NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/lou/sun/333

Text File | 1992-12-30 | 30.4 KB | 824 lines

Newsgroups: lou.sun
Path: sparky!uunet!paladin.american.edu!darwin.sura.net!tulane!daemon
From: [e-mail] ()
    id AA10957; Wed, 30 Dec 92 07: 37:36 PST
Subject: 48.12 SunFlash: Object Oriented Software Providers
Original-Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-27298]: rex
Precedence: junk
Sender: [e-mail]
Reply-To: <[e-mail]>
Organization: Computer Science Dept., Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA
Errors-To: <[e-mail]>
Distribution: lou
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 16:36:35 GMT
Return-Path: <[e-mail]>
Approved: tulane
Content-Length: 30392
Lines: 803

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        The Florida SunFlash

                    Object Oriented Software Providers

SunFLASH Vol 48 #12                           December 1992
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This article is based upon an internal Sun email which was a reply to
the question "What third party Object Oriented Software Providers have
applications which run on Sun ?" I am sure that this list is not
complete, but it should be a useful starting point for developers who
are interested in "Objects".
Sun offices should now have copies of a new Catalyst portfolio of
Third-Party Object oriented solutions vendors. A SunFlash article in
the near future will describe that portfolio in more detail.

-johnj

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        ISSI
ADDRESS:             9430 Research Boulevard
                     Echelon IV, Suite 250
            Austin, Texas

TELEPHONE:        [phone]
FAX:            [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    SILK

SALES OFFICE(S):     Austin, Texas        [phone]

CONTACTS:
    SALES        Don Warner            [phone]
    MARKETING    Don Warner            [phone]
    TECHNICAL    Aral Ege            [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:

    SILK is a graphical user interface builder that provides appli-
cation prototyping and complete source code generation. Using SILK's Binder
utility, a user can interactively load, bind and execute existing
application procedures. This simplifies not only the process of
creating new GUI applications, but also the process of reengineering
existing applications for a graphical user interface.

    SILK saves graphical interfaces in a textual format that is
compatible with Sun's DevGuide GIL format, but also retains the
application semantics. This eases the maintenance of applications generated
by SILK because when such an application is reloaded into SILK, all the
application procedures are reloaded as well. After making changes, the
application can then be re-generated without having to manually add the
procedures again.

    SILK's Intra Widget utility facilitates the graphical definition
of widget interactions, such as palling values and merging application
procedures with widget interactions. The Intra Widget utility employs a
point-and-click paradigm to capture the actions performed on a widget,
which can then be bound together and attached to a widget. This provides
an easy technique for story boarding a user interface.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:
   FEATURE:    Interactive Interface Construction
   FUNCTION:    Create/Edit/Destroy
   BENEFIT:    WYSIWYG Interface Specification

   FEATURE:     Binder Utility
   FUNCTION:     Compile/Load/Bind/Execute
   BENEFIT:    Application Prototyping

   FEATURE:     Intra Widget Utility
   FUNCTION:     Visual Programming
   BENEFIT:    Ease of Application Building

   FEATURE:     Textual Representation
   FUNCTION:     Save/Load
   BENEFIT:    Reuse/Ease of Maintenance

   FEATURE:     Alignment
   FUNCTION:      Move
   BENEFIT:    Fine tuning the widget placement

---------------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        Oberon Software Inc.
ADDRESS:        One Memorial Drive
            Cambridge, MA 02142

TELEPHONE:        [phone]
            [phone]
FAX:            [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    SynchroWorks

SALES OFFICE(S):
            Cambridge, MA        [phone]
                        [phone]

            Silicon Valley, CA    [phone]
                        [phone]

CONTACTS:

    SALES        Win Burke        [phone]
                        [phone]

    MARKETING    Ralph Specht        [phone]
                        [phone]

    TECHNICAL    Gene Smith        [phone]
                        [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:

SynchroWorks is an object-oriented 5GL specifically targeted at
persons building applications for ISVs, Systems Integrators, large
organizations, and work groups. Retaining 4GL features such as
MIS forms, menus, and reports, SynchroWorks adds two advances in
application development technology:

      - Object Technology creates a significant breakthrough in
    software development by providing substantial gains in
      programmer productivity and reduces resources consumed
        in the quality assurance cycle. Through reusability, once
        a software module is developed, it can be incorporated into
        many applications. By combining previously tested reusable
        modules, systems are developed more efficiently. In addition,
        work group development is improved since all developers
        can share the modules that are stored in a common Object
        Repository.

