[153] in OS/2_Discussion
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daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bernie Thompson)
Fri Mar 18 13:49:19 1994
From: bernie@bjt105.rh.psu.edu (Bernie Thompson)
To: os2www@MIT.EDU
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1994 13:48:34 -0500 (EST)
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 1993 20:45:49 -0800
From: cil@cil.org (Component Integration Laboratory)
Subj: CILab Brief
CILab Brief
===========
This is a brief introduction to Component Integration Laboratory (CILab),
including its background, purpose, and goals.
Transition to Software Components
---------------------------------
Software developers want to create applications more quickly and deliver
more functionality. Users want more control over the applications they
use and the documents they create. Everyone wants to support multiple
platforms and access to distributed information and services.
Because of these needs, the industry is ready for a move to software
components. Using software components, users can build compound
documents that seamlessly integrate text, graphics, tables, multimedia,
scripts, and other forms of content. In effect, sophisticated users can
build custom applications.
At the same time, software components allow software developers to focus
on their competitive advantage, while providing a richer feature set by
bundling multiple components. This allows them to leverage OEM software
opportunities, and also to develop new business opportunities based on
vertical bundles and a wider range of upgrade paths.
The technology to make this move to software components is here today.
Unfortunately we are starting to see the signs of a familiar problem --
multiple incompatible technologies, potential market fragmentation and
awkward choices for developers and users.
Providing a Reliable Foundation
-------------------------------
A group of companies including Apple, IBM, Novell, Oracle, Sun, Taligent,
WordPerfect and Xerox have come together to organize the Component
Integration Laboratory (CILab) as an industry association that will
provide a common foundation for software components.
CILab is not a standards organization. Instead, the founders plan to
have it adopt, maintain, license, and support essential software
component technologies, such as object dynamic linking, object storage,
scripting mechanisms, and compound document APIs.
By providing reference source code for these foundation technologies,
the Lab can make sure that a common software component architecture is
rapidly implemented across all the major industry platforms, including
Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, OS/2, and various UNIX systems.
Foundation Technologies
-----------------------
The founders are planning to start CILab out with a very complete set of
foundation technologies:
* The System Object Model (SOM), a highly efficient object dynamic
linking mechanism, which supports multiple languages and
provides a gateway to distributed object services.
* Bento, a portable object storage library and format designed for the
storage and interchange of compound documents and multimedia.
* The Open Scripting Architecture (OSA) an automation and scripting
API that supports application independent scripting, distributed
automation, and workflow applications.
* OpenDoc, a platform independent compound document architecture that
supports integration of multiple software components into seamless
documents and custom applications.
Three of these initial technologies are already available from their
developers: the System Object Model from IBM, and Bento object storage
and the Open Scripting Architecture from Apple. IBM and Apple have
announced their intent to provide these technologies to CILab in early
1994.
The compound document API, OpenDoc, is being implemented in parallel by
Apple, IBM, WordPerfect, and other companies, and these companies plan
to transfer it to CILab when it is complete, in late summer of 1994.
In addition to these initial technologies, over time CILab plans to
adopt other technologies that enrich the industry-wide component
software foundation. Several companies have already initiated
discussions with the Lab regarding the possibility of donating specific
technologies.
Membership in CILab
-------------------
We are planning to open CILab for general membership in early 1994. Lab
members will gain participation in decisions and early access to
technology.
In addition, over time we are planning to provide a wide range of
services to members, including certification to ensure interoperability,
developer support, training, and co-marketing.
We are very interested in talking to potential members to determine what
technologies and services would have the greatest value to them as
members of CILab.
Contacting CILab
----------------
We'd be happy to answer further questions about CILab. If you would like
to talk with us further regarding our plans, please contact us.
Email: cil@cil.org
VOICE: (415) 750-8352
Fax: (415) 751-4829
US Mail: Component Integration Laboratory
688 Fourth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
..
