University of Utah spin-out Hippo Software Inc in Salt Lake City says it has a $240 package that runs on Windows NT-based personal computers and enables developers to write programs that are source code-compatible with both NT and Unix, reports ClieNT Server News. The package, called Hippix and developed at the university’s Center for Software Science, includes Unix commands and libraries that Hippo maintains will enable Unix users to integrate personal computers into their Unix networks cost-effectively by giving them identical tools for both systems. Hippix also runs on OS/2 systems and Hippo claims to have an installed base of OS/2 customers. The Hippix command set includes 100 utilities implementing most of the IEEE Posix 1003.2 and 1003.2a draft standards such as the general utilities, the awk pattern-directed scanning and processing language, grep pattern file searcher, sh interactive scripting language, and vi, the text editor. It also provides programming utilities such as lex, yacc and rcs that simplify software development. Hippo says support for these commands on personal computers increases the ease of multi-system integration and systems administration. The Hippix programming library supports 90% of the functions of the Posix 1003.1 System Application Programming Interface. All Hippix utilities are implemented using functions in the programming library. Developers can use 150 functions to implement non-graphical sections of their applications and what results is said to be source-compatible with Posix-compliant Unix systems. The company intends making a beta version of the NT software available this month. The commands can be bought separately for $180. Hippix is Hippo’s first product and it is currently trying to figure out its target market.
