[comp.lang.smalltalk] Smalltalk-80 Interface Builder

frobozz@well.UUCP (Jordan Bortz) (12/13/89)

Several people have asked about Smalltalk-80 Interface Builder's,
so I thought I'd respond:

Higher Level Software, along with several partners, is on the verge of
releasing our Interface Builder for Smalltalk, along with a 
database interface toolkit...

The IB allows users to paint applications in a manner similar to HyperCard,
ResEdit, et al, and allows users to select from a set of View classes
(widgets) or construct their own.  Further, the user may define the
connections between objects.

In addition to allowing the easy creation of standard panes, dialogs, and
interfaces for applications, the system is highly suited for
hyper-text, and hyper-card like functions, and includes
a video-disk interface for educational applications.

Additionally, a set of classes for interacting with standard UNIX RDMS
applications is provided to allow the easy construction of applications
portable to, and usable by, a number of systems existing on a network.

Standard views include: switches, menus, radio-buttons, picture views,
text-views, emacs-views, pallete views, as well as user-defined views.

The system is fully multitasking, and allows easy interprocess communcation.
A full set of standard dialogs is also provided, to handle routine 
user-interface queries. The facility also provides for resource managment,
and the importation of foreign resources.

The goal of this system is to be the pre-eminent application generating
tool for the 90's, allowing power,portability, and speed to the developer.
Additionally, we have streamlined and improved  much of the debugging
and testing facilities of standard Smalltalk-80.


Currently the system runs on the Mac,Ps/2, Sun, Apollo,  and Dec workstations,
and is slated for release Q1/Q2 '90.  However, early licensing is being
provided for those whose short-term demand is high.

For additional information, feel free to contact me at
well!frobozz, or give us a call at 408-476-8464.

Jordan  Bortz, President
Higher  Level Software-- 
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*  Jordan A. Bortz, Higher Level Software, Santa Cruz, CA             *
*  well!frobozz frobozz@well.sf.ca.us   408 - 476 - 8464              *
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