OF INTEREST

The Gamelon file-access library from Menai is designed to enable programmers to store program data as objects. The tool lets you create multidimensional file structures, enabling object-based and cross-platform file access. It does so by providing object nesting, "logical navigation" via logical object navigation rather than file-pointer and offset manipulation, and "auto-object tracking," which makes it possible to automatically track the location of data regardless of changes in the structure of a file.

Data objects created with the Gamelon library hold a single data value. Aggregate objects then associate a number of data objects. These aggregate objects can then be acted on as a single unit. Aggregate objects can also be placed within other aggregate objects, allowing you to create and connect nested objects.

In addition to the library and API, Gamelon includes a browser, a compiler module that creates a Gamelon file from a text specification, a decompiler module that creates a text spec from a Gamelon file, and a journal-recovery application that rebuilds a Gamelon file from its journal.

The first release of Gamelon is for OS/2 ($495.00) and Windows ($395.00). Releases for UNIX, Macintosh, and NT will follow. Reader service no. 20.

Menai Corporation

1010 El Camino Real, Suite 370

Menlo Park, CA 94025-4335

The WinRT Toolkit from BlueWater Systems is a software-development kit for building Win32 real-time applications for Windows NT. The SDK allows you to write programs to directly access port I/O, memory I/O, and interrupts without having to deal with Microsoft's Windows NT Device Driver Kit (the NT DDK). With the WinRT kit, you only need to deal with three API calls to write device drivers, instead of coping with the 250+ calls required by the DDK.

WinRT includes templates for developing real-time threads and connecting them to Visual Basic, Visual C++, and other programming languages. It also includes the WinRT Device Driver with royalty-free run time, the WinRT preprocessor, DOS simulator, the NT Registry editor, and samples. It sells for $595.00 and includes six months of technical support. Reader service no. 21.

BlueWater Systems

144 Railroad Ave., Suite 207

Edmonds, WA 98020

DataFocus has introduced NuTCRACKER, a family of tools for developers who want to port UNIX applications to Win32/Windows NT. NuTCRACKER enables developers to recompile UNIX source code and link it to NuTCRACKER's DLLs, resulting in native Win32 applications. NuTCRACKER, which includes a collection of UNIX calls based on SVR4 and POSIX, supports both C and C++. After the application has been ported, end users can run their UNIX applications in the Windows environment without having to learn complex UNIX commands.

The NuTCRACKER family supports Solaris, HP-UX, AIX, SVR4, Ultrix, XPG4/POSIX, and other source platforms. It includes the NuTCRACKER SDK, which in turn, includes the NuTCRACKER API, based on UNIX SVR4 and POSIX, the MKS Toolkit, and utilities such as KornShell, make, vi, awk, and over 100 more. Also included are the NuTCRACKER X/Operating Environment, an X server that combined with the NuT-CRACKER DLLs, runs X Window apps; and NuTCRACKER X/SDK, which combines the SDK and X/OE products with libraries for porting X/Motif applications. The NuTCRACKER SDK sells for $995.00, including demo programs and online documentation. Reader service no. 22.

12450 Fair Lakes Circle

Fairfax, VA 22303-3831

The PARTS visual development environment from Digitalk integrates three existing Digitalk tools: Smalltalk/V, the PARTS Workbench, and Team/V. Smalltalk/V is Digitalk's implementation of the Smalltalk programming language, and the PARTS Workbench is a framework for integrating objects (created with Smalltalk, C++, Cobol, or other languages) with SQL databases or other apps. Team/V is a version-control and work-group configuration-management system. PARTS, short for "Parts Assembly and Reuse Tool Set," is an object-oriented technology for rapidly creating graphic client/server applications. The PARTS environment allows programmers to move between visual programming and lower-level component building with changes managed by Team/V. The PARTS package sells for $5000.00. Reader service no. 23.

