Volume Number: 14 (1998)
Issue Number: 9
Column Tag: Newsbits

September 1998 Newsbits

by Jessica Courtney, managing_ed@mactech.com

The PandaWave has announced the release of the YAAF Application Framework, a freeware C++ framework for developing cross-platform applications.

What is YAAF?

YAAF stands for "Yet Another Application Framework." It is a C++ YAAF is designed to allow the easy development of cross-platform applications for the Macintosh OS, Windows 95/98 and Windows NT, and X Windows. Written in C++, YAAF provides a basic core framework for working with windows, views, menus, and controls in a portable fashion.

YAAF is copyright ©1998 by William Woody and The PandaWave, all rights reserved. YAAF is released under the GPL Library License, meaning that you may build applications using YAAF and resell them even for commercial purposes. You may also modify and distribute the YAAF libraries, but only as free software--while you may resell the YAAF libraries, you must do so under the GNU LGPL. For more information, please see the GPL Library License.

YAAF is currently used by The PandaWave as the basis for all of our application development. From BugLink to World Calendar and xt, we are using YAAF as our core technology for quickly developing cross-platform applications. By "eating our own lunch", so to speak, we hope to continue development on YAAF and continue providing the YAAF libraries for free to the developer community.

YAAF is available for download from the Info-Mac archives and from the PandaWave's home page. The YAAF distribution file also contains YAAF Constructor, an application used for laying out windows and dialog boxes, and xt, a simple text editor. Complete sources for YAAF, YAAF Constructor, xt and all utilities for Macintosh, Microsoft Windows and X (compiled under Redhat for Intel) are all provided.

http://www.pandawave.com/yaaf/

Bear River Associates announced today that it is available for handling outsourcing arrangements with software publishers and other companies who need their Macintosh applications maintained but no longer want to maintain the staff to do that internally. These services will enable software publishers and other organizations to entrust their Macintosh development needs to the oldest Macintosh development company around. Bear River has been developing Macintosh software since 1985, making it the oldest Macintosh development company in existence.

Bear River has completed more than two hundred projects developing Macintosh, Windows and Internet software development projects for clients such as Apple Computer, Microsoft, IBM, America Online, Ernst & Young, LiveWorld Productions and Inclusion. Bear River Associates offers desktop development services in addition to Internet development services.

http://www.bearriver.com

GenieWorks has announced a promotional price for SpotCheck 1.1.1. Finally, there is a java editor with a REAL difference and its only US$20 for a limited time. This is not just about color-coded syntax and code indentation... this is much more.

SpotCheck is designed to help a Java programmer produce correct code without relying on confusing and untimely feedback from a compiler.

Specifically, SpotCheck identifies syntax errors and semantic errors (undefined names, type mismatches, etc.) - those errors normally returned by a compiler. This analysis is performed after each edit, giving the programmer immediate feedback on errors. Now, you only need to compile to produce executable code.

SpotCheck provides a host of additional features, including:

• Smart links to name declarations
• Cross-referenced Java APIs
• Editing with popup menus
• Interfaces to helper apps to compile & run
• Hierarchical project browsing
• Full support for the Java1.1.x language and APIs
• Single command, project imports

Foresight Technology, Inc. announced that it is now distributing Internet ToolKit (ITK) v2.0 for Windows or Macintosh. Published by JCA S.A. of France, ITK is an inexpensive, yet extremely powerful external for 4th Dimension (4D). This is ITK's first major release since 1996 and brings many new features and improvements.

Internet ToolKit for 4D is the best-selling TCP/IP connectivity product for 4D. It allows any developer to send or answer requests using TCP, UDP or even ICMP; thus allowing the development of any type of industry strength Internet or intranet servers or clients within 4D V3 or V6 on Windows or Macintosh. ITK for 4D ships with many examples and demos handling the most common protocols (web, email, FTP, etc.).

http://www.a4softec.com
http://www.foresight.com

Quadrivio Corporation announced General Edit 1.0.2, an update to the file utility designed to help Mac OS programmers view or edit data files with complex binary formats. The new version handles recursive formats such as QuickTime. A free updater for registered users and the $195 on-line version are available from Quadrivio's web site.