      - Using SynchroWorks Visual Programming Language and other
    specialized visual tools, application builders can develop
    applications in a highly interactive manner and actually see
    their programs executing on the computer screen. By using
    building blocks of software and "wiring" them together,
    development organizations can achieve incredible savings as
    they develop, test, and revise, simply by using the computer as
    an integral part of the development process.

A 5GL not only includes the traditional method of using visual tools to
develop user interfaces such as the NeXT, but also adds superior
(visual) data modeling facilities, as well as visual process modeling
through its Visual Programming Language. This allows complete systems
to be developed visually and does not require that developers write
code in Objective-C.

SynchroWorks facilitates the integration of existing applications as
well as third-party applications such as databases, spreadsheets, and
graphics software. This capability allows easy application expansion and
integration utilizing software commercially available software and
existing databases.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

   FEATURE:     Object Oriented Technology
   FUNCTION:    Ability to Reuse and Share Software Modules
   BENEFIT:      Speed of Development and Reduced Maintenance Costs

   FEATURE:     Visual Programming Environment
   FUNCTION:    Ability to Specify Complete Applications Visually
   BENEFIT:    Speed of Development - Does not require Objective-C coding

   FEATURE:     Simple Encapsulation Tools
   FUNCTION:    Ability to Incorporate Existing Programs into the SynchroWorks
                Environment
   BENEFIT:    Protect and Leverage Existing Investments and Expertise

   FEATURE:     Object Interfaces with Third Party Applications and Databases
   FUNCTION:    Integration with Existing Popular Software
   BENEFIT:    Continue to use current Object Oriented Technology with
                commercial software

---------------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        The Preston Group
ADDRESS:        488 Victoria Street
            Richmond
            Victoria 3121 Australia

TELEPHONE:        [phone]
FAX:            [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    Total Airspace and Airport Modular(TAAM)
            Terminal Management System(TMS)
            Air Crew Scheduler(ACS)
            Interactive Aircraft Scheduler (IAS)
            Transport Resources Intelligent Process Simulator(TRIPS)

SALES OFFICE(S):    European Office (London) - Phone [phone]

CONTACTS:    The Americas        Harry Westendorp    [phone]
         Asia/Pacific        Ken Greer        [phone]
        Europe/Middle East    Phillip Rechter        [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:

TAAM

The Total Airspace and Airport Modular has been developed to help
aviation authorities and airport operators around the world solve
problems with airspace and airport congestion. It is designed to
assist with the planning of airspace and airport systems and facilities.
TAAM is a sophisticated workstation-based program which produces
realistic simulations of airspace and airports operations, and
generates meaningful reports and statistics for subsequent analysis.
Its interactive graphical fast time simulations allow a planning
analyst to set-up, run and evaluate an airspace or airport plans
more quickly and effectively than is possible with traditional
simulation tools.

TMS

Terminal Management System(TMS) has been developed to help airport
authorities and airlines manage airport terminal resources and facilities.
It is designed to streamline the administration of daily operations (such
as gate allocations, and manpower and equipment scheduling) and also
evaluate past, current or future operations.

TMS is ideally suited for evaluating the viability of airport layouts
before committing large sums of money to their construction. TMS allows
airport operators, planners and consultants to validate their designs
and demonstrate how these designs will operate in the "real world". With
the gate allocation module that forms part of our system, the model then
becomes an operational tool which is used by terminal management on a
daily basis to cater for regular schedules and unplanned events.

ACS

The Air Crew Scheduler(ACS) has been developed to help alleviate many
of the problems faced by airlines in efficiently planning cost-effective
aircraft crewing patterns. ACS is used by experienced crew planners to
interactively develop and modify crewing patterns that conform to
government regulations as well as labor and management agreements.
The resulting patterns for a planning period are the basis for assigning
actual crew names and are made available to a preferential bidding system,
assembled into pattern strings in a bid line system or assigned to
specific crew members in an assignment system.

IAS

The Interactive Aircraft Scheduler (IAS) has been developed to help
airlines with the cumbersome and time-consuming manual preparation of
aircraft schedules. IAS automates the aircraft scheduling processes and
validates the schedule and its changes against the airline's operating
guidelines as well as aircraft constraints.

