REGULUS-386 Builder, a software development kit for 80386-based PC AT and Compaq compatible systems, has been released by Alcyon Corp. This product contains the REGULUS-386 operating system as well as a C compiler, assembler, linker, debugger, and support upgrades for 90 days.
A Unix-compatible, real-time operating system, REGULUS-386 supports system calls and kernel features. Real-time operating features include prioritized tasks, context switching, intertask communications, contiguous files, and direct access to interrupts.
REGULUS-386 Builder sells for $1,500. Perpetual upgrades and continued support are available at additional cost. Reader Service No. 20. Alcyon Corp. 6888 Nancy Ridge Dr. San Diego, CA 92121-2232 619-587-1155
Abraxas Software has announced an OS/2 CASE tool called PCYACC/2, Version 2.0, a program generator capable of generating C source code for building assemblers, compilers, browsers, page description language, language translators, syntax directed editors, and query languages for OS/2.
PCYACC/2 is designed to generate ANSI C source code optimized for the Microsoft and Lattice OS/2 compilers. The generated source code can then be compiled to generate the final product. Runtime library and example sources are provided to be used as application skeletons for new products.
Demo application sources include a desktop calculator, an infix to postfix translator, and an implementation of the PIC(ture) language. Also included are a code execution engine to display the graphics on PS/2 screens and a C++ to C translator. Grammar for YACC, C++, ISO Pascal, ANSI C, SQL, Apple Hypertalk, Smalltalk-80, Prolog, and dBase III+ and IV is included.
Other features include the ability to generate code for large grammars on PS/2s, syntax trees generated at runtime by target products for debugging, and error recovery support for target products.
PCYACC/2 sells for $395; multiple copy discounts and site licenses are available. Reader Service No. 21. Abraxas Software Inc. 7033 SW Macadam Ave. Portland, OR 97219 503-244-5253
Version 1.3 of Pro-C has been released by Vestronix Inc. Pro-C is a source code applications generator for MS-DOS, QNX, Xenix, and Unix. Windows, one of the product's features, gives developers the ability to create applications with moving windows, multiple windows, dynamically sized windows, scrolling regions, and subscreens.
Other features include dbase III interface, multiple records, help functions, and color support. Pro-C, which does not require a runtime environment, sells for $495. Reader Service No. 23. Vestronix Allen Square 180 King St. S, Ste. 230 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2J IP8 519-745-2700
Island Systems has announced the availability of Turbo Meta-Menu, a software utilities package that uses the MetaWindow graphics driver (from MetaGraphics Software Corp.) for Turbo Pascal 4 and 5 to produce a user interface to graphics application programs.
Turbo Meta-Menu allows software developers to create horizontal and vertical pull-down menus, pop-up messages, button menus, and more. All structures autosave the underlying graphics image and provide a mouse-drag feature.
The Turbo Pascal 4 and 5 version of Turbo Meta-Menu sells for $149; the library source is an additional $75. The base package comes with a reference manual, demo program with source, six sample programs with source, and two additional utility programs. The package includes menu and message utilities as well as a cursor icon editor and an automatic menu-making program. Reader Service No. 22. Island Systems 7 Mountain Rd. Burlington, MA 01803 617-273-0421
Trio Systems has begun shipping a new release of its C-Index Database Toolkit developed for Turbo C. The C-Index library is now available in a version ready to run with Borland's Turbo C. A professional development tool, the C-Index Database Toolkit supports single user, multiuser, and network applications with file-management facilities.
The C-index Database Toolkit features B+ tree indexing, variable-length records, direct and sequential access, and multiple record formats per file. The C-Index Database Toolkit for Turbo C uses application program interface (API), which allows the library to be implemented using nine subroutine calls. This product sells for $99. Reader Service No. 24. Trio Systems 2210 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 289 Santa Monica, CA 90403 213-394-0796
Solution Systems' C-Worthy Interface Library includes features such as screens and windows, form interface library, menus, error handling, DOS interface library, and system and context sensitive help.
With C-Worthy, creating a window consists of three function calls: Define the window's characteristics, select it as the current window, and display it. Up to 50 windows can be active at one time. The windows feature also includes screens and color palettes.
