---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash SPARC Application Conformance Toolkit SunFLASH Vol 23 #22 November 1990 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an announcement from SPARC International that you might find interesting. -johnj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPARC International Announces Availability of SPARC Application Conformance Toolkit Tools support new economic model for ISVs entering the SPARC/UNIX Market MENLO PARK, Calif. - October 29, 1990 -- SPARC International today released a suite of software tools called the SPARC Application Conformance Toolkit (SACT) that speeds and streamlines the development of SPARC Compliant software. Developed to lower the barrier to entry for software developers in the burgeoning SPARC/UNIX, systems market, SACT is a suite of general purpose source and binary tools that compare application code against a range of industry standards, including the SPARC Compliance Definition (SCD) standard. SACTS enables software developers to ensure binary compatibility across all SPARC Compliant hardware platforms as they develop their products. "Beyond conformance with specific versions of the SCD, SPARC International includes databases with SACT that allow ISVs to design to, and test for, compliance with a range of other international standards, including SVID (System V Interface Definition), POSIX, FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) and XPG (X/Open)," stated Phil Huelson, SPARC International's vice president of technology. "SACT is SPARC International's first major step in its strategy to support the development of a new business model for UNIX System V Release 4 ISVs that allows volume distribution of UNIX applications." SACT is currently available for SCD 1.0 (based on the openly-licensed SunOS 4.0.3), and will be available by the end of 1990 for SCD 2.0 (based on AT&T's UNIX SVR4 and the SPARC Application Binary Interface). SCD 2.0 began draft circulation this month among SPARC International members, and the database for SCD 2.0 is being developed in parallel with the review process. SACT is important for ISVs with products that currently run on SPARC systems from Sun, Solbourne, Toshiba, Tatung, Mars Microsystems, and the growing array of desktop SPARC systems from other vendors. Use of SACT is the first step toward SPARC Compliance, which gives ISVs access to the SPARC Compliance Trademark. As the cornerstone of SPARC International's worldwide branding program, this mark will be affixed to all application packaging, media labels, and initializing screens to let users know for certain that software product carrying the mark will run on SPARC systems that also carry the mark. According to Bob Duncan, SPARC International's CEO, "One of SPARC International's most important missions is giving users confidence in the integrity of the SPARC standard. We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the PC revolution where, in the early years of market's development, users couldn't be sure the software they purchased would work without flaw on their chosen PC clone." SPARC Application Conformance Tools The SPARC Application Conformance Toolkit consists of three major parts, a Source Level Test Suite, a Binary Level Test Suite and a Database of Definitions used to check code and procedure call usage. The Source Level Test Suite gives ISVs a set of tools to diagnose application source code, and verify that the software does not violate any of the standards incorporated into the comparison database. The Binary Level Test Suite verifies conformance at run-time. Both source and binary sets of tools are provided so vendors are able to incorporate these tests into their software development cycle at the appropriate times. Compliance Definition Migration Path The current set of tools verify against the SCD 1.0 definition which was released by SPARC International in May of 1990. The SPARC Compliance Definition 2.0, which is based on AT&T's UNIX System V Release 4 and the SPARC Application Binary Interface (ABI), began draft circulation among SPARC International Members in October. The database for SCD 2.0 conformance testing is proceeding in parallel with review of the draft edit with the intention of supplying SVR4 application development tools before the end of 1990. With this tool, SPARC International has minimized the effort the migration to SVR4 development. SPARC International SPARC International, located in Menlo Park, Calif., was founded in February 1989 as an independent, non-profit corporation chartered with the responsibility of the SPARC RISC architecture developed by Sun Microsystems. Membership is open to all component, hardware and software vendors as well as individuals who are committed to promoting SPARC and directing its evolution as an open RISC standard. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International based on technology developed by Sun Microsystems X-Window is a trademark of MIT X/Open is a trademark of X/Open, Ltd. POSIX is a trademark of X/Open, Ltd. For more information contact: David Fickes (415) 321-8696 x34 email: dfickes@sparc.com ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Sunflash is an electronic mail news service from Sun Microsystems, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. It is targeted at Sun Users and Customers. For additional information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM SunFlash is distributed via a hierarchy of aliases. Try to address change requests to the owner of the alias that you belong to. If you want to be added to the SunFlash alias, please contact the systems engineers at your local Sun office and/or send mail to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. 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