TRIPS

The Transport Resources Intelligent Process Simulator(TRIPS) has been
developed to help transport managers obtain the greatest possible
productivity from fleet and transport operations. It is designed
to optimize the use of vehicles or rolling stock as well as the
plant associated with the material being carried on a transportation
network.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

All products are decision support tools which allow the user to
control larger amounts of data, and make better decisions faster.
Existing customers have identified cost savings directly through
higher productivity from staff involved in scheduling, and more
importantly, indirectly from the planning or operational decisions
now being made through the use of these systems.

COMMENTS:

These innovative products are based on rulebase techniques and apply
object-oriented principles in both the development and use of the
systems. The user interfaces provide a ready transition to the use
of the systems and assist in producing early productivity benefits.

REFERENCES:
All products operate in the aviation industry/market and are designed
for use by airlines, airports, aviation authorities, and consultants
or planners operating in these areas.

Current users are:
QUANTAS                    Air Crew Schedular
British Airways             Air Crew Schedular
Australian Civil Aviation Authority    Total Airspace and Airport Modular
U.K. C.A.A.                Total Airspace and Airport Modular
B.F.S. Germany (CAA)            Total Airspace and Airport Modular
Sydney (Kingsford Smith Airport)    Terminal Management System
Manchester International Airport    Terminal Management System
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (installing)    Terminal Management System
London Heathrow Airport (installing)    Terminal Management System
Australian National Line                Transport Resources Intelligent
                      Process Simulator

References from the above may be arranged after consultation with The
Preston Group.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        Template Software
ADDRESS:        13100 Worldgate Drive
            Suite 340
            Herndon, Virginia 22070

TELEPHONE:        [phone]
FAX:            [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    SNAP

SALES OFFICE(S):    Herndon, Virginia        [phone]
            Oak Brook, Illinois        [phone]
            Atlanta, Georgia        [phone]
            Scarborough, Ontario        [phone]

CONTACTS:
    SALES:        William T. McManes, VP         [phone]
    MARKETING:    Mary Ann Stoops            [phone]
    TECHNICAL:     David Kiker            [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:

SNAP is an advanced application development environment architected for
the implementation of mission-critical, cooperative applications. SNAP
technology is based on the concept of a "template." The template
architectural concept promotes large-scale code reuse. It can generate
as much as 85 percent of an application. SNAP yields dramatic gains in
productivity by delivering complex, cooperative applications in record
time.

The SNAP template consists of five components of pre-defined software:
Object Model, Graphic User Interface, Communication, Permanent Storage,
and External Applications Software. The unique aspect of SNAP's object
technology is that the application development process can be procedural
and/or knowledge based. Simple or complex real-time applications in a
distributed processing environment can be easily implemented.

SNAP also provides a unique capability called Shared Information Base(SIB).
SIB extends SNAP's interprocess communications from single-directional,
pair-wise interchange to bi-directional, multi-process interchange thus
facilitating cooperative applications.

SNAP features an advanced open object architecture, technology integration,
multi-platform workgroup support and rapid application development.
These unique and exciting features make SNAP the ideal solution for
mission-critical business Problems, which are the primary focus of
development in organizations today!

BENEFITS SUMMARY:
   FEATURE:    Template architecturing design
   FUNCTION:    enables large-scale code reuse
   BENEFIT:    yields dramatic gains in productivity and performance

   FEATURE:    Employs object technology
   FUNCTION:    representation of data maps to real word objects
   BENEFIT:    this treatment of data eases application development,
                maintenance and extendibility

   FEATURE:    Shared Information Base
   FUNCTION:    enables multi-platform workgroups to share data
   BENEFIT:    facilitates cooperative processing

   FEATURE:    Multiple Windowing Sys. & Multiple Database Integration
   FUNCTION:    integration of pre-existing software or new software
   BENEFIT:    supports multi-application, multi-workgroups

   FEATURE:    Portable & Scalable
   FUNCTION:    heterogeneous platform support
   BENEFIT:    applications can accommodate change in hardware configuration
                without code changes

COMMENTS:
    - Supports knowledge-intensive applications
    - Provides dynamic event-driven display updates
    - Open and extendible
    - Integrated-DOE compliant (release 4.5 Fall '92)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        Visix Software Inc.
ADDRESS:        11440 Commerce Pk. Dr.
            Reston, VA. 22091

TELEPHONE:        [phone]
FAX:            [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    Looking Glass Professional
            Looking Glass Advantage
            Galaxy Application Environment

SALES OFFICE(S):
            Reston, VA         [phone]

CONTACTS:
      SALES:        Barry Libenson        [phone]
    MARKETING:    Tom Axbey        [phone]
    TECHNICAL:    Chad Bisk        [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:

Looking Glass Professional is a graphical user environment for
workstations and X Window System terminals. It provides the final
layer of system interface software needed to make UNIX a complete
end-user product. Looking Glass Professional gives users a simple
and consistent metaphor for managing files and directories, manipulating
the UNIX environment and launching applications.

