Le Club Macintosh de MontrƯal
Publication: InterFace
Issue: June 1992
Author: John Markle
Series: NeXTdirections
Title: NeXTstep 3.0 ± The Standard Bearer
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NeXTdirections
Reflections on programming the NeXT computer
by John Vincent Markle


NeXTstep 3.0 ± The Standard Bearer


	NeXTstep is the object-oriented system software provided with the NeXT line of interpersonal computers.  It provides a workspace manager for interfacing with the powerful Mach/UNIX operating system and a comprehensive toolkit for building custom applications.  NeXTstep Release 3.0 is due to ship this summer.

	The overall NeXT design philosophy is best stated, I believe, in the executive summary of NeXT Networking and Connectivity, a white paper which NeXT published in January, 1992: "¼ Our view is simple: Use standards whenever possible. Develop new technologies when users are dissatisfied with current industry offerings, or when current offerings limit important kinds of user functionality. And make NeXT's new technologies coexist in a heterogeneous world. ¼ the NeXT system is designed to fit in just as well as it stands out."

	Although I run the risk of drowning you in bafflegook, in order to demonstrate how this philosophy has been implemented, I must briefly mention some of the standard capabilities provided under NeXTstep 3.0.  (Note: technophobic readers can skip the following listing; technophilic readers can fill in the missing â and ä symbols.)

* Languages used (textual and vocal system messages):  English, French, 		Spanish, German, Italian, Swedish, Japanese.

* Data sharing with:  NFS, UNIX, DOS, OS/2, Windows, Macintosh.

* Floppy disks supported:  NeXT 1.44MB & 2.88MB, DOS 720KB & 1.44MB, 		Mac 1.44MB.

* Networks supported:  UNIX, SNA, LU6.2, Token-ring, X.25, X.400, AFS, 		Apple EtherTalk, Novell NetWare, IEEE-802.3 Ethernet, ¼

* Communications protocols supported:  TCP/IP, RPC, SMPT, sendmail.

* Communications utilities provided:  rlogin, rsh, rcp, tip, cu, UUCP, FTP, TELENET, TN3270, Kermit, Xmodem, Ymodem, Umodem, ¼

* Communications media supported:  POTS, ISDN, Group 3 Fax.

* Serial modems supported:  Hayes Smartmodem 2400 & 9600 V.32, 		Fastcomm 9696 FDX, Telebit T2500, ¼

* Fax modems supported:  DoveFax, FaxMaster 96/24, Neuron Fax, ¼

* Interdevice protocols supported:  SCSI-1, SCSI-2 pending.

* CD-ROM formats supported:  Rockridge, ISO-9660, High Sierra.

* Database adaptors provided:  ORACLE RDMS, SYBASE SQL Server.

* Display languages supported:  Display Postscript Level 2, RenderMan.

* Data format supported:  ASCII, EPS, RTF, RTFD, TIFF.

* Compression supported:  Lemepel-Ziv (text), Audio Transform Coding 		(sound), JPEG (TIFF graphics), Group 4 (faxes).

* Colour models supported:  RGB, CMYK, HSB, Pantone.

* Sound formats supported:  CODEC (telephone), low & high CD-quality.

* Music standards supported:  MIDI, MTC.

* Character sets supported:  American, European, Japanese.

* Printers supported:  97 different models from 27 manufacturers.
	
	Talk about compatibility:  the above listing reads like a Who's Who of the computing industry.  NeXTstep is indeed very well connected.

	In effect, NeXTstep 3.0 is trying to communicate and cooperate with most of the other computers out there, be they microcomputers, minicomputers, mainframes or supercomputers.  This is a refreshing change from the historical trend for computer manufacturers to build proprietary hardware and software products.  As a result, NeXTstep offers a much-needed alternative to a business community tired of being locked into one brand name, or, more likely, being stuck with a hodgepodge of hardware and software built up over time.

	In today's heterogeneous computing environment, NeXTstep can act as a glue to bind together disparate systems, as a bridge or gateway between different networks and applications.  This, I believe, is its true calling.  To simplify this undertaking, NeXTstep 3.0 will introduce a distributed object facility which will include an interprocess/intermachine message delivery mechanism.  

To secure this message transportation, NeXTstep 3.0 will also include a Fast Elliptic Encryption algorithm using public-key encryption.  Both of these innovations from NeXT could become a standard in their own right, if they deliver up to expectations.

	With this arsenal of standards at its disposal, NeXTstep 3.0 is well armed for any major computational undertaking.  Metaphorically speaking, you can build your own unique black box having those special features which match your particular requirements;  those features which you don't need, you simply ignore.  In effect, you can now have that missing link!

	Hence, in my opinion, there are no strong technological reasons against using NeXTstep for your business applications development.  Put simply, if an application can't be programmed under NeXTstep, I don't believe it can be programmed at all.

	On the other hand, there are three strong reasons for using NeXTstep.  First, it's the easiest and fastest application development platform around, as an independent study has shown.  Secondly, it is object-oriented from the operating system up, the only such system software currently available.  Thirdly, each successive release of NeXTstep will expand its capabilites even further through the inclusion of even more software standards.

	In summary, NeXTstep 3.0 represents the standard bearer of the computing industry of the future.

Next month:  THINK Again, MIS

[Interface, June 1992, Column #4]