Nebula/nebula.bin/Newsletters/NeXTNuggetNewsDigest/vol.06.04.txt

Internet Message Format | 1993-08-07 | 29KB

Date: Tue, 9 Feb 93 10:04:20 -0800
From: Conrad_Geiger
To: [e-mail]
Subject: v6.4 - NeXT Nugget News Digest (vol. 6, issue 4, February, 1993

NeXT Nugget News Digest (vol. 6, issue 4, February, 1993)


             ***  TABLE OF CONTENTS  ***


NeXTSTEP DEVELOPER SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS (Fall 1992/January)

 =>   10. VERSANT Object Database Management System for NeXT
 =>   11. ParcPlace Introduces VisualWorks
 =>   12. Servare Shipping NeXT Compatible Multi-Session PHOTO CD ROM
                Player with Free PHOTO CD Reading Software


Conrad Geiger
Manager, International NeXT User Group Program (over 420 groups
worldwide)

P.S. To be added or deleted from this distribution or to submit
items for the Nugget Digest, send email to "[e-mail]."


____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

NeXTSTEP DEVELOPER SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCEMENTS (Fall 1992/January)


 =>   10. VERSANT Object Database Management System for NeXT

        Versant Object Technology
        4500 Bohannon Drive
        Menlo Park CA 94025

        Phone: 800-VERSANT
        Phone: [phone]
        FAX:   [phone]

VERSANT SHIPS FIRST ODBMS FOR NeXT
Special Introductory Offer

Menlo Park, CA, January 5, 1993 -- Versant Object Technology
Corporation today announced that it has shipped its object database
management system (ODBMS) for the NeXT line of computers.  Versant
has developed this new version as part of an agreement with one of
NeXT's large customers, Williams Telecommunications (WilTel) of
Houston, Texas.  The VERSANT ODBMS for NeXT supports both C and C++
development and is the first and only commercially available ODBMS
for NeXT computers.

"I'm pleased that VERSANT is the first production ODBMS available for
NeXT," said Steven P. Jobs, Chairman and CEO of NeXT.  "Now
developers can use NeXTstep and VERSANT to create and deploy complex
object-based applications which would be impossible with conventional
technology."

The VERSANT ODBMS is the leading client-server ODBMS available,
providing high-performance processing coupled with an advanced
workgroup architecture.  VERSANT delivers transparent, multi-user
access to objects distributed anywhere in the network.

Network Management Application
------------------------------
"WilTel is employing VERSANT as the underlying ODBMS in a
state-of-the-art network management system," said Vince Jordan
director of software development at WillTel.  "We looked at all the
ODBMSs out there and found that VERSANT was the only one that really
fit with what we're doing on the NeXT platform. Versant has the best
product architecture of any ODBMS and also showed that it was the
company we wanted to work with."

 -- Vince Jordan, Director of Software Development, WilTel Inc.

Special Introductory Offer
--------------------------
The VERSANT ODBMS for NeXT is available immediately, and is being
offered at a special introductory price of only $XXX until March 31,
1993.

To contact Verasnt about this introductory offer:

        Versant Object Technology
        4500 Bohannon Drive
        Menlo Park CA 94025

        Phone: 800-VERSANT
        Phone: [phone]
        FAX:   [phone]

About Versant
-------------
Versant Object Technology Corporation is the leading worldwide vendor
of high performance object database management systems designed to
support object-based data in shared, distributed applications.
Versant offers the most complete ODBMS solution available, with a
product line that includes the industry's most powerful client-server
ODBMS, a set of graphical application development tools, and a wide
range of language interfaces.

These products represent the fastest, easiest path to high
performance, multi-user applications that deliver the key benefits of
object technology: improved developer productivity, unprecedented
performance, and superior quality of delivered applications.  Versant
is headquartered in Menlo Park, California and operates sales offices
in New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Amsterdam.  Versant has
representative offices around the world in Japan, Singapore, the
United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Korea.

