Nearly a year to the day since it released Version 5.0 of its CorVision application generator, Waltham, Massachusetts-based Cortex Corp has unleashed a new client-server implementation, Version 5.1. This enables developers to generate applications running on Digital Equipment Corp OpenVMS servers and Microsoft Corp Windows clients – without having to write a single line of Microsoft code. Cortex acknowledges that going with old VAX technology may seem curious but argues that its business is to provide products for those customers wanting to make the most of their existing systems rather than run new ones. In any case, future CorVision releases are to support up-to-the-minute technologies such as DEC’s Alpha AXP running OpenVMS, DEC OSF/1 and Windows NT. And an all-Unix release, Version 5.2, which is planned for around nine months time, will support NCR Corp, IBM Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co, Sun Microsystems Inc, Pyramid Technology Corp and Sequent Computer Systems Inc machines. CorVision generates applications from a central repository which collects, stores and manages detailed application details like design specification, screen and report descriptions, data description, entity relationships and procedures. The repository supports multi-user development and features a guidance system for tracking applications, a security checker to ensure consistency, and provides text comments for user documentation. It then produces ‘ready to go’ applications automatically. Version 5.1 generates source code for both OpenVMS VAX servers and Windows, including the native resource files that govern the user interface and Posix-compliant C source code that is compiled and linked using Microsoft C or C++. The CorVision server supports full read-write access to DEC’s Rdb, RMS and VAX DBMS databases along with Oracle, Sybase, Ingres and Informix. The system also interfaces with KnowledgeWare’s IEW/ADW, Intersolv’s Excelerator, DEC’s CDD/Repository and DECdesign tools. DEC’s Pathworks networking software provides the client-server connections. Developing client-server applications requires Microsoft’s C/C++ Development System for Windows Version 7.0; an OpenVMS VAX server with 0.5 VAX MIPS and at least 2Mb of memory per concurrent developer – or Microsoft’s Windows Software Developer Kit Version 3.1. The system can also be used to build terminal-host applications for other open systems including HP-UX, AIX, Santa Cruz Operation Inc’s System V/386 version 3.2 and DEC RISC/Ultrix. One customer for instance is using CorVision to build an RS/6000-based application, using a VAX as the repository. Pricing is based on numbers of users with around UKP20,000 to UKP25,000 the cost of a typical system. CorVision is currently being used by some 1,600 sites for applications ranging from financial systems, health care information, manufacturing/material management and commodities trading information. Customers include Eastman Kodak Co, E I Du Pont de Nemours, Societe Generale and Credit Lyonnais with Yorkshire Water in the UK being one of the first to sign up for CorVision 5.1. CorVision is Cortex’s sole offering and is sold direct to the US, UK, and via its newly opened Australian and Hong Kong offices. A network of dealers also distribute the product to the rest of the world. The UK is the company’s most important European market although it is virtually equalled now by that of South East Asia – now Cortex’s fast growing international market.