General Edit, introduced in January, has become a valued addition to the toolbox of Mac OS developers. Users report saving days of debugging effort through the utility's ability to display simply, clearly, and interactively the contents of complicated data structures.

The tool is a powerful alternative to simple hex or ASCII file editors. The user types familiar, C-like statements to specify the file format. The format is checked and compiled interactively and the tool immediately displays the file's contents in one or more formats. The file's format specification can be saved separately and re-used. The new version ships with example definitions for portions of the PICT, TIFF, and QuickTime file formats.

http://www.quadrivio.com

Tangent Systems of San Diego annouced that it has renamed its company to Tritera, a Software Development and Consulting company based in San Diego, California. It was originally formed in August 1993 as a general partnership. Tritera provides customized software development for Macintosh, Windows, Unix, and embedded systems using C, C++, CPX, and Java programming languages. The company has provided custom software development services for several Fortune 500 companies on a range of projects.

Tritera is the developer of BuildSim, an Integrated Development Environment for Simulation and Control System Development. Developers will enjoy the how easily systems can be modelled, simulated and tested. BuildSim was developed with students, engineers and scientists in mind. Its easy -to-use interface masks a sophisticated set of tools for simulation and data analysis. Complex dynamic models and control systems can simulated and data collected and plotted. BuildSim has been designed to make "tinkering" in the modelling/simulation world easy. On top of that, several productivity tools have been carefully designed to make it a truly unique and powerful application for developing and deploying simulations and process control systems.

BuildSim 2.0 Bronze Edition is Free, Downloadable from the Tritera website. BuildSim is delivered via internet as a Bronze Edition and can be upgraded to increasingly more powerful editions (Silver, Gold and Platinum) via password. BuildSim has many application areas including Education, Robotics, Electronics, Physics, Engineering Design, Process Control, and Simulation. Scientists, Engineers, and Engineering Students will find BuildSim powerful yet easy to use. Each edition of BuildSim provides more capabilities, functions and tools for system modelling, simulation and deployment. The Bronze Edition is free while the Silver, Gold and Platinum editions will have competitive price break points.

http://www.tritera.com

Santa Barbara, CA, July 27, 1998. Tenon Intersystems is shipping an update to its Unix for Power Macs. Power MachTen 4.1.1 is a POSIX-compliant, BSD 4.4 Unix, with a Mach kernel foundation, that operates in concert with the Macintosh Operating System. The new Power MachTen 4.1.1 release includes updated software development tools, enhanced performance and security, and a dramatic price reduction.

Power MachTen 4.1.1 includes a native fast file system, an enhanced suite of Unix software development tools based on the latest GNU gcc 2.8.1, including a validated Ada compiler, C, Objective-C, C++, Fortran and Java (kaffe), and a high-performance X11R6 display and development environment with an OpenGL option. MachTen is a multiuser system with remote login capabilities that supports SUN's Network Information Service (NIS+), includes standard Unix filesharing (NFS), a full complement of Unix networking services (Apache web service, DNS bind, FTP service, mail and POP mail), a suite of popular scripting tools (Perl, tcl/tk, MacPerl), popular editors (vi, emacs, BBEdit Lite, Alpha), and hundreds of standard Unix applications and utilities, including secure shell.

MachTen is a powerful Unix development platform that is being used by third party vendors to bring new solutions to the Macintosh. By licensing Tenon's Unix libraries, developers have been able to bring sophisticated Unix software to Mac OS, even in advance of Rhapsody or Mac OS X. MachTen is being used by web developers to create Apache modules for Tenon's top-performing Mac OS web server, WebTen.

Power MachTen can be purchased either directly from Tenon or as part of a G3 Unix Workstation bundle from FGM, SciTech International, and others. The software is US$495 for corporations or individuals. The academic price is $250. The OpenGL option is $199; academic, $149. Quantity discounts are available.

http://www.tenon.com/products/machten