ADDITONAL INFORMATION ON VERSANT:

There are several forces behind the accelerating growth of object
database management systems (ODBMSs).  The first force is the rapid
adoption of object-oriented languages (like Objective C, C++ and
Smalltalk) and the difficulty in mapping objects created with these
languages into file systems or relational database systems (RDBMS) as
opposed to the "transparent" interface to an ODBMS.  The second force
is the deployment of graphical-based client workstations in workgroup
environments.  This architecture demands that more complex
information be stored both on clients and servers.  Because RDBMSs
were never designed to handle such complex relationships among data,
programmers have been forced to choose between two unsatisfactory
alternatives.  They must either store complex objects in a  file
system and sacrifice the benefits of database management systems
(e.g., concurrency and recovery), or painstakingly coerce complex
objects into relational tables and sacrifice performance.

The VERSANT Object Database Management System is the leading,
full-function ODBMS for developing applications that manage complex
data in distributed, concurrent environments.  VERSANT provides
organizations with a number of advantages, including scalability
across a wide range of hardware configurations and network
topologies, high performance management of complex data, and superior
application development productivity.


VERSANT for NeXT

VERSANT for NeXT is the first ODBMS for the NeXT line of computers.
It allows developers to use the powerful NeXTstep environment to
create database applications which were impossible to build with
conventional technology.  VERSANT includes such core DBMS features as
persistent storage of data, multi-user support, data integrity,
concurrency control, backup and recovery, and transparent distributed
database capabilities, including distributed transactions and
two-phase commit.

Like traditional DBMSs, VERSANT runs on a number of platforms,
includes an integrated application development toolset, and can be
accessed from a number of different host programming languages.
VERSANT platforms include DEC, HP, IBM, Intergraph, NCR, OS/2,
Sequent, Silicon Graphics, and Sun, as well as NeXT.   VERSANT
language interfaces include C, C++, Smalltalk, Objective C, Eiffel,
and Object SQL.


Scalable Distribution

VERSANT is implemented within a unique architecture known as the
VERSANT Scalable Distributed Architecture (VSDA).  VSDA means that
VERSANT can scale with an organization, and its network, as needs and
configurations change.  Three key features provided by VSDA are
transparent data distribution, advanced workgroup functions, and
dynamic schema management and evolution.


Transparent Data Distribution

VERSANT is a fully transparent, distributed ODBMS.  Applications can
simultaneously connect to multiple VERSANT ODBMS servers on multiple
nodes, and transparently access the objects managed by those servers.
This location transparency means that application programs are
independent of the physical storage and location of the data they
manipulate.  Objects may contain other objects on different nodes,
and may be transparently relocated among nodes to improve locality of
reference and performance without changes to code.

Transactions that update objects on multiple servers are
automatically committed using the two-phase commit protocol to
guarantee distributed data integrity.  Transparent distribution means
that VERSANT can be easily reconfigured, and that data can be easily
relocated, to meet ever-changing business needs.  Even more
importantly, VSDA guarantees that there is no single point of failure
in a distributed system since no single machine manages all the locks
for the network.


Advanced Workgroup Support

VERSANT includes a number of workgroup functions that exploit the
power of today's client-server networks.  Using long transactions,
applications may check-out objects from shared servers to desktop
workstations for local processing. This means that individuals can
check out objects (e.g., complex documents or engineering design
diagrams) to their local workstation, disconnect from the network
(e.g., portable computers), alter the objects, reconnect to the
network, and check the objects back into the shared database, all
with full concurrency control and full transaction support.   Even if
a server or network fails, a connected workstation can continue to
work independently.

To further facilitate workgroups, VERSANT includes an object
versioning mechanism that allows different groups to concurrently
work on different versions of an object, and then integrate the
differing versions.  After an object is modified in a personal
database, it can be checked back into a group database and become a
shared version.  VERSANT maintains the derivation history of
objects, and thus provides a built-in change control system that
makes it easy to build applications to support the distributed
workgroup environment.


