rjf@ukc.ac.uk (Robin Faichney) (11/10/88)
University of Kent Software Tools Group
New Product Announcement
Dp makes inter-program communication as easy as it can
possibly be. There are no port numbers or similar
addressing schemes - instead, each program simply registers
the name by which it wishes to be known, and that is all
that another need know in order to reach it across a network
- though specification by host and by user are also
provided. Having been specifically designed for the
graphical workstation environment, dp is fully network
transparent. Integers, character strings and user-defined
data may be communicated, in addition to byte streams.
Experience in the design, implementation and use of
applications with dp has lead to additions and modifications
to its facilities. The design and implementation of
applications in which IPC plays a substantial part, require
considerably less effort using dp than would otherwise be
the case.
At present a number of applications based on dp are being
offered free with it. These include
dprog -
a 'thin-layer' graphical user-interface to dp, designed
for demonstration purposes, which further reduces the
learning curve for potential users.
vconf -
a graphics-interfaced conferencing utility designed for
the workstation environment.
dpvf -a dp interface to the Kent Software Tools (KST)
utility vf (not supplied). This is a visual file
browser which interprets file formats and displays them
accordingly. Dpvf, with the standard output/dp
interface dpi (supplied), allows the simultaneous
monitoring of multiple 'live' streams across a network.
These applications come as source code, as does the KST
interactive graphics package wn. This will work with
Sunview, X10 and X11 on Sun 2s and 3s and DEC VAXstations.
Dp is offered as a development package comprising the
complete C source code for the communications server and the
client-side library of routines. BSD 4.2 type IPC is
required. It will compile and function without modification
under at least vanilla BSD 4.2, SunOS 3.5 and ULTRIX 2.2.
Complete documentation for dp and wn is included in the
offer, with a dp tutorial and a number of simple, non-
graphical example programs.
For further information contact
Robin Faichney
The Computing Laboratory
The University
Canterbury
Kent
UK
CT2 7NF
Tel: (+44) 227 764000 ext. 7681
E-mail: rjf@ukc.ac.uk
Dp Prices (International)
(The UK pricing structure is different - see the limited
distribution article.) There are two separate prices,
depending on the nature of the buyer:
(A) Academic institutions who wish to use dp for teaching
and research.
(B) All others.
The prices quoted include cartridge tape, air mail and
packing. Dp comes on 30-day approval, and is issued on a
cartridge tape in standard tar format.
The prices below are for the complete C source code for dp,
including future releases. The sources of certain
applications and the interactive graphics package wn, as
mentioned above, are presently free with dp. BSD 4.2 type
IPC is required for dp and X and/or Sunview for wn and the
applications. Prices are in pounds Sterling.
Price Code Price
--------------------
(A) 135.00
(B) 340.00
For an order form please contact
Mrs. J. Farmer
The Computing Laboratory
The University
Canterbury
Kent
UK
CT2 7NF
Tel: (+44) 227 764000 ext. 7695
E-mail: jcf@ukc.ac.uk