Inprise SA launches rapid development tool for enterprise applications

Inprise SA today launched Borland C++ Builder 4.0, a rapid development tool (RAD) for distributed computing. Announced earlier this month in the US, together with borland.com (locally borland.co.za), Inprise`s new company, C++ Builder 4.0 is a major new version of the company`s flagship C++ development system.

Jeff Barca-Hall, VP of research and development at borland.com, says Borland C++ Builder 4.0 targets a vast number of developers, "from individuals building applications in their homes and garages to corporate developers building multi-tier, distributed applications for the enterprise".

Darren Crowder, Senior Product Manager at Inprise SA, says Borland C++ Builder 4.0 adds useful new features and enhancements for the Borland developer community, boosting productivity and simplifying development of multi-tier and distributed applications.

Borland`s new C++ release sports 70 new features and more than 230 enhancements. According to Crowder, a major new feature is integrated support for Common Object Request Broker Architecture (Corba), an industry standard for communicating between objects distributed across an entire enterprise. The Builder retains support for Microsoft Component Object Model (COM). Corba support includes a Corba object request broker (ORB), VisiBroker and wizards to generate Corba servers, clients, interface definition files and object implementations, says Crowder.

"C++ developers can now build both client applications and server objects that are interoperable with Unix, Java and Windows platforms. Windows applications can now reach across to Unix and even mainframe servers," he explains. "Developers can use both COM and Corba, which is a real plus." Crowder says

Borland C++ Builder is a true two-way visual programming environment and the only C++ environment to support drag-and-drop development. "It brings the ease of use of Visual Basic with the power of Visual C++ in a completely integrated development environment (IDE). With C++ Builder a programmer no longer needs to switch between Visual C++ for back-end logic and Visual Basic for user interface and prototypes."

The C++ Builder comes with the new multi-standard flexible code compiler with support for the latest ANSI/ISO C++ language specifications and improved support for Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC), Microsoft Active Template Library and Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS).

"The Inport wizard allows a developer to take Microsoft Visual C++ code and projects, as well as its Object Windows Library, and recompile them with C++ Builder with no human intervention," he adds.

C++ Builder developers can leverage the widest variety of existing C++ code investments. Developers can now use millions of existing projects, samples, classes and components available for C++ Builder, Borland C++, ANSI C++ and Visual C++.

"It promotes code reuse in a big way," says Crowder. "We can take Microsoft code and run it on Solaris. It took me less than a minute to take one of the snippets from Microsoft Software Development Kit, with more than three million lines of code, and recompile it with C++ Builder."

C++ Builder 4.0 also comes with tools for creating Microsoft compatible code such as COM client objects and ActiveX controls, and provides full support for Windows 95, 98 and NT, including multiple monitors, common controls, docking forms and toolbars.

Crowder says borland.com has also added a host of tools to assist developers of data access and Web-based applications, including native drivers for Oracle8 and Microsoft SQL 7.0.

Internet tools include ActiveForms for building Web browser C++ applications and WebBroker for building CGI, WinCGI, ISAPI and NSAPI C++ applications. Included are over 25 Internet protocol applications for instantly adding HTTP, FTP, SMTP, POP, NNP, HTML TCP/IP support to any C++ applications.

Crowder says development shops will love C++ Builder`s enhanced debugging facilities. Debugging tools support all the features including remote debugging for distributed development (COM and Corba), multi-process and cross-process debugging with debug inspectors, dynamic watch windows and debug tooltips. Developers will also appreciate Code and Parameter Compilation, ClassExplorer live structured ClassView and class member creation wizard.

The package includes Multi-Tier Database Development Services (MIDAS) Development Kit for simplifying the development, integration and deployment of thin-client, distributed database applications.

Borland C++ Builder 4 product line

All of the features described above are included in Borland C++ Builder 4 Enterprise edition. A detailed matrix of the features included in Borland C++ Builder 4 Enterprise and Borland C++ Builder 4 Professional is located at www.borland.co.za/bcppbuilder.

Pricing and availability

Borland C++ Builder 4 Enterprise and Borland C++ Builder 4 Professional are available immediately from major software distribution channels. Pricing structure (estimated street prices):

• C++ Builder 4 Professional, new user: R1 999

• C++ Builder 4 Professional, upgrade/cross grade (current Borland C++Builder , Borland C/C++ , MS Visual C++, MS Visual Basic, PowerBuilder, Power++ , any competitive tool): R1 799

• C++ Builder 4 Enterprise, new user: R11 999

• C++ Builder 4 Enterprise, upgrade/cross grade (current Borland C++ Builder C/S , Borland C/C++ , MS Visual C++ Enterprise, MS Visual Basic Enterprise, PowerBuilder, Power++ , any competitive enterprise tool): R9 999