Schema Evolution

Another key feature of VSDA is the ability to dynamically modify and
evolve database schemas, so your applications can easily scale as
your environment changes.  Unlike some ODBMSs, which require a
database unload and reload to accommodate schema changes (e.g.,
addition of a new attribute to a class), VERSANT allows you to evolve
schemas, on the fly, without system disruption.  VERSANT also
provides runtime class creation and runtime schema access so you
create new classes, and gather information about existing classes, at
runtime.  This makes application development more flexible, and
provides the power required to build dynamic applications, such as ad
hoc data browsers.


Production Performance

VERSANT is optimized for a wide range of applications, and includes
features to maximize performance in a variety of situations, through
its advanced concurrency controls, balanced client-server
architecture, and dynamic disk management.


Advanced Concurrency Controls

VERSANT offers the industry's most advanced concurrency controls to
guarantee high performance without sacrificing data integrity.  Among
VERSANT's many concurrency control techniques are objectlevel locking
and nested transactions.VERSANT's object-level locking ensures
maximum concurrency by eliminating the false waits found in
page-locking systems, where two users working on different objects
inadvertently interfere with each other's work.  While important in
applications that use short transactions, object-level locking is
absolutely critical to avoid false waits in distributed applications
that take long-duration locks, which can be held for days or weeks.

When using nested transactions, VERSANT provides a  new form of
intra-client concurrency control that synchronizes the work of
multiple cooperating processes, behind multiple open windows, running
on a single workstation.  Conventional Rflat transactions fail to
adequately support workstations, because they view each open window
as a different database user, and thus two windows can wait or even
deadlock on each other's work.  Through nested transactions, VERSANT
enables multi-window database applications, and provides a
transaction hierarchy that models the window hierarchy on the users
screen.  This makes it easy to build graphical, multi-window
applications that provide the required concurrency controls both
among windows on a single client workstation, and among the many
client workstations on the network.


Balanced Client-Server Architecture

VERSANT implements a balanced client-server architecture that
partitions database work across both the client and the server.  For
example, object caching is implemented on the client, which reduces
network traffic and greatly speeds warm traversals of objects.  Query
processing, in contrast, is implemented on the server, which again
reduces network traffic by sending only requested objects from server
to client.  Page caching is performed on the server, which reduces
the disk I/O required to locate objects on frequently used pages.  By
partitioning DBMS function between the client and server, VERSANT
reduces network traffic, speeds performance, and fully exploits both
desktop and server computing power.


Broad Range of Application Development Solutions

The final purpose of any DBMS is to facilitate application
development.  Towards that end, VERSANT offers both its own
integrated application development toolkit, and a broad range of
third party application development environments.  The VERSANT C++
Application ToolSet is a family of application development tools that
makes it easy to build graphical, object-oriented applications, and
includes VERSANT Screen (a GUI builder with integrated scripting
language), VERSANT Report (an easy-to-use graphical report writer),
and VERSANT Object SQL (an SQL-based data manipulation language).
Using either Versant's tools, those from Versant's third-party
partners, or both, you can quickly and easily build object-oriented
applications that exploit the power, performance, and productivity of
the VERSANT ODBMS.


System Requirements
-     16 Mb RAM (32 for color systems)
-     NeXTstep V3.0 or higher

For more information on Versant's family of products and services,
please call toll free in the United States:  1-800-VERSANT.

All rights reserved by Versant Object Technology Corp, Menlo Park, CA


____________________________________________________________________

 =>   11. ParcPlace Introduces VisualWorks


Contacts:  Maureen Welch                     Denise Boucher
           Cunningham Communication, Inc.    ParcPlace Systems, Inc.
           [phone]                   [phone]

ParcPlace's Entry into the
Application Development Environment Market

SUNNYVALE, Calif. October 19, 1992   ParcPlace Systems, Inc. today
introduced and began shipping VisualWorks, an application development
environment (ADE) for corporate developers creating graphical,
client/server applications that are instantly portable across PC,
Macintosh and Unix platforms. The key components of VisualWorks
include a graphical user interface (GUI) builder, database access
capabilities, reusable application framework, and instant
cross-platform portability.

