Current Shareware 1994 January/SHAR194.ISO/geo_ense/geosdk10.zip/SDK-1001.TXT

Text File | 1993-10-04 | 17KB | 383 lines

GEOS Support Document
c1993 Geoworks

PLEASE NOTE: Information in this document is accurate to the best of our
             knowledge at the time of writing.  If you find errors or have
             comments or suggestions for improvement, please let us know
             by faxing [phone]. Please use this material with care;
             GeoWorks shall not be responsible for damages resulting from
             the furnishing of the information in this document.

             The SDK can only be used to develop applications for
             Ensemble 2.0. The SDK is not meant for use with any other
             GeoWorks product.

 TITLE: Basic ISV Information Packet NO. PAGES:
 DOC NO: 1001
 DESCRIPTION:  Contains prospective ISV information and product order form.

 This is the first part of theinformation packet sent out to prospective
 Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who request information from Geoworks.
 This contains basic information regarding the SDK and developer programs
 with an ISV questionnaire and documentation order form.  Other related
 documents are:

    1002    Additional developer information and press releases
  1003  Information about the upcoming Geoworks developer
        conference on October 25 & 26 September 1993

Dear Software Developer,

 Thank you for your interest in the GEOS operating system and the related
 developer products.  Please read through this information to answer
 questions you might have.  Also included is a form for you to add your
 name to our developer database and purchase the GEOS Software Development
 Kit (SDK), technical documentation, or any of our developer services.

 The GEOS SDK Beta will be available on CD ROM for $99 starting October 25,
 1993.  This CD ROM will contain tools necessary to build and debug GEOS
 applications.  Technical documentation for the tools and operating system
 will be included online in several formats on the CD ROM.  Printed versions
 of this documentation will also be available for $299.  Note: You may
 currently purchase an earlier edition (version 0.8) of the technical
 documentation for $195 until the SDK is shipping on October 25.  If you
 decide to purchase or have previously purchased a pre-released version
 of the technical documentation (version 0.8), you then may purchase an
 addendum to this set to update it up to the current documentation for $79.

 If you are just interested in evaluating GEOS as a potential development
 platform, GeoWorks currently has published the GEOS System Software
 Overview, a small book which goes into more detail than this brochure
 about specifics of the operating system (including sample source code
 for a GEOS application).  This may be purchased for $15.

 GeoWorks will host its first ever software developers conference entitled,
 "GEOS, The New Profit Platform" on October 25 and 26.  This conference will
 be held at the Hyatt Regency, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, California.
 To register, call GeoWorks at 1-800-524-1857, ext. 1214.  (outside the U.S.
 and Canada, call 508-443-3330, ext. 1214).  The cost for this conference is
 $445 for early-bird registrants and $595 after October 6.  All attendees of
 the developer conference will receive, free, the GEOS SDK on CD ROM.

 To order any of our developer products, please call 1-800-GEOS-SDK (outside
 the U.S. and Canada, call 510-644-1621) after October 25.  To order products
 prior to this date, please write or fax us at the address below.  Should you
 have further questions, please call our main telephone number, [phone].
 Transfer to extension 720 for our twenty-four hour fax on demand system to
 have the latest information faxed to you.  Transfer to extension 749 for our
 twenty-four hour information line for recorded information concerning our
 developer programs.  You may also fax or write us at:

  GeoWorks Developer Support
  2150 Shattuck Avenue
  Berkeley, CA  94704
  Fax: [phone]
  Thank you again for your interest.,

GeoWorks Developer Support

Q: How can I start writing applications for GEOS?
A: Writing applications for GEOS can be done simply by purchasing the
   GEOS SDK once it is available.  If your setup satisfies the minimum
   system requirements for the SDK, you'll all set to go.  See the
   specification for the SDK for more details on these requirments.

   If you are just in the investigation stages of writing an application
   for GEOS and don't have much knowledge of the system, then a good first
   step would be to purchase the GEOS System Software Overview.  This
   overview describes the system in technical details and shows sample code.

Q: Why is the SDK still referred to as Beta?
A: The tools of the SDK are still in the process of being refined.  However,
   GeoWorks felt that it was important for the the developer community to
   make the tools available as quickly and economically as possible.  The
   tools in their initial release state will be fully functional and of
   solid quality.  However, as with all software products, defects will
   be found as most people will use the tools.  Fixes for these problems
   will be available in the developer forum and through various other
   mechanisms.

Q: What is the difference between the version 0.8 technical documentation
   and the new release?
A: Prior to the release of the SDK to the general public, preliminary
   versions of the documentation have been available to for purchase to
   the general public.  The first  public release of this documentation
   was numbered 0.7.  Buyers of this documentation set have been upgraded
   to version 0.8 which is the version that is currently being sold.

