The accompanying demo is an application that uses PowerTap™ software to distribute processing over a network. Although the demo is using the software for graphics, any field stands to benefit. At the heart of PowerTap™ is a small library that programmers add to an application to very easily distribute tasks to other networked Macintoshes without knowing anything about networking or task management. PowerTap™ can be used for any job that can be separated into many tasks. Many time-consuming applications fit this description. From digital video to electrical circuit analysis, the uses are many.
To see the demo, just run the “PowerTap™ Demo” application. Use the “File” menu’s “Go” command to start a job. It produces an image, piece by piece. When it finishes, you’ll want to compare the run time to a job run with some networked Macintosh(es) participating. Setting up to use the network is easy. Copy the demo’s control panel and Demo Tap™ to each remote Macintosh. Turn On Program Linking on each (including the local Macintosh.) Allow <Guest> to link to each one. The demo uses <Guest>, but your application can use tighter security. Lastly, use the control panel on each Macintosh to turn On its Tap™. If there is anything set improperly, you will be notified whenever possible and given a chance to correct it. That’s it — run the “PowerTap™ Demo” application again and see the time savings.
The sample (vs. demo) included has the source code in C for a minimal application that performs a complete job using the PowerTap™ library. There are other, optional functions available including Threads Manager support that are not used in the simple sample.
An application using PowerTap™ requires System 7’s Program Linking to benefit from networked Macintoshes. However, if your PowerTap™-based application is run under System 6, the job will complete exactly the same, except that all tasks will be done locally. This means no changes have to be made by you, the programmer, to run with System 6 or 7. You and your users can do your jobs exactly the same way — seamlessly.
PowerTap™ is available in several forms: CodeWarrior 68K & PowerPC, Symantec/Think and MPW.
To order, call 1 (800) 297-3888, fax us at (804) 264-3944 or write to
Always Thinking, Inc.
2008 Summerhook Court
Glen Allen, VA 23060
If you have questions, you can also e-mail us on America Online at “PowerTap” or, from the internet, “powertap@aol.com”.