VisualWorks is based on ParcPlace's ObjectWorks\Smalltalk, a mature,
fully object-oriented programming environment used by Fortune 1000
companies to develop business-critical applications.

With VisualWorks, MIS departments can quickly create graphical
applications to fill increasing user demands for information access,
as well as leverage an object-oriented architecture to address
complex application development needs.

"VisualWorks is a solid investment for corporate developers that
program in 3GLs or 4GLs and are migrating to client/server computing
and object-oriented technology," said Bill Lyons, president and CEO
of ParcPlace. "In the near term, it enables developers to create
graphical applications in minutes, not months. In the long term, the
object-oriented foundation addresses the problems of managing
application complexity and diminishing the application development
backlog."

VisualWorks is ParcPlace's first product in the emerging ADE market.
Currently, software vendors from various categories are entering this
market by offering products that integrate interface builders,
database access tools, and application logic for client/server
applications.  VisualWorks sets a new standard by providing the
components of an ADE with the added advantages of instant cross
platform portability, an object-oriented foundation and an
application framework.


Key VisualWorks Components

Graphical Interface Builder -- VisualWorks enables corporate
developers to create GUIs quickly with a point-and-click "palette"
and "canvas."  A standard interface layout, or canvas, is
automatically generated for the developers to begin work. Customized
canvases may also be designed and stored within VisualWorks.

Developers use the palette and choose from a wide array of layout
tools to design the interface. These tools include a menu builder,
icon painter and color tool. The most frequently used palette tools
are conveniently located on the "Multi-Tool," enabling quick access.
Once visual components are placed on the canvas, the developer may
dynamically fine-tune the layout by re-sizing, cutting or pasting, or
re-aligning the pieces selected.

Within minutes, a functioning GUI is created and the first phase of
application development is complete. VisualWorks eliminates the
drudgery of building interfaces and allows the developer to spend
more productive time fulfilling complex application requests.

ChameleonView, a component of the GUI builder, illustrates instant
portability of the new GUI across the most popular client/server
front-ends, including Windows, Motif, OS/2 Presentation Manager,
Macintosh, and OPEN LOOK. Also, ChameleonView allows developers to
immediately preview the new interface in the native application look
of the platforms listed above.

Database Access -- The VisualWorks database access capability allows
developers to easily combine the power of hierarchical, relational,
and object-oriented database systems with object-oriented programming
technology for client/server applications. VisualWorks' open
interface structure enables easy integration of virtually any type of
database.  VisualWorks provides direct access to Oracle and Sybase
databases. Through Information Builders, Inc.'s EDA/SQL gateway, more
than 48 databases may be accessed including hierarchical, flat file
and network databases on minicomputers, mainframes and workstations.

VisualWorks enables a logical migration for MIS into object-oriented
application development without the need to restructure database
information. Database interaction is handled through the VisualWorks
External Database Interface (EDI). EDI makes the database interface
an object, eliminating many of the complexities of accessing multiple
database APIs, and allowing developers to apply the power of
object-oriented programming to managing relational data. The
VisualWorks EDI enables developers to map data to objects allowing
access to information regardless of the type of database.

Reusable Application Framework -- A GUI builder is essential for
corporate developers; however, the majority of application
development time is spent linking the GUI to its designated actions
and data. VisualWorks assists developers in creating a working
application with an application framework which generates code to tie
the interface and application together. The application framework
provides the structure for the application and includes tools that
prompt the developer where scripting of actions is required. Reusable
application frameworks facilitate easier application maintenance,
enhance future development efforts, and ensure high-quality
applications.

