Fourth-Generation Language, Application Development Software, Prototype, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Directories, CompuServe Data Technologies -- Product information, and System 1032 Application Facility (Data base management system) -- Usage

Prototyping performed with fourth-generation language (4GL) tools is an effective way to complete the design phase of end-user programming projects. Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) is increasing in the development environment and influencing the complexity of new prototyping tools. CompuServe Data Technologies defines prototyping as a skeleton of a software program or application in progress. A prototype can be used to demonstrate the application before it is complete so that users can provide feedback regarding its usability and capabilities. Prototypes can be discarded after use, or they may be modified and revised into a finished product. A prototype is especially useful for establishing precisely what is to be developed for a user. Prototyping supplements, but does not replace planning and rational database administration. Compuserve's System 1032 Application Facility, SmartStar Corp's SmartStar, Cognos Corp's PowerHouse 4GL and others are discussed. A list of 4GL product vendors is included.

Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Application Development Software, Applications Backlog, Cost Benefit Analysis, and Trends

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools are not just being used in the design portion of a product life cycle, but are extending into the front end and further in the cycle. CASE tools are providing structured methodology and early prototyping in the analysis and design stage, thus enabling higher management and customers to see that their problems, needs, and objectives are being properly addressed. Reusable design modules are facilitating early prototyping, reducing total design time and costs, and assuring consistency of product. The trends in reusable data include capturing the logical abstractions of a design for reusability. Trends in next-generation CASE tools include design checking and tools to suggest appropriate environments or platforms for the product.

Directories, GUI, Rapid Application Development, Computer Software Industry, Trends, Prototype, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Applications Programming, Product Development, Application Development Software, CA Technologies Inc. -- Product information, and CA-Telon/Designer (Program development software) -- Product development

Graphical user interface (GUI)-based computing imposes new requirements on program development software and new demands on programmers. To fulfill the demand for application development programs that meet new GUI requirements, computer aided software engineering (CASE) manufacturers such as ESL are adapting new GUI-based products to design interfaces. Other firms such as Computer Associates International Inc are changing the way their products handle prototyping, joint-application development (JAD) and other types of rapid application development techniques. Computer Associates' CA-Telon/Designer, to be released in 1992, will consist of a GUI interface for the developer and a GUI dialog editor.

Simulation of Computer Systems, Program Development Techniques, Software Metrics, Software Design, Modeling, Cost Benefit Analysis, Application Development Software, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, User Studies, HyPerformix Inc. -- Product information, Wind Tunnel Software Inc. -- Product information, Science Applications International Corp. Comsystems Div. -- Planning, Baxter Healthcare Corp. -- Planning, SES/Workbench (Application development software) -- Usage, and Performance Architek (CASE software) -- Usage

Many corporate developers are using simulation tools such as Scientific and Engineering Software Inc's SES/Workbench to identify problems in client/server systems before prototyping. Systems integrator Science Applications International Corp, a large bidder on federal government projects, uses modeling to save money by validating designs in the early stages of the bid process. It runs SES/Workbench on Sun SPARC workstations. Baxter Healthcare Corp, a hospital-supply vendor, uses WindTunnel Software's Performance Architek to unravel the complexity of enterprise-wide client/server architectures. Information systems managers at both companies say the products give them good results but that they must still get many modeling parameters through trial and error. They caution that modeling is not an absolute science and that users may not be able to determine return on investment via standard cost/benefit analysis.

Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Applications Programming, Enhancements, Program Development Techniques, Application Development Software, Industry Analysis, Trends, Comparison, and Programming Management

Survey after survey of software personnel indicates that broader implementation of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) is probably the best strategy to address the critical shortage of quality software development and skilled programmers. Consequently, CASE products constitute one of the fastest growing segments of the computer industry. CASE tools typically follow one of three methodologies: the life cycle approach, rapid prototyping, or structured development techniques. The most popular structured methodologies include: Yourdon, Warnier-Orr, Gane-Sarson, SADT, PSL-PSA, Martin, Ward-Mellor, and Hatley. The methodologies consist of graphical symbols representing concepts, rules for how symbols relate in a diagram, and procedures in which activities are performed. Rules can be data-driven, process- or function-driven, and-or event- or state-driven.

