sample screen files, and product support. Contact Yardbird Software, P.O. Box 4646, West Hills, CA 91308, (818) 794-6402; CompuServe: 73650,104; GEnie: J.SLOAN7.

C9.01/386, WATCOM's 32-bit C compiler and tools, supports DOS, Windows 3.x, and OS/2 2.0. The compiler is ANSI standard, and comes with tools including debugger, profiler, 32-bit DOS extender (DOS/4GW from Rational Systems, which supports DPMI, VCPI, and XMS), Microsoft SDK components, and more. OEM Versions of the compiler are Novell's Network C for NLMs SDK and Go Corporation's WATCOM C/386 for PenPoint. The compilers include new 486 optimizations.

Windows' support includes a 32-bit Windows API library, a 32-bit Windows C library, and a supervisor enabling execution of 32-bit Windows applications. The VIDEO debugger tool is included and C9.01/386 includes licensed components from Microsoft's SDK, so that users can begin programming without need of additional tools.

The compilers support OS2/2.0 as both an application target and a host for cross-development that targets other systems, including Windows, DOS, and embedded systems. The tools are integrated with OS/2 2.0's Workframe/2 environment.

The 32-bit compilers (C and FORTRAN 77) are priced at $895, while the 16-bit systems are priced at $495. Registered users of previous versions should contact WATCOM about upgrades. For information, contact WATCOM, 415 Phillips Street, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3X2, (800) 265-4555; FAX: (519) 747-4971.

Objectbuilder\C++, along with the C++ graphics class library, Objectkit\C++ OI, permit creation of GUIs that allow run-time selection between OSF/Motif and OPEN LOOK interfaces. Objectbuilder\C++ and Objectkit\C++ OI are based on technology licensed from Solbourne Computer, Inc. , and provide a class hierarchy, inheritance, subclassing, accelerators, localization, and access to X resources.

Objectkit\Smalltalk C Programming allows programmers to integrate Smalltalk applications with existing C programs or with libraries that use a C calling convention. Developers can access platform specific facilities without leaving their object-oriented application development environment. These facilities include Windows DLLs, UNIX RPCs and sockets, Macintosh Events and Publish and Subscribe services, and relational database interfaces. Objectbuilder\C++ is priced at $2,995, Objectkit\C++ costs $995, Objectworks\ Smalltalk 4.1 costs $3,500 per user, and Objectkit\Smalltalk C Programming is priced at $500. Contact ParcPlace Systems, 1550 Plymouth Street, Mountain View, CA 94043, (415) 691-6700; FAX: (415) 691-6715.

The output from the C compiler is source assembly language, compatible with the MIPS assembler. The compiler includes common optimization techniques, and adds processor specific optimizations such as register allocation, peephole optimization, leaf-function handling, and function inlining. The compiler supports hardware floating point and the ANSI/IEEE standard 745 floating point libraries. Various compiler options support short-form addressing, exception handling, and fixed memory locations. The compiler avoids stackframe overhead for several "in-line functions" such as break, coprocessor instructions, and TLB interface.

The complete MIPS R3000 toolkit is priced at $6990, with individual components available starting at $1750. For additional information, contact BSO/Tasking, Norfolk Place, 333 Elm Street, Dedham, MA 02026-4530, (617) 320-9400; FAX: (617) 320-9212.

The XShell integrating framework supports the composition and control of cooperating systems of XShell modules, allowing system architects to dynamically distribute modules across a network, configure their communications pathways, and control the operation. XShell is primarily hosted on UNIX systems and uses common network protocols for communication. The X Window and Motif systems are used for all XShell graphical user interfaces.

The XShell development framework also supports optional toolkits, such as rule-based systems, fuzzy logic, and genetic optimization and learning. For further information, contact Expersoft Corporation, 6620 Mesa Ridge Road, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92121, (619) 546-4100; FAX: (619) 546-4110.

The COMM-DRV TSR is now distributed with COMM-LOG, or the entire COMM-DRV development package can be purchased separately. The full complement of XMODEM and YMODEM file transfer sources and libraries have been added to COMM-DRV, along with the SCRN-INPUT package (with sources). The development package allows programmers to create serial applications with full screen management capabilities.

COMM-LOG and COMM-DRV are priced at $190, with discounts for previous owners. Contact Willies' Computer Software Co., 2470 S. Dairy Ashford, Suite 188, Houston TX 77077, (713) 498-4832; FAX: (713) 568-3334.

The cross-referencer annotates symbols with usage (definition/declaration, assignment to, taking the address of) and type information. The tree diagrammer can show different views of the call graph — either directed calls from functions or calls to functions. The lister prints outlined listings of C source, with special processing for preprocessor commands. The reformatter is customizable and can be used to format both source and embedded comments.

C-Vision is the merger of technologies from the C:Lines/C:Tree package from SoftRex and the source code processing of PC-lint. For 386 machines, C-Vision can use DOS extenders for very large cross-reference and function tree output.

C-Vision runs under MS-DOS or OS/2, with a minimum of 384K. C-Vision is priced at #139. Contact Gimpel Software, 3207 Hogarth Lane, Collegeville, PA 19426, (215) 584- 4261.

X-32 includes a debugger interface allowing developers to do source level debugging with the existing Zortech debugger. spawn(), exec(), and system() functions are now available also. X-32VM is the same DOS extender as X-32, with the added feature of up to 3.5 GB of virtual memory. X-32 is compact — for small programs, X-32 executables will be only about 15K larger than the equivalent large memory model 16-bit programs, while for larger programs, the X-32 executable size is often smaller than the equivalent large memory model 16-bit programs, due to the elimination of multiple instructions required for far pointers.

Flash Graphics includes two separate libraries: a debug library and a smaller, faster standard library (only about 45K space required) for delivery. An interface module with source allows most BGI functions, except some initialization and palette functions, to work without modification using Flash Graphics.

The FlashTek package for the Zortech compiler has been shipping since May 1, and sells for $69, plus shipping and handling. Educational discounts are available. There are no royalties. Contact FlashTeck, Inc. at 804 Airport Way, Suite D, Sandpoint, ID 83864, phone (800) 397-7310 or (208) 263-7311; FAX: (208) 263-8772.

The DWARF format allows compilers to store complex debugging information in a compiled application. The goal of developing a standardized debugging format is to create a method for comunicating an accurate picture of how a compiled application relates to the original source. The DWARF format is open-ended and extensible, allowing the addition of new debugging information or support for additional languages, The format is not oriented toward any particular compiler or debugger design and can be used for platforms other than UNIX SVR4. After receiving industry input, UI will issue a revised format incorporating the developments of the review process.

UNIX International is a not-for-profit international organization open to all parties interested in the evolution of UNIX System V and related software. The organization has over 260 members: manufacturers, software and system vendors, and universities. The DWARF specification is available free of charge by calling UI at (800) 848-6495 or (201) 263-8400. Also, requests can be made by fax at (201) 263-8401 or by e-mail to s.mccarron@ui.org.