Lincolnwood, Illinois-based Expert Object Corp – known as Exoc was previewing a version of its ExoCODE visual interface programming system for OSF/Motif running on a DECstation at UniForum a few weeks back, and has now revealed its intentions to release second generation tools for AT&T’s Open Look interface at the beginning of March. ExoCODE enables developers to create Motif- or Open Look-compliant user interfaces by interactively drawing a prototype via the mouse, and then automatically generating C language calls to the native OSF/Motif or XView toolkits. The advantage, according to Exoc spokesman Barry Bowen, is that graphical user interfaces cane be generated in around a tenth of the time required by conventional programming. It can take a programmer up to six months to get up to speed using the native toolkits direct, said Bowen. With Exoc they are ready to begin within the first week. Generated code can be immediately compiled or customised. The company offers ExoCODE/DXM for the MIPS RISC-based DECstations, but plans to implement it for other systems as Motif becomes more widely used – it is priced at $1,495 for a single user licence. In March, ExoCODE Plus for Open Look will include enhanced panel list items that work around limitations of the XView toolkit, there will be additional capabilities for resizing pop-up windows, pinning menus and font and colour configurations, as well as the HyperMatrix application support toolkit, to speed the integration of the user interface design with the back-end application. Exoc also produces AutoCODE for SunView interfaces on Sun Microsystems workstations. In the UK, the tools are available through The Desktop Connection Ltd in Manchester.
