AppForge Software Simplifies Visual Basic Development Platform for Motorola's M-CORE Technology; AppForge Toolkit Enables Anyone to Write GUI Software on MMC2001.ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 1999-- Driven by the demand for quick time-to-market software in wireless markets, AppForge Software announced the availability of the AppForge Toolkit for Visual Basic(R). The Toolkit enables product developers to build embedded applications faster and more efficiently on Motorola's M-CORE(TM)-based product, the MMC See MultiMediaCard and Microsoft Management Console. 2001, by leveraging a graphical user interface graphical user interface (GUI) Computer display format that allows the user to select commands, call up files, start programs, and do other routine tasks by using a mouse to point to pictorial symbols (icons) or lists of menu choices on the screen as opposed to having to (GUI (Graphical User Interface) A graphics-based user interface that incorporates movable windows, icons and a mouse. The ability to resize application windows and change style and size of fonts are the significant advantages of a GUI vs. a character-based interface. ) delivered via visual software tools. This new development in embedded software Instructions that permanently reside in a ROM or flash memory chip. Embedded software may be immediately available to the CPU or, for faster execution, may be transferred to RAM first and then executed. enables Motorola to extend existing rapid application development tools, like Visual Basic, to simplify the creation of applications for non-PC devices. AppForge leverages the maturity and power of the Visual Basic development environment by allowing embedded application programmers to design and code within the familiarity of Visual Basic. By eliminating the need for time-consuming recompiles to test for code errors, an application can be honed before being installed on the intended device. Customer applications can be developed in a matter of days rather than months. Software and hardware can be developed concurrently, reducing the necessary time-to-market. "A natural pair, AppForge collaborates with the M-CORE 32-bit RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. microprocessor in the low-power space," said Mark Lummus, chief executive officer of AppForge. "Together, these technologies address the needs of numerous Visual Basic developers by shortening the development cycle and improving productivity." The AppForge suite currently includes three components: AppForge Toolkit for Visual Basic that consists of the AppForge Visual Basic compiler and utilities for packaging and transferring compiled applications to a device; AppForge Ingot ingot Mass of metal cast into a size and shape such as a bar, plate, or sheet convenient to store, transport, and work into a semifinished or finished product. The term also refers to a mold in which metal is so cast. Kits comprised of components designed for specific platforms (an Ingot is a special ActiveX control A software module based on Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) architecture. It enables a program to add functionality by calling ready-made components that blend in and appear as normal parts of the program. that can also be used in the AppForge Runtime); and AppForge Runtime, including native code that runs AppForge applications on a non-PC device. "Together the MMC2001 and the AppForge Toolkit represent a compelling solution and an exciting development for embedded software," said Jim Thomas Jim Thomas may refer to:
The AppForge Toolkit is now available. About M-CORE Introduced in 1997, the M-CORE microprocessor architecture broke industry records for acceptance, garnering a record $1.2 billion USD USD In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the U.S. Dollar. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. in design wins for the corporation in the first six months. It was created in Austin, Texas by a team of seasoned Motorola microprocessor designers specifically for the battery-powered device marketplace. Its inception was driven by the needs of the cellular telephone and paging markets, which require performance, the lowest possible power consumption and the lowest possible system cost. EDN magazine named the M-CORE Architecture one of the hot technologies of 1998. About the AppForge Toolkit for Visual Basic The AppForge Toolkit for Visual Basic is a component-based development system that runs Visual Basic applications on non-PC devices like Internet appliances, cell phones, and PDAs. The Toolkit includes a plug-in compiler for the Visual Basic integrated development environment See IDE. integrated development environment - interactive development environment (IDE), custom ActiveX components, and utilities for configuring devices to run the AppForge Runtime. The AppForge Runtime includes an RTOS (1) (RealTime Operating System) An operating system designed for use in a real time computer system. See real time system, embedded system, process control and OS-9. , the Visual Basic virtual machine (VM), and native code implementations of the ActiveX components. The applications developed using AppForge are platform-independent -- all one needs is the AppForge VM on the platform. Memory requirements are low: a minimum 128 Kbytes of RAM, and 256Kbytes of ROM. About AppForge Software AppForge Software, LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control , with headquarters in Atlanta, is revolutionizing embedded software development with RAD software tools. The developers at AppForge have expertise in developing embedded systems hardware and software for medical, vertical, and consumer markets. AppForge develops visual software tools to make embedded systems programming accessible to every developer. For more information, contact AppForge Software, LLC at 678/686-9000, info@appforge.com, or visit the Web site at www.appforge.com. Note to Editors: All tradenames, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. M-CORE is a trademark of Motorola Inc. |
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