Developers get results quickly without in-depth knowledge of the
programming language. VisualWorks supports the design of a production
application that is maintainable and extendable, not merely a
prototype or throw-away code. The application framework is completely
object-oriented,  which enables developers to reuse not only the
interface but the application logic that defines the application.
Applications can be reused individually or as a part of another
application. The framework enables the application, not just the
code, to leverage the features of object-orientation.

An application module can be created and all applications that use
this module will automatically inherit any new behavior assigned to
the original. For example, changing the five digit zip code to nine
digits on all the appropriate interfaces could require weeks of
programming. With VisualWorks, the change is made once and replicated
everywhere, saving significant time on application maintenance.
VisualWorks is the only ADE that provides a reusable application
framework.

Instant Cross-Platform Portability  --  Applications developed with
VisualWorks run on all leading platforms without requiring
recompilation.  It is the only ADE that provides users with such
flexibility in platform choices. This open, portable architecture
applies to both the client and server sides of the application. For
example, if an application is developed for the PC under Windows, it
is automatically available on OS/2 Presentation Manager, Macintosh,
and Unix systems under OPEN LOOK or Motif. The developer only
maintains one set of source code for all of the industries leading
platforms.

Smalltalk -- VisualWorks' object-oriented foundation is Smalltalk.
Most other ADEs offer proprietary scripting languages which are not
suited to manage complexity or change. With VisualWorks, users may
create simple, graphical interfaces, as well as access the power of
Smalltalk to develop industrial-strength, reusable applications.
Smalltalk is a fully object-oriented language, incorporating mature
class libraries over 400 classes and 7,000 methods and powerful
development tools. Its object-oriented  memory manager leads the
industry in sophistication and performance. With the Smalltalk
foundation, VisualWorks enables users to take advantage of true
object-oriented capabilities, such as inheritance,
polymorphism and encapsulation. This facilitates code reuse, improves
programmer productivity and ensures high-quality application
development.

Price and Availability

VisualWorks is currently shipping on Intel-based 386 and 486 PCs
under Windows 3.1, Apple's Macintosh, Quadra and PowerBook under
System 7, Sun 4, IBM RS/6000, HP 9000 Series 700, Digital DECstation
under Ultrix and Sequent's Symmetry 2000 Series multiprocessing
system under OPEN LOOK or Motif as appropriate. VisualWorks is
currently in beta on OS/2 and NeXT platforms, and is expected to ship
in January, 1993..

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., ParcPlace Systems is the premier, full
service provider of object-oriented solutions for software
developers. ParcPlace products include integrated development tools
and class libraries that enhance application development in the two
industry standard object-oriented languages, C++ and Smalltalk.
ParcPlace recently expanded its commitment to its C++ offering with
the acquisition of the Solbourne OI Software Business Unit. ParcPlace
also offers training, technical support and consulting, as well as
courses in object-oriented design and methodology.



____________________________________________________________________

 =>   12. Servare Shipping NeXT Compatible Multi-Session PHOTO CD ROM
          Player with Free PHOTO CD Reading Software

News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 1, 1993

Contact: John Ferretti, Vice President/Sales
        Servare Business Systems
        25201 Paseo de Alicia, Suite 230
        Laguna Hills, California
        800-221-2217

SERVARE BUSINESS SYSTEMS NOW SHIPPING NeXT COMPATIBLE MULTI-SESSION
PHOTO CAPABLE CD ROM PLAYER WITH FREE PHOTO CD READING SOFTWARE

LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA-Servare Business Systems announced today
that it is shipping a MicroNet multi-session, Photo CD capable ROM
Player. The NeXTSTEP compatible CD ROM Player comes with free Photo
CD reading software and a cable.

        You can now have up to 100 35mm pictures, slides or negatives
transferred to a KODAK Photo CD by your local KODAK photo finisher.
These photos can include everything from sales presentations, staff
pictures to your home snapshots.  This places them at your fingertips
on your NeXT computer for viewing, printing or inclusion in
presentations, newsletters, reports, illustrations and multi-media
activities.