The optional form interface library is designed to help users display data input forms and to gather and validate user input. C-Worthy's menus include pop-up, Lotus style, pull-up, and pull-down (MS Windows style). C-Worthy's system error library is a collection of over 120 error handling routines that report errors returned from C-Worthy functions.
The DOS interface library has routines to manage data files, dates, times, disk drives, subdirectories, memory, and other DOS operations. The help feature creates program help screens interactively using C-Worthy's full screen text editor. Each help message can have multiple pages of text.
C-Worthy supports Microsoft C 4.0 and 5.0, Quick C, Turbo C 1.0 and 1.5, and Lattice C 3.2. System requirements include hard-disk media with 256K RAM, MS-DOS 2.0 or later, and IBM PC or compatible, TI Professional, NEC APC III, or Vicor 9000. G-Worthy Interface Library sells alone for $195, with Form Interface Library for $295, and with Forms and Library source for $495. Reader Service No. 25. Solution Systems 541 Main St., Ste. 410 S Weymouth, MA 02190 617-337-6963 800-821-2492
Wendin Inc. has released VM-DEBUG, a debugging tool for IBM PCs, XTs, ATs, and compatibles. VM-DEBUG, which stands for the virtual machine debugger, is an interpreter whose language is 8088 machine code extended with the real-mode instructions of an 80286.
According to Wendin, the VM-DEBUG interpreter can stop the execution of a program at any point, examine or alter memory or register, examine the program, and determine where the program has been. In addition, the product can trace DOS, or the ROMs, and set breakpoints within ROM. VM-DEBUG sells for $99. Reader Service No. 26. Wendin Inc. Box 3888 Spokane, WA 99220-3888 509-624-8088
Language Processors Inc. (LPI) has announced the availability of CodeWatch, an interactive source-level debugger to be used with LPI's Basic, C, Cobol, Fortran, Pascal, and PL/I programming languages operating in the Unix and Xenix environments.
Code Watch uses the language of the source code (not machine language) and allows commands to be entered in an abbreviated form. Features include action lists, macros, stepping, tracing, and program execution controlled by the developer so that execution may be suspended via breakpoints or resumed at a developer-specified point.
Available on most Motorola 680X0 series systems and Intel's 80386-based systems under Unix and Xenix, CodeWatch is priced from $495 to $2,495, depending on the number of ports and the processor. Reader Service No. 27. Language Processors Inc. 959 Concord St. Framingham, MA 01701-4613 508-626-0006
Rapid Prototyping System (RPS) is Genesis Data Systems' new presentation design program incorporating several tools for project prototyping, interactive tutorials, product demonstrations, program design, and front-end software management.
RPS features a prototyping module that enables the user to manipulate and join text, graphics, and music into presentations through the use of animation, transition, branch, subroutine, and numerical/text variable commands.
RPS provides a screen design module that uses the IBM extended ASCII set and 255 color combinations for the creation of screens. Graphics or text screens can also be captured from other programs with an RPS memory-resident module. Both user-designed and captured screens can be used in the prototyping module.
RPS contains a music module that uses standard musical notation for the creation of new tunes or the duplication of familiar ones. Tunes can be saved to a file and accessed by the prototyping module. Tunes may be played in the background, either as part of a presentation or directly from DOS.
RPS runs on IBM PCs, PS/2s, and compatibles equipped with a floppy or hard drive and a color, monochrome, or TTL monitor. The $249.95 program requires 256K and DOS 2.0 or later, and it is not copy protected. Reader Service No. 28. Genesis Data Systems 8415 Washington Place NE, Ste. A Albuquerque, NM 87113 505-821-9425 800-777-1437
Intel Corp. has demonstrated its validated Ada-386 compilation package with the Intel 32-bit, real-time kernel iRMK and has announced plans to introduce an Ada-960 cross-compiler.
The Ada-386 cross compilation package runs under VAX/VMS and features a set of language tools, which a designer uses to go from code development to optimizing, downloading, and debugging.
The package enables designers to generate 32-bit 386 microprocessor code supported by an 80387 numerics coprocessor. The "pragma interface" permits calls to high-level languages, including Intel's ASM-386, PL/M-386, and C-386. Optional download and debug paths are available via either a ROM-resident debug monitor or by using Intel's ICE-386 for transparent, real-time emulation.