Company systems management, Company proprietary systems/proprietary software, Reengineering, and MLC Life -- Information management

MLC Life, an Australian life insurance and financial services company, uses an object-oriented approach to make a variety of legacy databases available to users through a single interface. The new system is called Gemini, and it represents MLC's attempt to add value to the user end instead of undertaking the enormous task of reengineering the company's databases. Gemini combines two previously existing systems, the Reactive Customer Service (RCS) system and an imaging and workflow system. RCS is an automated front-end for the company's mainframe, and staff use it to process customer requests and to maintain data integrity. The imaging system routes the work to the appropriate staff member. MLC attributes the success of Gemini to its object-oriented technology, which allows reuse and rapid prototyping. The company spent six months developing a stable technical infrastructure before beginning application development.

Company system downsizing, Company process management, Reengineering, and GTE Telephone Operations Inc. -- Planning -- 00123584

GTE Telephone Operations is incorporating object-oriented development technologies in its corporate reengineering program. GTE Corp began the reengineering effort in 1991 in order to respond to changes in the telecommunications industry. The company pledged $1.3 billion in 1994 to overhaul its business processes and IT systems as well as its corporate culture. The Telephone Operations unit is positioning itself for emerging markets by revamping its billing processes and reducing its costs for telephone lines. Nearly half of the budget is targeted for IT operations, including software, hardware and network systems. The company's new Requirements Analysis and Prototyping for Integrated Designs (Rapid) internal development methodology is the basis for applications development and reengineering.

Applications Programming, Program Development Techniques, Performance Improvement, and Prototype

Software developers should scrap the traditional construction and/or manufacturer metaphors they use to describe their work and adapt instead evolutionary prototyping, which seems more fitting to the organic nature of software development. Over 80 percent of software development projects are sometimes or usually late. More than half of the projects overrun their budgets because of changes in design and implementations. The traditional metaphors help perpetuate the delays and high costs because they liken software development to rigid structures and do not recognize the concept of software development being based on incomplete knowledge. Adapting a 'nature' metaphor for software development provides it with room for learning and growth.

Petroleum Industry, MIS, Case Study, Programming Management, Fourth-Generation Language, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, System Development, Global Petroleum Corp. -- Management, Unisys Corp. -- Product information, and Unisys LINC (Computer program) -- Usage

When Global Petroleum Inc, a multibillion-dollar petroleum distributor, decided to sell natural gas in addition to oil, the computer systems had to be completely reconfigured to accommodate new measurement standards, buyers, sellers and price structures. The company has maintained a competitive edge by using fourth generation languages (4GLs) with its mainframe processors. The company uses Unisys' Linc 4GL, which has reduced the number of staff needed and the time spent on projects. By enabling design teams to prototype and develop quickly, Global spends more time with end users. This is one aspect of joint application development (JAD) that the Linc 4GL incorporates. The Linc Systems Approach (LAS) uses evolutionary prototyping, incremental functional delivery and object-based design, and includes computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. Global's system building methodology, excellent staff and single high-level toolset with fast and logical development of complex applications are the three factors that keep the company ahead of the competition.

Product Introduction, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Application Development Software, WYSIWYG, Interactive Systems, Kartech Inc. -- Product introduction, PC-Proto III (CASE software) -- Product introduction, IBM PC (Intel-compatible system), and IBM PS/2 (Intel-compatible system)

Kartech, Inc., Dedham, Mass., has announced the release of PC-Proto III, an interactive Case tool with WYSIWYG system design. The prototyping and system design tool allows designers to present a [...]

Time Management, Product Development, Management Style, Companies, Productivity, and Work Load Forecasting

The concept of the time box, a fixed period of time in which the normal mode of operations is altered or intensified, entered computer science jargon as part of the Rapid Iterative Product Prototyping method of writing software programs. Businesses have also adopted the time box concept in order to deliver services faster and more efficiently. A time box should be a very short period of time in which specific tasks are to be accomplished by a team. A small, but significant, change is scheduled for each time box period. Time boxes increase the quality of work by placing pressure on team members, requiring that they cooperate and concentrate. The process tends to increase creativity and minimize wasted effort.

