A specification describing a general approach to object-oriented software design has been published by Interactive Development Environments Inc. The specification, called Object-Oriented Structured Design (OOSD), is a non-proprietary notation for design of software systems that is language-independent (supporting languages such as C++, Eiffel, Smalltalk, Fortran, C, and Pascal) and synthesizes traditional top-down design with modern concepts for object-oriented design into a comprehensive approach to modeling software architecture. In addition to providing improved support for the pivotal architectural design step of the software development process, OOSD supports automated generation of code for multiple programming languages, provides partitioning of a system into a coherent software architecture, facilitates reuse of design elements, and provides a clear notation for communication among designers and reviewers. The key building blocks in OOSD are modules, lasses, and monitors. Reader Service No. 20.
Interactive Development Environments, Inc. 595 Market St., 12th Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 415-543-0900
Hamilton C shell, recently released by Hamilton Laboratories is an interactive language for OS/2. The company says that its key benefit is that it allows you to describe what you want the machine to do much more quickly and easily, even if what you want is fairly complex. Some of its features include: Fully nestable programming constructs for iteration and condition-testing; variables, arrays, and a wide range of expression operators and built-in functions; a powerful history mechanism for recalling and editing past commands; language constructs for I/O redirection, piping, background execution, and parallel threading; and more. Hamilton C shell complies with the Berkeley 4.3 Unix Programmer's Manual. C shell requires 286- or 386-based AT or PS/2 or compatible with a minimum of 2 Mbyte of RAM and a 2-Mbyte hard disk. All executables will run properly inside a Presentation Manager window. The cost is $350. Reader Service No. 22.
Hamilton Laboratories 13 Old Farm Road Wayland, MA 01778 508-358-5715
VM-DEBUG (The Virtual Machine Debugger), a debugging tool for PCs, XTs, and ATs, has been released by Wendin Inc. VM-DEBUG is an interpreter whose language is 8088 machine code extended with the real-mode instructions of an 80286. It can stop the execution of a program at any point, examine or alter memory or registers, examine the program, and determine where the program has been. Unlike normal debuggers, these functions are accomplished by a program outside the addressing space of the program or system under test, so that VM-DEBUG can never be altered or destroyed by an errant program. VM-DEBUG also has the ability to trace DOS itself or the ROMs, and set breakpoints within ROM. It retails for $99. Reader Service No. 23.
Wendin, Inc. P.O. Box 3888 Spokane, WA 99220-3888 509-624-8088
A new book that describes how assembler macros are used with the 80386 will be released next month by Tab Professional and Reference Books. The book, entitled 80386 Macro Assembler With Toolkit and written by Penn Brumm and Don Brumm, discusses the Microsoft Macro Assembler (MASM) operands and operators, program structure and file control directives, global, conditional, and macro directives, and interfacing MASM with high-level languages. The 608-page book retails for $25.95. Reader Service No. 28.
Tab Professional and Reference Books Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17294-0850 800-822-8138
Lattice C 6.0, for DOS and OS/2, is now available from Lattice Inc. The system uses global optimizing technology (see "Optimization Technology" by Keith Rowe, DDJ, June, 1989 for details on this technology) and includes a source-level, native, and cross debugger and an integrated screen editor. The compiler also supports automatic register variable and registerized parameter support, built-in function support, and support for precompiled header files.
The system includes more than 800 prewritten functions, multithreaded libraries, DLL support, and also comes with special graphics, database, communications, and screen management libraries.
Lattice C 6.0 runs on IBM PC/XT/AT and compatibles and requires DOS 2.1 or OS/2 1.0 or later. The price for version 6.0 is $250, although owners of version 3.4 can upgrade for $75. Owners of all other versions can upgrade for $115. Reader Service No. 32.
Lattice, Inc. 2500 S Highland Ave. Lombard, IL 60148 312-916-1600
The new hardware-assisted model of the Periscope debugger is now available from the Periscope Company. Periscope Model IV runs on 80286 and 80386 systems with CPU speeds up to 25MHz and zero wait states. It works on any PC-compatible with a standard AT-style bus. Periscope IV is designed to help software developers achieve optimum performance from their own software, and can monitor program execution in real-time. It can track down memory overwrites because it does not slow down program execution as software-based debuggers do. The Periscope software provides source-level and symbolic support for Borland, IBM, Lattice, Manx, Microsoft, and other languages. Prices range from $2195 to $2995. Reader Service No. 26.