5 Hutton Center Drive, 11th Floor

Santa Ana, CA 92707

Version 3 of the Network C Library for NetWare from ASCI is a collection of almost 400 functions for writing NetWare-based programs and applications. The Network C Library gives programs access to NetWare accounting services, bindery management, connection services, console services, directory and file management, file-server stats, locking services, message and IPX services, and the like. The functions support NetWare 2.x/3.x/4.x. Version 3 includes DLLs for writing Windows applications.

Included with the library are over 100 sample programs, various utilities, peer-to-peer chat programs, and documentation. The Network C Library, which supports Microsoft C/C++, QuickC, Visual C++, and Borland C/C++, sells for $395.00. Source code is available for an additional $275.00. Reader service no. 24.

1150 Forest Run Drive

Batavia, OH 45103

QA C, designed for software development and quality-assurance organizations, has been released by ASTA. QA C analyzes source code and checks for over 800 different types of potential problems, including deviation from ANSI or company-specific programming standards, use of nonportable coding practices, and incompatibilities with C++. QA C then produces a variety of reports that describe and rank the problems, highlighting the function and line in which the problem was detected. In particular, QA C lets you check for ISO 9001 compliance, calculating and reporting on more than 40 different metrics.

QA C is available for most UNIX implementations, including IBM, Sun, HP, and DEC, as well as 386/486/Pentium-based PCs running SCO UNIX. The tool sells for $9200.00. Reader service no. 25.

1 Chestnut Street

Nashua, NH 03060

FrontRunner from Phar Lap Software is a Windows desktop that adds Windows features to your DOS shell and an enhanced DOS box to Windows. FrontRunner includes an intuitive, DOS work environment integrated into a Windows shell so that you can run Windows programs directly from the DOS prompt, scroll and view your entire DOS screen history, and copy/paste/print any part of your DOS session.

The environment also provides an alternative to Program Manager that lets you run programs from a customizable Launch bar or convenient Run menu. Additional features are a powerful, programmable real-time Status Bar, new GUI Visual Batch Language Extensions for DOS, and other utilities. The Visual Batch Language Extensions for DOS let users create visual front ends for DOS batch files. FrontRunner sells for $139.00. Reader service no. 26.

Phar Lap Software

60 Aberdeen Ave.

Cambridge, MA 02138

NetManage, a vendor of TCP/IP for Windows tools, has announced the ONC RPC SDK for creating RPC client/server applications on Windows NT. The SDK is based on the ONC (Open Network Computing) RPC/XDR (Remote Procedure Call/External Data Representation) industry standard.

The NetManage ONC RPC SDK provides an RPCGEN protocol compiler, sample code, and client and server support for NT. Applications developed with the RPC SDK are compatible with the RPC DLL in NetManage's Chameleon32NFS, an NFS client/server package for Windows NT.

The NetManage RPC DLL supports the Winsock interface so it can run on the Microsoft TCP/IP stack that comes as a standard component of NT. Sample applications are included in the package.

Chameleon32NFS is a suite of TCP/IP applications including Telnet terminal emulation (VT100, VT220, TN3270) FTP, NewsReader, TFTP, Ping, Bind, Finger, and WhoIs. NFS client/server functionality allows for file sharing and transferring of data between Windows desktops and other network devices.

The ONC RPC/XDR development kit is priced at $500.00. Reader service no. 27.

10725 North De Anza Blvd.

Cupertino, CA 95014

Targeting its Indigo Magic user environment, Silicon Graphics has announced the IRIS ViewKit, a C++ class library that provides an application framework for program development. The framework is used in conjunction with C++ and the OSF/Motif UI toolkit. The ViewKit class library, bundled with SGI's C++ compiler, sells for $1195.00. Reader service no. 28.