Intel anticipates similar capabilities in the future for designers using the new Ada-960 development tools. The validated Ada-960 cross-compiler will be available in the first half of this year.
The Ada-386 cross compilation package is available now. Pricing is dependent upon the class of VAX host: The price for MicroVAX version is $36,000. The price for the Ada-386 cross compilation package includes Intel's 90-day support offering plus 12 months of maintenance. Reader Service No. 29. Intel Corp. 3065 Bowers Ave. Santa Clara, CA 95052-8065 503-696-2233 800-548-4725
Texas Instruments and Tartan Laboratories have announced an agreement to jointly develop an Ada compiler for a digital signal processor (DSP) chip. Target processor for the compiler is TI's SMJ320C30, a third-generation DSP being developed for military applications requiring advanced signal processing capabilities, such as radar, sonar, image processing, missile guidance and tracking, and communications. The companies will work together to define the capabilities of the compiler. Completion of the compiler is expected late this year.
The compiler, to be hosted on a DEC-VAX/VMS system, will implement Ada as defined in ANSI/MIL-STD-1815A-1983 and will target the SMJ320C30 instruction set architecture.
Still in development, the 32-bit SMJ320C30 is a third-generation device in TI's family of DSP chips for military applications. The SMJ320C30, built in CMOS technology, executes single-cycle instructions in 60 nanoseconds and can perform more than 33 million floating-point operations per second (MFLOPs). The chip can perform complex algorithms in real time. Reader Service No. 30. Texas Instruments Inc. Semiconductor Group (SC-871) P.O. Box 809066 Dallas, TX 75380-9077 800-232-3200, ext. 700
Digitalk Inc. began shipping Smalltalk/V Mac, the Macintosh version of its object-oriented programming system for PCs. This product consists of a development language and an interactive development environment. Small pieces of Smalltalk code can be created, highlighted with the mouse, and then immediately tested.
Applications developed in Smalltalk/V or Smalltalk/V 286 (for PCs and compatibles) can be ported to Smalltalk/V Mac, and the application "senses" the environment. The resulting application, without being modified, will display standard Macintosh windows, as well as standard zoom, close, and grow boxes.
Smalltalk/V Mac provides access to the Macintosh toolbox and MultiFinder compatibility, including background processing. It also provides multi-processing within Smalltalk/V Mac applications, such as background sorting. The environment includes a pushbutton debugger. Smalltalk/V, including a tutorial/user guide and example files, sells for $199.95. Reader Service No. 31. Digitalk Inc. 9841 Airport Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 213-645-1082
SofTools Inc. has released CASE:W, a computer-aided software engineering tool that generates the windows portion of applications. It includes a programming environment to generate pretested window code.
The package features a front-end prototyper that provides a way to describe the application program's windows and controls. Using an inference engine, CASE:W then evaluates the prototype specification, applies the stored programming knowledge, and generates the window-based application.
CASE:W produces commented code and the operating controls for windows applications; it also supports windows controls, such as menu bars, pop-up menus, and dialogue boxes. CASE:W generates only C code, but programmers may use application routines in languages that can receive a C language call (such as assembler, Pascal, Fortran, Basic) using Microsoft's mixed language conventions.
The product also interfaces with a variety of text editors and has a facility that regenerates programmer-added codes into future versions of a program. Additionally, the CASE:W programming environment encompasses the Microsoft Software Development Kit components (icon editor, font editor, and dialogue editor) and 12 other configurable tools, such as a debugger, Spy, Heapwalker, and Shaker.
CASE:W can be used on a 286-based machine or a 386 with at least 2 Mbytes of main memory. The package also requires the Microsoft Software Development Kit, the C Compiler, make utility and linker, and a DOS-or Windows compatible text editor. The company recommends the use of Microsoft's Code-View debugger. CASE:W sells for $1,495. Reader Service No. 32. SofTools Inc. 1 Dunwoody Park, Ste. 130 Atlanta, GA 30338 404-399-6236
Copyright © 1989, Dr. Dobb's Journal