   The documentation that will be available once the SDK starts shipping
   will also be referred to as beta.  However, this documentation will be
   complete and accurate to the best of our abilities at the time of
   printing.  This documentation set  is the same as what will also be
   included free of addition charge in electronic form on the CD ROM.

   For those purchasers of the 0.8 release of the documentation, GeoWorks
   will make available an addendum to that documenation that will make
   that set current with the n release.

Q: What does the SDK consist of and what type of hardware and software will
   it require?
A: The SDK is shipped on a single CD ROM which contains the tools necessary
   for GEOS development, include files, sample source code, and the run-time
   environment for testing your applications.  In addition, all the technical
   documention for the system and the SDK will be included on the CD ROM in
   various formats.  Printed versions of this documentation may be ordered
   from GeoWorks for an additional charge.

   The original GEOS development tools run on Unix workstations.  These tools
   are not supported and are not available to the general developer community.
   Instead, we have ported these tools to run under DOS.  A DOS GEOS
   development system consists of two PCs connected by a serial cable.

   A more powerful host PC is where you developer your application.  The
   target PC is where you run your software from.  See the SDK specification
   for more details.

Q: What is the FrameReader_ browser?
A: The GEOS technical documentation set was writting using FrameMaker_ product
   by Frame Technology Corporation.  This is one of the file formats the SDK
   is provided in on the CD ROM.  The FrameReader is a Microsoft Windows file
   browser allows you to view and print FrameMaker files.  The FrameReader
   browser is not a requirement to view and print the documentation as it
   will also be provided in ASCII and PostScript format.  The SDK package
   will contain ordering information for ordering the FrameReader browser.

Q: Why is Microsoft Windows_ recommended for the host machine?
A: There are two reasons for this.  First, the FrameReader browser for
   viewing and printing the online documentation files is only available
   in the Microsoft Windows environment, not DOS.

   The GEOS development tools run under DOS, not native under GEOS.
   Microsoft Windows acts as an effective task switcher to allow you to
   go quickly from one tool to the next.  Windows PIF files and a Program
   Manager group file are provided with the SDK for this purpose.

Q: What languages are supported?  Can I program in C++?
A: The SDK allows programming in either C or Object Assembly language.
   We've extended both of these languages with GEOS specific syntax for
   defining objects, classes, message handlers, etc.  The current version
   of the SDK requires the Borland C++ compiler, version 3.1 to be installed.

   The SDK, however, does not support C++.  This is because GEOS is a
   completely object oriented operating system while C++ is used to do
   object oriented programming on non OOP systems.

Q: Do I have to write a program specifically for GEOS to take advantage
   of its features?
A: Yes.  To create a program that runs in the GEOS environment, your
   application must be written specifically for the GEOS operating system
   API (Application Program Interface).  Standard DOS, Windows or other
   types of applications will not run under GEOS.

Q: Can I port my Windows application to run under GEOS?
A: It's possible to port any application to a new environment and therefore
   you could port your Windows application to GEOS.  However, GEOS is a
   radically different operating system and provides much more for developers
   than Windows does.  GEOS applications should be written to take advantage
   of the sophisticated libraries and system services offered in GEOS and
   should shed their Windows programs' baggage.  If you try to port a slow,
   3 Meg Windows application to GEOS, you'll probably wind up with a slow,
   large GEOS application.  By making the most out of what GEOS offers to
   application developers, you'll have a product that's small, fast, and
   elegantly designed.

Q: What type of developer support and training will be provided?
A: Developer support comes in various formats including developer support
   on CompuServe_ and training classes in the use of the SDK and fundamentals
   of GEOS programming.   See the Independent Software Vendor Support and
   Training Services page for more details.

Q: How can I get more information?
A: If you have additional questions or need more information, please write
   or fax GeoWorks Developer Support.

SDK COMPONENTS

The GEOS_ 2.0 SDK consists of the following software and printed components:

Software Tools

 GOC - GEOS C Compiler  Preprocesses GEOS C source files into files suitable
       for input to the Borland compiler.

 Esp - GEOS Object Assembler  Generates object files from GEOS assembly
       source files.

 Glue - GEOS Linker  Produces GEOS executables from object files.

 Swat - GEOS Debugger  Source level debugger that runs on the host machine
        and remotely debugs the application running on the target machine.

 Icon Editor  Interactive tool to allow you to draw graphics.  Produces
 files for input to Esp or GOC.

 Loc - Localization Compiler  Takes output from the GOC, Esp, and Glue to
       create a database for the Resource Editor to use for localization.

 Resource Editor  Allows creation of new, localized executables from an
 existing executable and output from Loc.

 Communications Utilities  Allows communication between the host and
 target machines via the serial cable.  Also includes bi-directional
 file transfer utilities.

 Build Utilities  Controls the dependency resolution and make process
 for building executables.

GEOS Include Files

GEOS 2.0 Runtime System

 Error Checking (EC) and Non-EC versions of the GEOS system for the
 target machine.  Includes Welcome, Preferences, GeoManager, and their
 symbol files.

