dmcintee@netxcom.UUCP (Dave McIntee) (01/17/89)
Numerous products have come on the market in recent years in the category of Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE). These are systems for building systems. CASE tools aid systems developers in the creation and validation of various types of diagrams. Techniques include DeMarco/Gane and Sarson dataflow diagrams, state-transition charts, structure charts, Chen or Martin entity-relationship diagrams, and others. Some even allow you to define your own symbols and modeling rules to set up your own diagramming techniques. These tools represent, for a Macintosh user, a paradox: They are all graphics applications - with mouse, icons, windows, menu bars - and they all run on IBM PCs. (This is a slight exaggeration, as there are a handful running on VAX/VMS, UNIX and IBM MVS, but the vast majority run under MS-DOS.) What adds to the puzzlement is that these are CPU- and memory-intensive applications; some won't boot in 640KB of memory, while others "will run on a 286 machine, but we URGE you to consider a 386- based platform". So why isn't the Macintosh at the fore, or moving to be, in this market? If you have information or comments, please mail to me; I would be delighted to be proven incorrect. I'll summarize any responses. -- Dave McIntee NetExpress Communications, Inc. Phone: (703)749-2380 1953 Gallows Road, Suite 300 uunet!netxcom!dmcintee Vienna, VA 22180