Silicon Graphics

2011 N. Shoreline Blvd.

Mountain View, CA 94043

A hypertext development kit called HDK has been released by DEK Software. HDK is designed to work in conjunction with Word for Windows to create hypertext documents for Windows applications. It enhances the WinHelp display engine by making it easier for users to locate information in very large documents. This is accomplished by graphically representing chapters and subchapters, granting users point-and-click access to information. Additionally, you can add pop-up glossaries, animations, audio and graphical buttons, and the like. The royalty-free tool sells for $345.00. Reader service no. 29.

DEK Software International

1843 The Woods II

Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

ThesDB, a thesaurus database with over 100,000 synonyms and antonyms for over 20,000 words, has been released by Wintertree Software. Developers can incorporate the database and run-time kernel into applications royalty free. ThesDB is avail-able in source or binary and with an SDK.

The Source package, which sells for $585.00, includes ANSI C source code, the ThesDB software, the SDK in source form, source code for a sample app, and documentation. The Binary package, selling for $299.00, is designed to be incorporated into MS-DOS or Windows apps. It includes the ThesDB in binary (compressed) form, a DOS object library and Windows DLL (interface for C/C++ and Visual Basic are provided), a reference for the ThesDB API in Windows Help format, and sample apps in C, C++, and Visual Basic. (Since the API uses only simple data types, it is suitable for macro and scripting languages that support DLL access under Windows.) Finally, the Thesaurus Construction Kit SDK, which sells for $299.00, supplements the Binary package, enabling you to modify, enhance, or replace the thesaurus database. The SDK includes the database in source form and a DOS utility for compiling the thesaurus database.

Wintertree also offers a 100,000-word spell checker in similar packages. Reader service no. 30.

Wintertree Software Inc.

Virtuoso Nano, a microkernel for DSP systems, has been released by Intelligent Systems International. The core nanokernel of the single-processor (SP) implementation of Virtuoso Nano uses less than 200 instructions and provides for sub-microsecond context switching, true multitasking, time events, and interprocess communication via semaphore-based, stack-based, linked-list-based, or FIFO-list-based channels. The multiprocessor extensions (MP) add about 300 more instructions, while the virtual single-processor (VSP) implementation provides what amounts to parallel processing in the system. The VSP does this by implementing the communication as part of the kernel services. The VSP uses less than 1000 instructions.

Virtuoso Nano is available for the Texas Instruments 32040 and Motorola 96002 processors. Ports to Analog Devices' 21020 and 21060 are underway. Development-kit prices start at $2000.00. Reader service no. 31.

Intelligent Systems International

+32-16-62-15-85

Bronson, a binary file editor for UNIX, has been released by Cactus International. The tool allows you to view and display any binary file or hard-disk partition, then edit it in either ASCII or hexadecimal mode. Changes are highlighted for easy reference. Additionally, there is a browse-only mode, and the program can be run either from the command line or via menus. Bronson, available for SCO, SVR4, and AIX 3.2, sells for $289.00. Reader service no. 32.

Cactus International Software

13987 W. Annapolis Ct.

Mt. Airy, MD 21771

The CD-R Personal Archiver from Marcan is a recorder which makes it possible for you to record and store information on CD-ROM. According to Marcan, the CD-ROM recorder (CD-R) is the only currently available system that lets you record and play back increments of data before finalizing the CD-ROM. As each session is recorded, it is labeled. When all sessions are ready to be burned into the CD-ROM, the Personal Archiver creates a table of contents. This process addresses the current lack of ISO multisession standards for CD-ROMs. The recorded data can be read by any standard CD-ROM drive.

The Personal Archiver supports track-at-once (that is, regular CD-ROMs), incremental, and multisession recording and conforms to Hi-Sierra and ISO 9660 format standards. A half-height internal 5.25-inch CD-R sells for $4100.00 and includes recording software and SCSI adapter. External versions are also available. Versions of Personal Archiver are available for Windows, DOS, Macintosh, and UNIX. Reader service no. 33.

1020 108th Avenue NE, Suite 209

Bellevue, WA 98004

Copyright © 1994, Dr. Dobb's Journal