Documentation Set (in electronic and optionally printed form)

 Installation / Getting Started guide
 Tools reference
 Concepts manual
 Object reference and quick reference guide
 Routines manual
 Esp manual
 Swat manual
 Sample Source Files

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

 The GEOS Software Development Kit will allow developers to produce
 applications and/or libraries that will work in the GEOS 2.0 environment.
 You will need two personal computers connected by a serial cable to use
 this SDK.  One of these PCs will be the host where you develop and debug
 your code.  The other will be the target where you will run your code.

Host PC Configuration

Minimum Hardware

 386SX CPU (486/33 recommended)
 VGA display and adapter
 8 megabytes memory
 40 megabytes disk space (60 recommended)
 Floppy drive compatible with target PC
 CD-ROM drive
 Available serial port

Software
 MSDOS 3.0 or DR DOS 5.0
 Borland C++ 3.1
 Microsoft Windows_ 3.1 (only for task switching)
 FrameReader_ browser (for documentation)

Target PC Configuration

Minimum Hardware
 286 CPU (386 recommended)
 CGA display and adapter
 1 megabyte memory
 15 megabytes disk space
 Floppy drive compatible with host PC
 Available serial port

Software
 MSDOS 3.0 or DR DOS 5.0
 Serial cable with null-modem

PRICING (IN US DOLLARS)
  Available until 10/25/93
  Preliminary Version 0.8 Tech. Doc. Set  $195
  Available 10/25/93

  GEOS SDK on CD ROM   $99

  Printed Tech. Doc. Set   $299

  Tech. Doc. Set Addendum (for V0.8)  $79

DEVELOPER SUPPORT SERVICES

 GeoWorks Developer Support Services are provided in a forum on
 CompuServe_, one of the easily accessible information services.
 Within the GEOS Developer forum you will be able to post messages to
 other developers, chat with your fellow developers, upload / download
 files, read the latest news about GEOS and the SDK, or submit technical
 development questions directly to GeoWorks Developer Support.

 Three different levels of developer support are offered.  You may choose
 the level that best suits your needs.

The Basic Plan

 The Basic support plan provides access to the GEOS developer forum. All
 services are included in the price of the Basic plan with the exception
 of the technical questions to GeoWorks which cost $75 each (as purchased
 in packages of five questions) and may only be submitted via the forum.
 Response time on these questions is guaranteed in less than seventy-two
 (72) hours (excluding weekends and holidays).  Help with installation
 and use of the development tools is free to all registered users as with
 other GeoWorks products and is offered via the standard GeoWorks support
 channel.

The Preferred Plan

 The Preferred plan offers all the services of the Basic plan with the
 added benefit of unlimited questions with no per-question charges.

The Premium Plan
 The Premium plan provides the highest level of developer support.  This
 plan provides all the services described for the Preferred plan with the
 following added benefits.  Response time is guaranteed to be less than
 twenty-four (24) hours (excluding weekends and holidays) for all questions
 submitted.  Questions from Premium members receive top priority.

PRICING (IN US DOLLARS)
 Basic Plan (annually)         $595
 Question Five-Pack            $375
 Preferred Plan (annually)    $2000
 Premium Plan (annually)      $5000

 Note: All fees must be paid in full before access is granted.
       The developer is responsible for all online service fees
       and access charges.

DEVELOPER TRAINING CLASSES
 GeoWorks offers a comprehensive, hands-on training class designed to
 help developers understand the concept of programming for GEOS_, using
 the tools that are part of the SDK.  The class runs for five days and
 is offered in the San Francisco Bay Area.

 To allow more individual attention by the instructor in each training
 session, the size of the class is limited.  Classes are to be offered
 once a month starting in April 1993.  GeoWorks will provide breakfast,
 lunch, the classroom location, materials, and the machines for the
 class.  Transportation, incidentals, lodging, dinner, etc. are the
 responsibility of the attendee.

 Since GeoWorks is strictly limiting the attendance of any session, you
 are encouraged to register as quickly as possible to guarantee your
 space.  Please indicate your first, second, and third choices for
 training dates in case we cannot accommodate you in your first choice.

Partial List of Topics Covered

 What is GEOS and its Application Model?
 GEOS Object Oriented Programming Model
 GEOS Graphics System
 Memory Management
 Virtual Memory Files
 Generic User Interface
 Using the SDK Tools

PRICING (IN US DOLLARS)
  Five Day Developer Training    $1995

 Note: A $500 deposit is sufficient to reserve your space for a given
       class.  The balance due must be paid in full no later than
       fourteen (14) days prior to the first day of class. Cancellation
       prior to the fourteen day period before the start of the class
       entitles you to a full refund.  No refund will be issued for
       cancellation after this date unless a substitute attendee can
       be found.