        The new multi-session (can be recorded multiple times) photo
CD compatible drives allow a Photo CD which contains more than one
roll of film to be accessed by the Servare Business Systems supplied
free software.

        The CD ROM player is also fully computer data, photo and
audio compatible and allows you to listen to your favorite audio CDs
through a full stereo audio output jack with volume control.  The
drive also supports High Sierra, ISO-9660, and Rockridge file
formats.

        Servare Business Systems has 7 years experience developing
custom software & database applications. Servare Business Systems is
an Authorized NeXT Computer, Inc. reseller,  an Authorized MicroNet
Technology Inc. Distributor and a reseller of high density OEM memory
(4,8,16 and 32 MB SIMMs).

        The CD ROM player, including free cable, terminator and free
software are shipping immediately.



____________________________________________________________________

 =>   13. Trego Systems Announces Managed Health Care System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  December 18, 1992

CONTACT:   Ellen Williams      Donald Stinnett
           Trego Systems       Franciscan Health System of Cincinnati
           [phone]      [phone]

TREGO SYSTEMS SIGNS FIRST AGREEMENT FOR MANAGED CARE SYSTEM WITH
FRANCISCAN HEALTH SYSTEM OF CINCINNATI

SUMMARY: Trego Systems of Walnut Creek, CA announced the signing of
their first customer, Franciscan Health System of Cincinnati, who
will be installing CaseServ - Trego's managed care system.  Trego is
dedicated to providing the most comprehensive provider based managed
care solution on the market today.

WALNUT CREEK, CA -- Trego Systems finalized an agreement with
Franciscan Health System of Cincinnati of Cincinnati, Ohio to install
the CaseServ managed care application in each of the System's three
Cincinnati hospitals; Providence, St. Francis-St. George, and
Emerson.

According to Don Stinnett, Vice President of Finance and Chief
Financial Officer at Franciscan, "We have chosen a vendor who is
defining what "state-of-the-art" means in the managed care area of
information systems. CaseServ is the only product on the market today
that will administer capitation arrangements. The system is the
cornerstone for Franciscan Health System of Cincinnati becoming
"managed care friendly", both with our patients, as well as with the
insurance carriers".

Franciscan will be using the CaseServ application to monitor all
aspects of the System's managed care business, including anticipated
capitation arrangements.  NeXT workstations will be placed in
strategic locations throughout the institutions to facilitate access
to managed care contract information, eligibility lists, decision
support capabilities, and care protocols.  CaseServ will be
interfaced to the hospital's patient accounting system on a daily
basis.

"This agreement with Franciscan marks a very important milestone in
our company's history," said Ellen Williams, president and CEO of
Trego.  "Franciscan believes strongly in our product vision and
understands the competitive advantages which will result from having
CaseServ as a resource for their institutions.  Their desire to
participate as our initial implementation site and first customer is
just one example of their proactive approach to the radically
changing healthcare delivery environment.  We are very proud of the
fact that they have chosen us as their partners."

Trego Systems was founded in 1991 in order to address the evolving
systems needs of healthcare providers in the increasingly complex
managed care arena.  Headquartered in the highly volatile California
healthcare marketplace and maintaining a regional office in Atlanta,
Georgia, the company is focusing its efforts on building
comprehensive solutions for meeting the challenges faced by all of
the parties involved with managed care contracts in provider
institutions.  Taking full advantage of the best technology offers,
the system runs on a client/server UNIX workstation platform,
utilizing NeXTSTEP, the premier graphical user interface and
object-oriented development environment, and incorporates all current
healthcare standards including HL7.

NeXT Computer, Inc. designs and markets the industry-acclaimed
NeXTSTEP object-oriented software environment, and designs,
manufactures and markets UNIX-based workstations that run NeXTSTEP.
NeXTSTEP and NeXT workstations are used by medium and large
organizations to develop and deploy mission-critical applications,
using both custom and shrink-wrapped software.  NeXT is headquartered
at 900 Chesapeake Drive, Redwood City, California, 94063.

###



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continued in issue 6.5