New Eiffel development system released

[Birgit Becher <birgit@hact.de>]

A revolutionary new Eiffel system has been developed by the German 
software
company Halstenbach ACT GmbH. The product, named iss-base, is, according 
to the
company, "one of the most powerful object-oriented visual development 
systems
currently available".

iss-base, which is running under MS Windows 95, MS Windows NT, SVR4, 
HP-UX, AIX,
SCO UNIX, Sinix, and SUN Solaris, contains a number of components:

iss-bench is an interactive tool containing the Eiffel compiler, an 
automatic
dependency checker, source code debugger, object inspector, as well as 
powerful
browsing capabilities.

iss-build is an interactive dialog and application builder, enabling the 
user to
easily construct so-called TUNE templates which serve as reusable and 
redefinable
building blocks for assembling graphical user interfaces. iss-build is 
the
graphical front-end for iss-vision, the underlying user interface 
management
system targeted to Microsoft Windows platforms. The TUNE system provides 
a number
of facilities like dynamic layout and configuration of graphical objects, 
an
integrated message system, and many hooks for integrating application 
specific
classes.

iss-libraries contain a multitude of reusable components: iss-baselib is 
the
implementation of numerous basic data structures and algorithms as Eiffel
classes; iss-store delivers the entirety of ODBC functionality over 
Eiffel
classes; and iss-net enables the user to develop client/server 
applications in a
heterogeneous environment.

iss-system-licence, with its integrated Garbage Collector, is needed to 
execute
the applications developed with iss-base.
 
iss-base is currently available as version 1.5. The company offers a 
"Private
Licence" to individuals and students which is available for US$ 199,- and 
offers
the same functionality as the commercial version.

Further information can be obtained at the Website of Halstenbach ACT
(http://www.halstenbach.de) or via e-mail (info@halstenbach.de). The 
information
is currently available in German; an English version is under 
construction and
will be available soon.