Applications Programming, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Prototype, Trends, and Impact Analysis

Harlan Mills' concept of 'growing' software systems through an incremental development process facilitates top-down prototyping as well as top-down or bottom-up improvements or additions. Computer environments are becoming more complex, and this is reflected in increasing software complexity. Unfortunately, there have been no 'order-of-magnitude' improvements in software productivity, simplicity or reliability comparable to the advances in computer hardware. Computer-aided software engineering methodologies have attempted to provide some structure to the steps involved (requirements analysis, specification, designation, construction and quality control) and enable applications developers to pursue a higher level design perspective.

Fourth-Generation Language, Technology overview, Enterprise network, Application Development Software, Software Selection, and MIS

MIS must deal with rising software development and maintenance costs even as hardware costs drop precipitously, which is causing many IS shops to take a new approach to enterprise application development. Many companies fare less well after migrating from Cobol to object-oriented programming; a better choice for many organizations is the use of fourth-generation languages (4GL) for enterprise development. Enterprise 4GLs must provide DBMS, OS, and transaction-processing independence; they must also support automatic dynamic partitioning of logic, and they must be high-level languages that are easy to learn. The languages are not interpretive and compile code at least as efficiently as Cobol compilers; they also support fast prototyping. Corporations will find it easier to accept 4GLs after discovering that object-oriented languages are more confusing than beneficial.

Product Introduction, Debugging/Testing Software, Testing, Accuware Inc. -- Product introduction, and AccuTest (Debugging/testing software) -- Product introduction

A regression testing product, AccuTest is available from Pittsburgh-based AccuWare. AccuTest consists of two components: the Data Manager, a testing system with capture/replay, and prototyping and relational database capabilities; and [...]

Product Introduction, Applications Programming, Application Development Software, Client/Server Architecture, Fourth-Generation Language, Sybase Inc. -- Product introduction, and APT Workbench (Application development software) -- Product introduction

Sybase, Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., has introduced API Workbench with application development and deployment support for Unix, VMS and DOS. APT Workbench is a 4GL development environment for prototyping, building [...]

Product Introduction, Application Development Software, Clarion Software Corp. -- Product introduction, and Clarion Database Developer 3.0 (DBMS) -- Product introduction

Clarion Software Corp., Pompano Beach, Fla., is shipping Clarion Database Developer V.3.0, an upgrade to the Clarion Professional Developer. V.3.0 combines application prototyping, language processing an database independence. Custom components [...]

Product Introduction, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Software Packages, Sterling Software Inc. -- Product introduction, and The Sterling Developer 4.0 (CASE software) -- Product introduction

From Sterling Software, Chatsworth, Calif., The Sterling Developer Release 4.0 for Windows 3.0 is a Case Workbench for application analysis, prototyping and design. The Sterling Developer supports any methodology or [...]

Product Introduction, Application Development Software, Computer-Aided Software Engineering, Enhancements, Applications Programming, Multiuser Software, Learmonth and Burchett Management Systems PLC -- Product introduction, and Systems Engineer 2.0 (CASE software) -- Product introduction

LBMS Systems Engineer 2.0, a multiuser Case tool operating under Windows 3.0, is available from Learmonth Burchett Management Systems, Inc., Houston. New features include pseudocode generation and function prototyping. Pseudocode [...]

Applications, Custom Software, and DEC VAX (Minicomputer)

Du Pont's Information Engineering Associates (IEA) unit has begun customizing software applications for VAX computer users. The price of these custom programs is about half of the normal development costs and three to six times less than other customized software packages. Du Pont does this by using the Applications Factory from Cortex Corp and modifies it according to their own Rapid Iterative Production Prototyping (RIPP) methodology. In early 1989 the company intends to add application development for IBM MVS to its line and predicts that within the next ten years Case technology and customizable software will be the mainstays of the industry.