Software Quarterly

VisualAge and IBM Smalltalk: Object-Oriented Power Tools


VisualAge and IBM Smalltalk revolutionize how developers create business applications. Developers can create complex applications on OS/2 or Windows in a fraction of the time normally required with the simplicity of visual construction, using VisualAge and the powerful object-oriented IBM Smalltalk environment.

VisualAge: For Client Applications

VisualAge provides everything developers need to build client/server applications. It's a power tool for developing industrial-strength applications, many of which require no code to be written at all. Developers merely select parts from the extensive parts library and make the appropriate connections on the screen.

When developers need new parts, they can write them in IBM Smalltalk, the pure object-oriented programming language included with VisualAge. As an alternative, they can get new parts from vendors participating in the IBM Object Connection Program, or they can build their own parts using C or COBOL; VisualAge will automatically make the parts behave like objects. In addition, the support of Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) allows developers to exchange data between two VisualAge applications, or between VisualAge and conforming commercial software packages.

Applications written with VisualAge are actually IBM Smalltalk objects. Organizations can reuse these objects in either product without change.

In addition to IBM Smalltalk, VisualAge provides add-on features, which are actually prefabricated parts, including:

VisualAge includes access to the IBM DB2 family of relational databases: DB2 on the mainframe, DB2/400 on the AS/400, DB2/6000 on the RS/6000, and (using Distributed Database Connection Services) DB2/2 on OS/2-based PCs. In addition, VisualAge exploits the 32-bit power of OS/2 with support for DB2/2. DB2/2 supports a complete suite of functions, such as server-enforced referential integrity, an advanced cost-based optimizer, roll forward recovery, industry-standard SQL support, stored procedures, dynamic and static SQL support, and of course, host DB2 suppo on next page)

In addition, VisualAge features a platform portability approach. Customers can develop applications for OS/2 or Windows and, without change, deploy them on either platform.

VisualAge applications are scalable -- developers can write them for single users or for an entire enterprise. The Team version helps move large-scale team development into an object-oriented environment. It includes a LAN central library of classes, parts, and subsystems that developers can access and update concurrently. VisualAge also supports source and object code tracking, version control, and configuration management. VisualAge Team adds the extra benefits of advanced test facilities, enhanced packaging capabilities, and run-time performance analysis tools.

Organizations can adopt VisualAge without in-depth, object-oriented skills and ease the transition to object-oriented programming.

IBM Smalltalk: The Language of Objects

IBM Smalltalk is an industrial-strength, standards-compliant Smalltalk development environment.

Developers can write, run, and debug code and repeat the process without leaving the Smalltalk environment. Iterative development and easy prototyping allow developers to work more closely with end users to make sure that applications are not only delivered fast, but are consistent with expectations.

IBM Smalltalk provides 32-bit capability; a fully documented application programming interface (API) based on industry standards for user interface controls, graphics, file system, and base Smalltalk language classes; and a Smalltalk virtual machine, as well as data encapsulation, polymorphism, and inheritance.

IBM Smalltalk includes a comprehensive class library that facilitates code reuse and portability, allowing developers to spend less time rewriting code and more time focusing on the strategic objectives of the application. Programs written to IBM Smalltalk's interfaces are fully portable across supported platforms without modification. The ported applications even take on the look and feel of the native platform.

IBM Smalltalk includes:

The Team version provides version control for management of classes and components as well as configuration management.

See also:

The Credit Suisse Group

Cooperative Teams Enable OO Application Development


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