Because it is based on Visix's own Galaxy Application Environment,
Looking Glass Professional provides a single interface solution for
all major window systems including X Window, Open Windows, Environ V
(Intergraph), and SunView. It also lets users select their choice of
look-and-feel standards at run-time--OPENLOOK, Motif, or Presentation
Manager. Looking Glass Professional gives users the same powerful
environment across all major hardware platforms and across UNIX
networks. Major software applications are already integrated to
create a complete end-user environment.

Looking Glass Advantage

Looking Glass Advantage is a WYSIWYG development tool that allows
users to quickly create graphical front-ends for UNIXcommands, and
build extensions to Looking Glass Professional. LGA gives users
access to a rich set of user interface controls such as text entry
fields, scrolling lists and check boxes. Extensive validation of
user entries can be built into dialogs. Looking Glass Advantage
also includes pre-built command dialogs and a help facility for
creating on-line help.

Galaxy Application Environment

Galaxy is a comprehensive multiplatform application development
environment designed specifically to construct high-end commercial
applications around a client-server modes. Galaxy comes with a
powerful runtime component that provides a number of network-independent
application services to any Galaxy application. It is a one-for-one
replacement for the Macintosh Toolbox, Windows SDK, Motif Toolkit,
and OPENLOOK Toolkit. Galaxy provides user interface services, operating
system support services, internationalization services, development and
maintenance tools, and tutorial materials.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:
Available from Visix for all products - phone Tom Axbey

----------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        ONTOS, Inc.
ADDRESS:        Three Burlington Woods
            Burlington, MA 01803

TELEPHONE:        HQTRS [phone]  Sun Rep [phone]
FAX:                        [phone]          [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    ONTOS Db Server
            ONTOS Db Designer
            ONTOS Studio
            ONTOS Shorthand
            ONTOS Object SQL
            ONTOS C++ API
            ONTOS Small Talk API
            ONTOS ADA API
            ONTOS C API
            ONTOS Connect

SALES OFFICE(S):
    LOCATION                CONTACT              TELEPHONE

    BOSTON POC(HQTRS)    Lynn Currier        [phone]
    Washington DC         Aileen Black        [phone]
    Chicago            Steve Tonissen        [phone]
    Los Angeles        Debra Kelfer        [phone]
    International        John Corda        [phone]
    Telecommunications    Mark Lesswing         [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:

The ONTOS products combined with Sun provides a powerful Object
Oriented development and user environment. The ONTOS and Sun solution
provide a deep, rich and superior solution to many other companies such
as NeXT.

The essence of what ONTOS brings to Sun in this context is a superior,
well-designed architecture for data and applications design,
distribution, and deployment. Moreover, this architecture is based on
industry standard C++. The Ontos strategy fits very closely with and is
compatible with Sun's object strategy today and tomorrow.

At the core of the system is a thoroughly object-oriented DBMS which
offers a rich set of database services. ONTOS provides the capability
for development of highly scalable environments. The ONTOS object
database system provides an ideal basis for integration because of its
superior object modeling capabilities and flexible connection support.
The ONTOS object model is ideal for supporting a common information
model. ONTOS can be used as the foundation for  connecting legacy
databases (oracle, m204, sybase, DB2, IMS, IDBMS, homegrown). This
flexibility provides the perfect solution for adding UNIX workstations
to a mainframe environment.

The ONTOS development environment includes:
    The ONTOS DB - a third generation distributed object oriented
      database management system

    ONTOS DB Designer, and interactive graphical tool for database
      design, browsing and editing

    ONTOS Studio, a graphical user interface builder

    ONTOS Shorthand and interpreted object oriented data
      manipulation language

    ONTOS C++ API an application program interface

    ONTOS Object SQL a structured query language with extensions

    ONTOS Connection Library - Connection Storage managers for
      integration with legacy databases

ONTOS also provides on site support, application development support,
maintenance and educational services.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

(Streamlined Application Development Buying Criteria)

  Objects Throughout
    FEATURE:- Extensible object model
    BENEFIT:- Datatypes and model can be extended smoothly to
              accommodate evolving application requirements