The Periscope Company 1197 Peachtree St. Plaza Level Atlanta, GA 30361 404-875-8080
Microsoft Corporation has released a number of programming tools for the OS/2 Presentation Manager that complement its OS/2 language compiler family. At the centerpiece is the Microsoft OS/2 Presentation Manager Toolkit, a complete "one box" answer to Presentation Manager developer's needs, and it includes a collection of graphical tools, books, Quickhelp documentation, sample code, and electronic support. These components are available individually or in various combinations. Upgrade pricing available. Minimum system requirements are an 80286 or 80386 processor running OS/2 1.1; 2.5 Mbytes of user memory; a high-density 5.25-inch, or a 3.5-inch drive; and a hard disk. The toolkit supports EGA and VGA graphics adapters and is compatible with any Microsoft OS/2 language compiler. The complete Presentation Manager Toolkit is $500. Upgrade pricing is $200 for registered owners of the OS/2 Programmer's Toolkit. Reader Service No. 24.
Microsoft Corporation 16011 NE 36th Way Box 97017 Redmond, WA 98073-9717 206-882-8080
Microsoft Corporation has updated its Fortran compiler with the recent release of the MS Fortran Optimizing Compiler, Version 5.0, which supports DOS and OS/2 1.1 with Presentation Manager. The company claims that Fortran 5.0 offers the broadest VAX and IBM VS Fortran compiler syntax available on a PC, supporting virtually all VAX Fortran syntax other than VAX operating system calls. Fortran 5.0 comes with a graphics library, the CodeView source-level debugger, the MS Editor, LINK, NMake, LIB, and OS/2 support and extended syntax. Minimum system requirements are a PC with 320K of available user memory and DOS 3.0 or OS/2 1.1. The suggested retail price for Fortran 5.0 is $450, although registered owners of MS Fortran 4.1 who bought the compiler after April 1, 1989, can upgrade for free. Other 4.1 registered owners can upgrade for $100, 4.0 owners for $150, and $250 for owners of earlier versions. Reader Service No. 27.
Microsoft Corporation 16011 NE 36th Way Box 97017 Redmond, WA 98073-9717 206-882-8080
A protocol specification called the Virtual Control Program Interface (VCPI), which is designed to prevent conflicts between 386 software from different companies, has been sanctioned by a number of different hardware and software companies. Originally sponsored by Phar Lap Software Inc., VCPI addresses technical issues between control programs and DOS extenders that arise due to the nature of the 386. These conflicts include CPU mode switching, hardware interrupt processing, and the sharing of extended memory. Left unresolved, these conflicts force the user to turn off control programs in order to run an extended application. The agreement of a programming standard allows the new categories of software brought on by 386 PCs to play together. In addition to Phar Lap, other sponsors of the VCPI specification are Quarterdeck, Auadram, Lotus, A.I. Architects, Qualitas, and Rational Systems. The new VCPI specification will be available on June 1, 1989, at no cost through Phar Lap Software. Reader Service No. 29.
Phar Lap Software, Inc. 60 Aberdeen Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 617-661-151O
Clear Software Inc. has recently introduced Clear+ for C, a product that helps developers understand C code. It is designed to instantly produce high-quality system documentation and to clarify the logic of C programs and applications. According to Sandy Rudy, who designed the language portions of the program, "Clear+ acts like a compiler but the output doesn't run, it shows [on the screen]." Clear President Yadim Yasinovsky went on to tell DDJ that "Clear+ is ideal in an environment when you inherit someone else's code."
Clear reads the source code of any C application and instantly produces the system tree chart, function flow charts, formatted source listings, function cross references, and prototype files. As flow charts and tree charts are output to a printer, screen, or a file, the program automatically calculates the spacing, number of pages (or screens) required, and the placement of symbols for the flow chart. And diagrams look exactly the same on screen as they do in print. Clear also features powerful hardcopy controls, various graphics options, and options to directly invoke a text editor or compiler of the user's choice. Clear can analyze C source code as is or after it has been preprocessed with either an external or internal preprocessor.
Clear has been designed for use with any IBM PC/XT/AT or compatible and supports Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA, most dot-matrix printers, and HP LaserJet+ printer. Minimum RAM requirement is 512K. Clear currently supports Microsoft C, QuickC, Turbo C, and any generic C compiler. Clear+ for C retails for $199.95 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling. Clear+ for dBase is also available for the same price. A combination package (Clear+ for C and Clear+ for dBase) is sold for $310.00 plus $10.00 for shipping and handling. Reader Service No. 31.
