NeXT Nugget News Digest (vol. 4, issue 4, July 30, 1992) Please direct your comments and feedback on the content of this NeXT User Group newsletter to: nugget@next.com. ***** NOTICE ***** NeXT Nugget News Digest is now archived on the Purdue archive site: The archived issues for April-June 1992 are available now on: sonata.cc.purdue.edu. The compressed tar file is located as ... /pub/next/submissions/Nugget_News_Digest_Q2_1992.tar.Z. All previous Nugget Digests issues are located in the /pub/next/Newletters/Nugget directory also on the Purdue site. NeXT employees can find the archived issues in mailbox format in the /LocalLibrary/NeXTUserGroups/Nugget_News_Digest directory. Conrad Geiger Manager, International NeXT User Groups __________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS I. AppWrapper is going electronic using CD-ROM for distribution II. NeXT Computer & Object Design Announce Joint Development III. NeXT JOINS OMG (Object Management Group) IV. NeXT Announces ObjectWare: Component-Based Software V. Los Angeles Systems Analyst Position Open __________________________________________________________________ I. AppWrapper is going electronic using CD-ROM for distribution! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jesse Taylor Paget Press, Inc. 2125 Western Avenue, #300 Seattle, Washington 98121-2136 (206) 448-0845 or The electronic version of the omni popular AppWrapper (EAW) is now going to press. To have your programs/documents included in the first distribution, or your NeXT User Group description files available to scribers of the EAW you must contact Paget Press as soon as possible. Call or write for more information. Send a request for information or an ad kit with your internet address to "eaw@paget.com". ___________________________________________________________________ II. NeXT Computer and Object Design Announce Joint Development For Immediate Release: Contacts: Steve Parker Emily Brower Object Design, Inc. Allison Thomas Associates (617) 270-9797 (415) 777-0270 Sue Parente The Weber Group (617) 661-7900 NeXT Computer and Object Design Announce Joint Development Agreement Partnership Will Create Next-Generation Object-Oriented Storage Technology SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 1992 - Object Design, Inc. and NeXT Computer, Inc. today announced that they have signed an agreement to jointly develop the next generation of object-oriented storage and database technology. Under this agreement, Object Design will port ObjectStore 2.0, the most recent version of its object-oriented database product, to NeXTSTEP Release 3.0. This product will be available by the end of 1992, and will be marketed and distributed by Object Design. In addition, NeXT and Object Design will jointly develop the next generation of object storage and database technology, with the intention of creating an industry standard. NeXT will incorporate these products into future versions of NeXTSTEP, its highly acclaimed object-oriented operating environment. Object Design will license these open products to other vendors. "Once again, NeXT is taking the lead in defining and developing object-oriented technology standards," said Steven P. Jobs, chairman and CEO of NeXT. "We partnered with Object Design because they are the leaders in object storage technology. We jointly developed Display PostScript with Adobe, and our goal is to jointly develop the `PostScript' of object storage with Object Design." "NeXT is a defining force for object-oriented software development," said Ken Marshall, president and CEO of Object Design. "The results of our collaboration will not only be available to NeXT and Object Design, but also open to other companies. This new standard, co-developed by NeXT and ODI, will change the way developers create end-user applications." Object-Oriented System Software NeXT's object-oriented system software, NeXTSTEP, is rapidly gaining support with developers, who recognize that they can build NeXTSTEP applications in a fraction of the time required by traditional, procedural programming tools. By encouraging the development of reusable code that is easier to maintain and enhance, NeXTSTEP object-oriented development tools reduce the cost and time needed to create complex applications. According to a recent study by Booz Allen, NeXTSTEP reduces the amount of code needed to develop a complex application by as much as 80 percent. Object-Oriented Storage Systems Vital to Industry Future Object-oriented storage and database technology is the next logical area for further increasing object-oriented software development productivity. Object-oriented databases are important for two reasons: They reduce considerably the amount of time needed to develop database applications, and they enable the shared management of all data types, including audio, video and graphic data. Object-oriented databases support and extend the object paradigm, allowing developers to store the objects used to build object-oriented applications. Because they support general software development, object-oriented databases improve the quality of applications of many kinds, not just traditional database applications. In contrast to existing relational database systems, which are ideal for applications containing text and numerical data, object-oriented databases can manage data of tremendous complexity, including graphics, audio, video, text, voice and images. They can also manage the kinds of data associated with relational systems. Based on object-oriented technology, future database applications will include complex, collaborative systems, such as concurrent engineering, multimedia information systems and media-rich workgroup tools. By managing the storage of complex information, object-oriented storage systems will enable the rapid development of these kinds of innovative applications. About ODI Object Design is the leading supplier of object-oriented