    FEATURE:- Active data dictionary
        - Programmatic dictionary interface
     BENEFIT:- Powerful interface for constructing language bindings,
              design tools, schema driven tools, data import/export tool
                  legacy database integration tools, and data translation
                  tools

  Workgroup Application Support
    FEATURE:- Pessimistic Concurrency
        - Optimistic concurrency
        - Time-based concurrency
         - Object-level locking
        - Page-level locking
        - Aggregate-level locking
        - Event notification
        - Application-controlled conflict resolution
        - HCO Technology
        - Distributed deadlock detection
    BENEFIT:- Effective programmer choice and control over distribution
            and concurrency issues.
        - Satisfying application requirements without compromising
                    database design

  Integrated Object Tools
    FEATURE:- Object SQL
    BENEFIT:- Powerful, standards-based query and filtering mechanism,
                    fully integrated with object programming environment

    FEATURE:- Standard C++ interface
        - Standard Smalltalk interface
        - Schema-driven DB design tool
        - Schema-driven front-end tool
        - Re-usable U1's in database
    BENEFIT:- Expanded range of applications
        - Improved end-user satisfaction
        - Increased re-use.
        - Effective support for rapid application development

  Performance Control
    FEATURE:- Extensible storage manager classes
        - Cache management control
        - Concurrency options
    BENEFIT:- Performance optimization and control without compromising
                    database design or application architecture

(Workgroup Application Support Buying Criteria)

  Workgroup Application Support
    FEATURE:- Pessimistic concurrency
        - Optimistic concurrency
        - Time-based concurrency
    BENEFIT:- Choice and control to satisfy diverse workgroup
                concurrency control requirements

    FEATURE:- Object-level locking
        - Page-level locking
        - Aggregate-level locking
    BENEFIT:- Choice and control to provide locking models which
                maximize concurrency, while maintaining integrity

    FEATURE:- Event notification
    BENEFIT:- Effective communication of events between applications
            executing concurrently in a distributed environment.

    FEATURE:- Application-controlled conflict resolution
    BENEFIT:- Choice and control over conflict resolution by
                    applications

    FEATURE:- HCO Technology
    BENEFIT:- High concurrency and throughput provided for
                particular widely shared critical objects.

    FEATURE:- Distributed deadlock detection
    BENEFIT:- Essential for distributed workgroup applications

  Performance Control
    FEATURE:- Cache management control
    BENEFIT:- Effective control over performance in networked,
                    client-server environment.

    FEATURE:- Clustering control
    BENEFIT:- Effective control over object distribution and transfer
            performance.

(Integration Buying Criteria)

  Objects Throughout
    FEATURE:- Extensible object model
    BENEFIT:- Provides rich object modeling necessary to handle
            complexity of integrated application models.

    FEATURE:- Active data dictionary
    BENEFIT:- Provides most powerful interface for flexible export
              tools driven by ONTOS schema.

    FEATURE:- Programmatic dictionary interface
    BENEFIT:- Provides powerful interface for flexible import tools
            which both create ONTOS schema and import data.
        - Best interface for dealing with issues of semantic
                translation between different databases and data models.

    FEATURE:- Class-based storage managers
    BENEFIT:- Provides most effective mechanism for implementing
                gateways to legacy systems in a way which is transparent
            to all other components of the ONTOS application.

(Performance Control Buying Criteria)

  Performance Control
    FEATURE:- Extensible storage manager classes
    BENEFIT:- A range of built-in storage managers allow ONTOS to
                meet multiple performance requirements in a single
            database system, without compromising database design.
        - Application-specific storage managers can be added to meet
                any specific performance and functionality trade-offs not
                covered by the existing ONTOS options.

    FEATURE:- Cache management control
    BENEFIT:- Cache management control allows optimization of network
             buffering and caching in distributed client-server
              applications.

    FEATURE:- Concurrency options
    BENEFIT:- Concurrency control options allow maximum throughput for
            multiple concurrent users in a workgroup application
            environment.

    FEATURE:- Flexible locking options
    BENEFIT:- ONTOS locking options allow applications to minimize
                    unnecessary locking conflicts and minimize locking
            overheads according to specific application needs.
        - This maximizes throughput of multi-user workgroup
                    applications.

ONTOS combined with Sun provides a very powerful object-oriented solution
for the developer or the end user environment. ONTOS' extensible object
design provides a strong foundation for integration requirements and
is flexible to meet both today's and tomorrows needs.