Clear Software, Inc. 637 Washington St., Ste. 105 Brookline, MA 02146 617-232-4720
The QuickC family has grown with Microsoft Corporation's introduction of the QuickC Compiler with QuickAssembler 2.01. This package is an integrated C-and-assembler environment which includes an integrated editor, compiler, and debugger. The C portion of the compiler has not changed from QuickC 2.0. The assembler portion consists of a macro-assembler add-in module built around MASM 5.1, which features single-pass assembly technology.
Additionally, the package provides incremental compiling/linking and recompiles/reassembles and relinks only modules that have been changed since the previous compilation. The debugger can be used to debug both assembler and mixed-language programs. The package is supported by an on-line reference system in addition to books and manuals.
System requirements are MS-DOS 2.1 or higher and 512K of RAM; a mouse is optional. The QuickC compiler and QuickAssembler package sells for $199 although registered QuickC Compiler 2.0 owners can buy the assembler addin module directly from Microsoft for $75. Reader Service No. 33.
Microsoft Corp 16011 NE 36th Way Box 97017 Redmond, WA 98073-9717 206-882-8080
A page makeup system that supports C compilers is now available through Quality Software. The system, called FutureComp Laserline, is a MS-DOS version of the company's FutureComp Page Makeup Environment which is primarily designed to produce custom page makeup programs for directories, catalogues, parts lists, technical manuals, and similar applications.
The Laserline version of FutureComp can output to most printers and typesetters that support PCL or PostScript. (The Proline version of the system supports high-resolution typesetters like those from Mergenthaler and Autologic.)
In addition to font handling and hyphenation dictionary utilities, FutureComp provides C functions for composing blocks of text, placing illustrations and tables, and for positioning these blocks anyway on a page. Users can also construct logical fonts for special applications.
The system supports any compiler that can call ANSI C functions, and applications programs created with FutureComp can be recompiled on any computer system that supports C. The system runs on any IBM PC/XT/AT using DOS 2.0 or higher; Microsoft C 5.1 is also required. FutureComp sells for $695 and includes PostScript and HP PCL translators. Reader Service No. 34.
Quality Software 60 Lewis St. Newton, MA 02158 617-965-2231
As C portability tools become increasingly important, new ones continue to pop up, the most recent being Abraxas Software's CodeCheck. What this package does is analyze C source code in terms of its portability between PC-DOS, OS/2, Macintosh, Unix, and VMS. "In essence, CodeCheck is an expert system that looks at the code and tells if it is portable or not," Abraxas president Patrick Conley told DDJ. During set-up, the system loads a set of rules for a particular platform (DOS, 0S/2, Mac, and so on), then checks the code against those rules. It then identifies any code that is not portable to or from any environment, including C++ and ANSI C. It also quantifies code maintainability with user-defined measures at all levels and identifies unacceptable style or usage.
CodeCheck supports all C compilers from major vendors and requires 512K of memory. It sells for $295 and Conley said it would be shipping in mid-August. Reader Service No. 35.
Abraxas Software, Inc. 7033 SW Macadam Ave. Portland, OR 7219 503-244-5253
HCR Corporation has introduced the packaged version of an advanced Unix C++ compiler based on C++, Release 2.0, from AT&T. HCR/C++ provides all of the key features of C++, such as type safe linkages, default membership initialization, and the ability of each class to define its own operators. It will run on most 386-based systems. HCR's dbXtra, based on dbx Version 3 from Berkeley 4.3 BSD Unix, adds the ability to operate through windows, permitting users to review their output and source code easily, even on standard terminals. HCR/C++ allows direct debugging of C++ and window access to the translated C source code. All C++ code is translated into C before execution so programmers can apply dbXtra to examine either C or C++ code during debugging.
Initial copies will be available at an introductory price of $499 (50 percent off the list price of $995). HCR's standard support and upgrade options are available; each user of HCR/C++, Version 1, also will have the option to upgrade to Version 2 for a delivered price of $99. Reader Service No. 36.
HCR Corporation 130 Bloor Street West Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1N5 416-922-1937
Quibus Enterprises has updated its Fortran Development Tools package, which is designed to help Fortran programmers maintain their code. Release 2 of the package automatically deals with poorly formatted or heavily modified code using a pretty printer that indents, renumbers, and generally cleans up the code. The program also converts GOTOs to structured IF-THEN-ELSE blocks.
A preprocessor for supporting conditional compilation and code sharing is included, along with a utility to extract subroutines from source files. All tools accept Fortran 77 plus extensions from VMS, Lahey, Microsoft Fortran. The tools run on IBM PC/XT/AT compatibles with 512K of memory and sell for $129. Reader Service No. 37.
Quibus Enterprises, Inc. 106 N. Draper Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 217-356-8876
Copyright © 1989, Dr. Dobb's Journal