Tools Plus Pro Brings Advanced Features to Mac Apps
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO–December 21, 1998–Creators of Macintosh
applications and plug-ins will soon enjoy a number of advanced
features that used to be available only in Microsoft’s Windows
operating system. These new features will allow Macintosh developers
to deliver enhanced functionality that is not available in Mac OS,
and one will contribute to reducing development time, effort, and
code complexity.
Water’s Edge Software, the company best known for award-winning Tools
Plus libraries + framework, has rewritten portions of their
rapid-development tools to take advantage of Apple Computer, Inc.’s
new Mac OS 8.5 operating system, and to exploit the power of the
third-generation (G3) PowerPC processors found in all Macintosh
computers being made today. Among the enhancements seen in this
newest release are windows that drag and resize in real time,
enhanced multitasking capabilities, and a completely revised “modern”
application infrastructure. “We’re tapping into previously unseen
power reserves in every Mac,” said Water’s Edge president, Steve
Makohin.
Tools Plus Professional, a logical follow up to Tools Plus libraries
+ framework, gives Macintosh developers a new, highly simplified way
of writing applications using conventional tools and languages.
Water’s Edge Software is breaking from a long-standing Macintosh
tradition by replacing the “event loop” and its related routing and
event processing code with simple “event handler” routines that
respond to events on the element, window, and application level. The
developer simply writes the code that responds to the user’s
interaction with a specific user interface element, much like
scripting a fourth generation language (4GL). This gives Mac
developers much of the ease-of-use and rapid development capabilities
found in 4GLs while retaining the flexibility, speed, and compact
memory and disk footprint that is typical of hand-tuned code.
“I know of no other Mac development tools that incorporate this
advanced architecture,” Makohin told reporters. “It’s a distinct
strategic advantage found only in Tools Plus.”
Although Water’s Edge is quick to point out the advantages of
shortening developers’ “time to market,” users of applications
written with Tools Plus Pro will benefit not only from new features
that are not offered by other development environments, but also from
an overriding sense of “quality” that is prevalent in Tools Plus
applications. The result promises to be an enhanced user experience.
The Tools Plus “Pro” edition replaces all previous variants of Tools
Plus libraries + framework with a single CD that supports the
industry’s most popular programming languages and compilers: C, C++
and Pascal on Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior, Symantec’s C++, THINK C/C++,
and THINK Pascal. Both 680×0 and PowerPC-native libraries are
included. Tools Plus Pro is bundled with several megabytes of custom
controls (SuperCDEFs), custom windows (WDEFs), icons, animated color
cursors, fonts, and other valuable resources. User documentation,
which has been rated by many as being “the industry’s finest,” is in
the form of a spiral bound printed manual and an equivalent
electronic manual in multiple formats.
All Tools Plus software development kits include one year of free
software updates, major upgrades, world-class technical support,
unlimited access to the Tools Plus Developer Forum (no special
software required), a subscription to Water’s Edge News, and other
electronic services. Three major software releases are scheduled per
year.
Priced at $249 (US), Tools Plus Pro begins shipping on January 5,
1999, timed to coincide with Macworld Expo in San Francisco. A
special show price of $199 will be offered by DevDepot to
Macworld attendees. Tools Plus Pro is also available under academic
license (without SuperCDEFs) to qualifying members of academia for
only $99.
Macworld Expo will also signal the debut of a limited edition “Tools
Plus Lite.” The single CD package includes Tools Plus Pro libraries +
framework in 680×0 format for CodeWarrior, in C, C++ and Pascal, and
an electronic user manual. It is bundled with custom windows (WDEFs),
icons, animated color cursors, fonts, and other resources. Tools Plus
Lite lists for $149 (US) and includes an upgrade coupon to Tools Plus
Pro. It is available for a limited time, exclusively through
DevDepot for only $99.
Tools Plus Pro and Tools Plus Academic are available directly from
Water’s Edge Software. Tools Plus Pro and Tools Plus Lite are
available from DevDepot at 1-800-622-3381 or
http://www.devdepot.com
Tools Plus libraries + framework was rated “4 1/2 mice” by Macworld
magazine, honored as a Macworld/MacTech Editors’ Choice Awards
finalist for “Best Rapid-Development Tool,” and critically acclaimed
in various publications. They first empowered programmers in 1992 by
providing an effective alternative to “code generators,” and continue
to be instrumental in helping developers with varying skills quickly
create polished, professional-level applications and plug-ins.
Water’s Edge Software creates leading-edge rapid-development tools
for Macintosh developers throughout the world. Their credo of “making
fans out of customers” has resulted in exceptional customer
satisfaction and loyalty. Prominent clients include: Adobe Systems
Inc., Alcatel, Apple Computer, Inc., Department of Defense, E!
Entertainment Television, MIT, NASA, Nortel, Northrop Grumman,
Prudential Bank & Trust, Rockwell, Sandia National Laboratories,
Sony, UMAX, US Air Force, Army, and Navy, and Warner Brothers.
Water’s Edge Software, 2441 Lakeshore Road West #70022, Oakville,
Ontario, Canada, L6L 6M9; Phone 1-416-219-5628; Fax 1-905-847-1638;
Email wateredg@interlog.com; http://www.interlog.com/~wateredg