------------------------------------------------------------------

VENDOR NAME:        ILOG
ADDRESS:        2523 31st Avenue
            San Francisco, CA 94116

TELEPHONE:        [phone]
FAX:            [phone]

PRODUCT NAME(S):    Aida / Masai
            Smeci
            Pecos
            Agel
            K-Station

SALES OFFICE(S):
    France (ILOG Headquarters)        (33)(1) 46.63.66.66
    United Kingdom (Signal Computing)    (44) 483.57.99.00
    Benelux (E2S)                (32) 91.21.03.83
    Spain (ILOG)                (34)(1) 372.95.51
    Singapore (ILOG)            (65) 773.06.26
CONTACT:        Hugh Farges         [phone]


PRODUCT SUMMARY:
ILOG offers advanced software tools to developers of object-oriented
applications. ILOG's palette of modular software components provides a
high level of abstraction for many complex programming problems:
building graphical interfaces, solving constraint-based programs,
developing rulebased applications, and programming reactive systems.
Developing applications with ILOG tools is a highly interactive
process, yet final applications are delivered in C or C++ code,
ensuring efficiency and speed of execution in production. ILOG tools
are extensible and portable across a variety of UNIX and VMS
workstations.

ILOG has installed over 4,000 licenses. A partial customer list
includes the following organizations: Aerospatiale, the French Air
Traffic Control Center, Alcatel N.V, Anderson Consulting, British
Telecom, Bull, Credit Lyonais, Elf-Aquitaine, France Telecom, IBM,
Matra Aerospace, Matra Datavision, Michelin, Ministries of Defense of
France and Singapore, PTT of Switzerland and The Netherlands, Renault,
Thomson, and the French National Railway.

BENEFITS SUMMARY:

  (Masai)
    FEATURE: Graphical Applications Development Environment
    BENEFIT: Build Advanced Graphical Applications

    FEATURE: Object-oriented
    BENEFIT: Extensible, reusable components

    FEATURE: 100 widgets, including Motif widgets and high level
               widgets: (chart editor, text editor, grapher,
           spreadsheet widget, etc.)
    BENEFIT: Rapid development of complex interfaces

    FEATURE: Dialog Manager
    BENEFIT: Sharp reduction in the manual programming of call
               backs; intuitive management of screen transitions

    FEATURE: Interpreted and compiled mode
    BENEFIT: Support for all phases of product development, from
               rapid prototyping to production

  (Pecos)
    FEATURE: Object-oriented constraint-based programming library
    BENEFIT: Solve resource allocation, planning, and scheduling
               problems

    FEATURE: Object oriented design
    BENEFIT: Extesible libraries, generic constraints

    FEATURE: Constraint propagation
    BENEFIT: Rapid Execution

  (Smeci)
    FEARURE: Multi-paradigm expert system
    BENEFIT: Develop knowledge-based programming library

    FEATURE: Object-based data representation (typed slots,
               inheritance, demons, active values)
    BENEFIT: Rich data representation

    FEATURE: Graphical user interface; natural language syntax for
           rules
    BENEFIT: Ease of use

    FEATURE: Tasks, states, multiple worlds
    BENEFIT: Powerful control strategies

    FEATURE: Robustness (applications with up to 10,000 objects,
           2000 rules, 5000 states)
    BENEFIT: Production quality applications

  (K-Station)
    FEATURE: Knowledge acquisition and validation tool (K-Station)
    BENEFIT: Formalizes expert knowledge

  (Asquell)
    FEATURE: SQL Link to Informix, Ingres, Oracle, RDB and Sybase
    BENEFIT: Simplifies database access; provides DBMS independence

  (Agel)
    FEATURE: Development workbench for industrial automata
    BENEFIT: Builds reliable automata

    FEATURE: Single model carries throughout the development
               process, from specification, simulation, verification
                   and documentation
    BENEFIT: Consistency of data model and application reliability

COMMENTS:
All tools are modular and tightly integrated. They are available on Sun
Sparcstations, HP 9000 series, IBM RS/6000, DECStations, VAXStations.
Applications developed on a host machine are directly portable onto
another target machine.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For information send mail to [e-mail].
Subscription requests should be sent to [e-mail].
Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net,
src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au

All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third
party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local
Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in
your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications
within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or
publication by Sun Microsystems.

John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, [e-mail]. [phone].

TRACE: To: [e-mail] Errors-to: [e-mail]