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Newsbits

By Scott T Boyd, Editor

New Development Toys

CodeWarrior CW4 has some new features. You can expand and collapse segments in a project window, and add resource files and PowerPlant Constructor documents. CW4 has improved integration with the Metrowerks debugger, and you can debug PowerPC shared libraries, 68k code resources,and 68k threads.

CW4 includes Pascal for PowerPC (1.0dr1) and Universal Pascal interfaces for both 68k and PowerPC. C/C++ compiler goes faster in less memory (e.g. MacApp 3.1 links in half the memory), has inline function support in precompiled headers, and new pragmas.

CW4 has “intrinsic” functions to generate special floating point and low-level synchronization PowerPC assembly instructions PowerPlant now comes as a shared library which you may distribute free of charge. “Attachment” classes change the runtime behavior of objects.

Constructor adds support for tab and radio button groups, internal templates for user-defined data fields, and non-window views and printouts. Profiler is improved, and ZoneRanger is now included. CW4 has 500 additional pages of online documentation. For more info, contact custservice@xplain.com, or call 310/575-4343.

Corruption, Leaks, and More!

The Memory Mine™, a new $99 tool for Macintosh and PowerPC that lets programmers find elusive problems with memory management such as memory leaks and heap corruption much faster than before, is now available. The tool dynamically but non-intrusively monitors use of memory in any open application and shows heap inconsistency and memory leaks as they happen.

In addition to monitoring, The Memory Mine lets you easily stress test memory management in an application, with features to allocate memory in a heap, zap free space, and purge and compact memory. It’s a stand-alone tool: no trap patching, and nothing is inserted in code. An application can be monitored as a whole with no need for source code. Or, used with a debugger to set breakpoints in code under development, you can monitor and test sections of code.

It can be used to tune the start-up size of any application to a user’s work habits. The Memory Mine runs native on the PowerPC, and needs a Mac with a 68020 or better and System 7. To order The Memory Mine, or for more information, call Adianta Inc. at (408) 354-9569 voice, (408) 354-4292 fax, Applelink ADIANTA, AOL: Adianta.

Low-Hanging Figs

ScriptLink, the product that lets your Newton send AppleScript messages to any scriptable application on an AppleTalk network, is now shipping from Creative Digital Systems. Subscriber price is $425.

Electric PIE Developers 2.45 has about 12 pages of PDA developer-related news, a writeup on the Wireless Datacomm conference that took place in San Jose a few weeks ago and Paul Pott’s MacHack ’94 epic. All in all, 20 pages of high density information for PDA developers. There is no overlap between the printed and electric versions of the magazine. It’s available at ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/cds. For more info, call (415) 621-4252 voice, (415) 621-4922 fax, or e-mail cds@netcom.com.

NS BASIC for the Newton

NS BASIC, an implementation of the well-known BASIC programming language, is available for Newton. The product is aimed at business, educational and scientific marketplaces.

You can write programs on the Newton without a host system. The environment is completely interactive. A full complement of functions and data types is provided. Handwritten input, windowing and buttons are supported. Applications can create their own files or access built-in system information, such as Addresses, Notes and Calendar entries.

It includes a 150 page user manual full of examples. Sample code can also be downloaded.

NS BASIC is available through the MacTech Mail Order Store for $99.00. For more information from NS BASIC Corporation, write or call them at 77 Hill Crescent, Toronto, Canada M1M 1J3, (416) 265-5999), Fax: (416) 264-5888, or through the internet at gh@hookup.net.

BasicScript

Summit Software Company announces the availability of BasicScript 2.1 Toolkit for Macintosh and BasicScript 2.1 Toolkit for Power Macintosh, which allow you to add scripting language capabilities, with the same syntax as Microsoft’s Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), to Macintosh applications.

The BasicScript Toolkits for Macintosh and Power Macintosh consists of the BasicScript Compiler, Runtime, and Script Editor/Debugger. The BasicScript Compiler generates code that will run without recompilation on all platforms supported by BasicScript, including Windows 3.x, 4.0, and NT, Macintosh (including PowerMacs), MS-DOS, UNIX, NetWare and OS/2. The BasicScript Runtime is a high-performance interpreter that end users can distribute without royalties. The BasicScript Script Editor/Debugger provides the end user with an integrated development environment for scripts.

Get your free evaluation copies of the BasicScript Toolkits for Macintosh and Power Macintosh. Summit Software licenses BasicScript for Macintosh and Power Macintosh to its customers for royalties and/or license fees. Pricing varies.