database management systems worldwide. The company's principal product ObjectStore executes in a client/server environment of computers using the UNIX or Microsoft Windows operating system. Object Design is headquartered in Burlington, Mass. and has regional offices in Chicago; Los Angeles; San Mateo, Calif.; and Tokyo, Japan. About NeXT Computer 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. -30- ___________________________________________________________________ III. NeXT JOINS OMG (Object Management Group) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emily Brower Allison Thomas Associates (415) 777-0270 NeXT JOINS OMG NeXTSTEP Objects Fully OMG Conformant SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 1992 - NeXT Computer, Inc. today announced that it has joined the Object Management Group (OMG) as a corporate member and plans to participate in the OMG by submitting its technology for consideration. In addition, NeXT announced that its rich set of NeXTSTEP objects are all fully OMG conformant. As a result, NeXT becomes the first computer company to ship an OMG-conformant suite of objects, significantly ahead of its competitors. The OMG-conformant objects include those provided in NeXTSTEP Release 3.0, NeXT's latest release of its highly acclaimed object-oriented environment, as well as the third-party NeXTSTEP objects included in the NeXT OBJECTWARE catalog, which was announced today. NeXTSTEP 3.0 also includes Distributed Objects, placing NeXT significantly ahead of its competitors in the race to offer distributed objects. The announcements were made at ObjectWorld, a conference dedicated to both the technology and business of object-oriented software, being held here through July 23. "We are certainly pleased to see NeXT, a leading provider of object-oriented technology, join the OMG," said Chris Stone, president of the OMG. "We welcome NeXT's full participation in our work to establish widely used standards for object technology." "NeXT is the only platform with real OMG objects available now, way ahead of our arch rival Sun," said Steven P. Jobs, chairman and CEO of NeXT. "NeXT is pleased to participate and offer its expertise in the OMG, the industry's leading consortium focused on object-oriented technology. In joining, we also bring the experience and knowledge of the entire NeXTSTEP community numbering in the tens of thousands to the OMG, with the result being better object-oriented technology for the entire industry." "This is one more demonstration that NeXT is leading the way in object-oriented systems," said Tom Campbell, senior vice president at the First National Bank of Chicago, a NeXT customer. About the OMG Headquartered in Framingham, Mass., with marketing operations in Boulder, Colo., the OMG is an international organization of systems vendors, software developers and users founded to promote the theory and practice of object management technology in the development of software. Its goal is to develop a common framework for object-oriented applications based on industry guidelines. The adoption of this framework will make it possible to develop a heterogeneous applications environment across all major hardware and operating systems. OMG membership spans five categories: corporate, end user, associate, university and subscribing memberships. Corporate members are entitled to full participation in all OMG activities, including voting on the acceptance of technology for OMG standards, serving on OMG's Technical Committee and submitting technology for adoption. About NeXT 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. -30- NeXT, the NeXT logo, NeXTSTEP and ObjectWare are trademarks of NeXT Computer, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. ___________________________________________________________________ IV. NeXT Announces ObjectWare: Component-Based Software FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emily Brower Allison Thomas Associates (415) 777-0270 NeXT Announces ObjectWare: Component-Based Software Happening First On NeXTSTEP SAN FRANCISCO, July 21, 1992 - At the Object World '92 conference here today, NeXT Computer, Inc. announced ObjectWare, component-based software for application development. NeXT also announced NeXT OBJECTWARE, the industry's first object catalog, containing more than 100 commercially available objects from more than 50 NeXTSTEP developers. "While the rest of the industry is still dreaming about objects, NeXT is delivering real objects now, and our customers are buying and using them," said Steven P. Jobs, chairman and CEO of NeXT. "This ObjectWare catalog marks an historic event in the software industry." NeXTSTEP's object-oriented architecture makes possible a new category of software, which sits between traditional system software and traditional application software. Called ObjectWare, it consists of objects that can be bought and licensed by developers to create custom applications much faster. Emergence of an Object Marketplace "Nine months ago we predicted that an object marketplace would begin to appear," said Doug McLeod, an analyst at International Data Corporation (IDC). "NeXT's ObjectWare catalog is tangible evidence that this prediction is coming true with NeXTSTEP. I was impressed by the diversity of the objects in the catalog, with nearly every major category represented. Given that NeXTSTEP has been object-oriented from the beginning, it's not surprising that the trend toward component-based software is happening on NeXT first." Object-oriented technology is increasing in popularity because it addresses a growing demand for software that is faster and easier to develop, plus simpler to maintain and revise. Numerous studies show that the single largest cost in a software application's life cycle is in maintenance and upgrades. With object-oriented technology, customers can not only create custom applications more quickly, but also significantly reduce the amount of time and effort needed to maintain and enhance the software. Nowhere is the trend toward object-oriented software more evident than in vertical markets that have highly specific needs, such as financial services, health care and legal. Developers in these markets can use objects such as those listed in the ObjectWare catalog to build specialized applications for financial modeling, simulation, database access and management, health care, communications, document management, publishing and decision support. ObjectWare: Real Objects Right Now Software objects provide real-world functionality that developers can incorporate into any kind of application. Objects in NeXT's ObjectWare catalog include the following: - objects for incorporating bar codes into any type of printed matter; - an object that converts English typed text into words "spoken" by a NeXTSTEP computer; - a "document engine" that can provide the basis for component-based publishing applications; - an object library for developing distributed networking applications; - objects for mathematical modeling and financial simulation; - objects for scanner and serial port device interfaces; and - graphing and 3D display objects. In addition to its 100 commercially available objects, NeXT's ObjectWare catalog features a selection of free, public domain objects. Some of the objects listed were derived from custom applications. For example, financial trading objects provided by Anderson Financial Systems (AFS) for the NeXT ObjectWare catalog were distilled from earlier custom projects for its Wall Street clients. AFS's TradeKit objects provide pre-written code for standard trading functions, such as ticket writing and position management. Even developers with minimal knowledge of the securities industry can use these AFS objects to create custom trading applications in a fraction of the time previously required. In a separate press release, NeXT also announced today that all NeXTSTEP objects (those provided by NeXT as well as all third-party ObjectWare) are fully conformant with the Object Management Group (OMG)'s object model. The OMG, which NeXT announced it has joined as a corporate member, is considered the leading consortium focused on object-oriented technology. NeXTSTEP: An Architecture for ObjectWare Development The third-party objects and object kits listed in NeXT's ObjectWare catalog complement the mature library of foundation objects provided in NeXTSTEP. Since Release 1.0, NeXTSTEP has been based on rich classes of extensible software objects. Release 2.0 of NeXTSTEP added features and functionality common to all applications, such as integrated printing and faxing, color, interapplication communications and sound. The third generation of NeXTSTEP, due to ship in volume next month, will include kits of more complex objects (including the Database Kit, 3DKit, PhoneKit and Indexing Kit) as well as Distributed Objects, which extends NeXTSTEP's object-oriented paradigm for single applications to include messaging between different applications, machines and networks. Because all these objects run in NeXTSTEP, they can be subclassed and customized; combined, they provide most of the code needed to build a custom application. "The NeXTSTEP Application Kit is the best collection of objects I've ever seen," said Alex Cone, president of the software development company Objective Technologies, Inc. (OTI). "It allows us to create industrial-strength objects that are well-tested, versatile, generalized and well-documented. With NeXTSTEP, object orientation pervades the entire system. NeXT is the only system in which you can write purely object-oriented code." "NeXTSTEP's object-oriented development environment is what most of us had always wanted, but just didn't think was possible," said Vince Jordan, director of software development for WilTel's Advanced Technology Center, the nation's fourth largest fiber optic network and a NeXT customer. "Our current telecommunications network management system would have taken six to eight years to develop if we were working on our old platform." Ordering NeXT's ObjectWare Catalog NeXT's ObjectWare catalog is available now for $XX.XX and can be ordered by calling 1-800-TRY-NeXT. All objects in the catalog are available through their respective third-party developers. About NeXT Computer 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. -30- NeXT, the NeXT logo, NeXTSTEP and ObjectWare are trademarks of NeXT Computer, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. ___________________________________________________________________ V. Los Angeles Systems Analyst Position Open From: barba@tds.com Subject: Senior Systems Analyst for NeXT in Los Angeles, CA TRIDENT DATA SYSTEMS is a dynamic, fast growing firm within the management information system and technical security industries. We currently have the following outstanding opportunities in the Los Angeles, CA area. Senior Systems Analyst for NeXT: Requires a minimum 3 years experience programming in the NeXT environment. Will be a leading source for NeXT developer design questions and design/development knowledge. Candidate must be well-versed in Objective C, object-oriented analysis and design, Interface Builder, and NeXT AppKit programming. Experience with end-user application requirements analysis, relational databases, UNIX, Mach, and networking a plus. Trident Data Systems offers competitive salaries, company paid benefits, and the opportunity for professional growth. Interested and qualified applicants please send your resumes to: Trident Data Systems, 5933 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Attn: June Johnson, Corporate Recruiting. Electronic inquiries and resumes to John Barba . EOE A thorough background investigation and U. S. citizenship may be required. ___________________________________________________________________ end