For more info, e-mail bfisher@summsoft.com, or mail 2844 Sweet Road, Jamesville, NY 13078. (315) 677-9000 voice, (315) 677-3224 fax.

Address Correction

We incorrectly reported an address in our August issue: Water’s Edge Software, PO Box 70022, 2441 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, L6L 6M9

Updated GCS Compressor

Glen Canyon Software updated GCS Compressor, its compression engine for use with Apple’s Installer. New features include a scripting language for automating archive building, and a simple method of splitting large compressed files across multiple disks. The scripting language can specify specific files or files within a folder to add to an archive.

$329 licenses a single product, $599 licenses any number. No annual license or per copy charges. Upgrades are $79.

For more info, contact Glen Canyon at 3921 Shasta View, Eugene OR, 97405. AppleLink: GlenCanyon, Internet: gcs!info@efn.org, or by phone at (800)477-6947 or (503) 345-6360 voice, or 503-345-6503 fax.

Bad News/Good News

Advanced A. I. Systems announced that it’s ceasing development of AAISFull Control Prolog for the Macintosh. The current version, 3.1.3, will be the last. AAISProlog has been available on the Mac since 1986.

AAIS is offering a special last chance to own price of $99 (plus $8 S&H) for both the AAISFull Control Prolog development system and the AAIS Prolog Program Creator runtime-distribution system (originally listed at $794). There is no royalty charge for distribution of applications created using Prolog and the Program Creator. The product includes approx. 720 pages of documentation, and 15,000+ lines of Prolog code.

For more info, contact AAIS at POBox 39-0360, Mountain View, CA 94039, or by phone at (415) 948-8658 voice, (415) 948-2486 fax, or by e-mail at AAISProlog@aol.com.

4D on the InfoBahn?

ACI announced a new feature in 4D First - graphical USENET newsgroup interface. 4D First is a $99 database which comes with ten ready-to-use (and ready-to-modify) database templates, and it comes with an interface builder. You can search, sort, export, and print, as well as send and receive e-mail, as well as drag and drop things between folders.

For more info, contact ACIUS at 20883 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA95014. (408) 252-4444 voice, (408) 252-4829 fax. AppleLink: D4444.

Object Pascal for PowerMacs

Language Systems shipped their Object Pascal compiler at Macworld Expo in Boston. LSObject Pascal CD (beta release) [do we detect a trend? - Ed stb] contains over 100 MB of developer tools and documentation. It includes Pascal compilers for both 68K and PowerPC-based Macintosh computers, interface files, source level debuggers, and MPWtools for creating native applications.

Included is a custom version of AppMaker, from Bowers Development, which creates a complete Mac user interface in minutes, then generates commented Pascal source files automatically. Language Systems is working with an independent co-op of developers to find a solution for a native version of MacApp 2.0.

LS Object Pascal sells for $399, includes e-mail tech support and free monthly updates, including the final release later this year. Developer support package that includes unlimited telephone support and one year of free updates is available separately for $199. Language Systems stands behind their products with a full money-back guarantee. (800) 252-6479, (703) 478-0181 voice, (703) 689-9593 fax, ALink LANGSYS

Power APL

MicroAPL announced a new implementation of APLfor the Power Macintosh which is 100% compatible with previous 68K versions (and highly compatible with Manugistics’ APL*Plus III, the leading Windows APL). APLLevel II includes a new object-based UI builder facility, and has been reengineered to take advantage of the PowerPCprocessor.

The new APL adds support for QuickTime, has an improved development environment, and improves APL multitasking. Math runs faster, too. For example, integer arithmetic runs about ten times faster. They got these speed improvements by using PortASM, their assembly-language translation tool, to port the APL.68000 interpreter to the PowerPC architecture.

Version 3 of APLLevel IIis available for $900, and includes both 68K and PowerPC versions of the interpreter. Upgrades cost $200 for 68K only, or $450 for PowerPC. Level I owners can upgrade for the same price until January. For more info, call (201) 307-9099 in the US, and +44 71 922 8866 in the UK.

Taligent Prepares Enterprise for Launch

Apple, hp, and IBM announced roll-out plans for 1995. Apple will ship the application environment (TalAE) on PowerPC and PowerOpen, as well as the People, Places and Things human interface. hp will ship TalAE on HP-UX, and IBM will deliver TalAE on OS/2 and AIX. Apple and IBM will work to ensure interoperability with OpenDoc and Taligent technologies. In 1996, when Apple migrates to a microkernel-based OS, Apple will host Taligent Object Services when they ship a microkernel OS in 1996, and will start to build in Taligent technologies.