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Software UNO Ltd. Software UNO Ltd.WM_MOTIF White Paper |
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What is WM_MOTIF?
WM_MOTIF is a library that will allow you to port C and C++ source code from MS Windows to UNIX platforms. This is a list of general features of the WM_MOTIF product:
· Implementation of the Windows 3.1 API on the following platforms:
SUN Solaris 2.3 or above Sun SunOS 4.1.3
IBM AIX 3.2.5 HP-UX 9.05
SCO 3.2.4.2 (Open Server 3.0) SVR4 for x86 (Unixware, Solaris x86)
DEC Alpha OSF/1 Linux 1.2
Ports to SGI Irix and Free BSD are planned for 3Q95.
WM_MOTIF requires Motif 1.2, X11R5 and a compatible C or C++ compiler on the target platform. Win32 and MFC 3 support is available via an add-on module.
· Motif look and feel.
· Support for popular C++ frameworks including MFC and OWL.
· No royalties or per product licensing.
· Toll free sales and support line (warranty or support contract)
· Unlimited CompuServe and Internet e-mail support
· Support for character based terminals (optional).
· Source code available.
WM_MOTIF allows you to leverage your code investment and expand your market potential with a more reasonable investment level than the available alternatives. We feel that WM_MOTIF is the most cost effective solution for bringing Windows applications to the UNIX market. Appendix B documents the supported API functions as of December, 1994. Please call us if you are using an API function that is not listed.
Product pricing has been set at $ 1995 for an object code license for one developer. Character mode support is $ 1,500. Source code is available for an additional fee. A binary license is required prior to purchasing source code. Attractive discounts are available for sites requiring multiple licenses.
Character-based Terminals are important to many Markets
Character-based terminals were the standard means for accessing UNIX systems for many years and in some markets they still are. IDC estimates that more than 2.5 million character terminals are shipping every year and most terminal manufacturers (Wyse, DEC, HP) are still releasing new terminal products. Since there is a large installed base of terminals connected to UNIX systems (over 30 million), it is likely that you will be marketing your products to companies with existing character based systems. Although not appropriate for CAD, desktop publishing or other graphics intensive applications, developers of database applications, communications software and other software areas have an opportunity to expand their market by offering versions of their software that support character-based terminals. Since the i/o bandwidth required by character based terminals is much less than that of X-windows, a 9600 baud dial-up connection produces adequate screen performance.
Some developers might ask: How can the Windows API work on a character based terminal like the Wyse 60? Are there any major limitations? Our WM_CURSES module (sold separately) provides an implementation of the Windows API on character based systems. The main limitation is the lack of graphics. Toolbars and bitmaps that depend on graphical displays will not be operational. Mouse support is not available except for systems that support them on terminals (i.e. SCO). Many UNIX terminals do not have a functional 'Alt' or 'Meta' key so alternate keyboard accelerators need to be provided. Fonts are restricted to the fixed pitch font on the terminal's ROM so some re-positioning of text in dialogs might be required. Applications are restricted to a single screen task per terminal except when using multi-tasking session managers (i.e. FacetTerm or MultiView).
Yet all menus, dialogs and other functions that do not require a graphical display will be functional. In areas like databases and communications, it is likely that the core of your application will be portable between Motif and Curses. GDI functions that are not supported on text mode are stubbed so your application will be able to compile properly. For many of these products, the additional development costs of supporting character mode are more than offset with the additional revenue produced.
The WM_MOTIF Evaluation Library can get you Started
Many developers have potential sales on the UNIX market but might need to demonstrate the concept before getting any orders. We understand this concern and offer an evaluation library to companies interested in compiling their own applications with WM_MOTIF before committing to an object code purchase. An evaluation kit is available for $ 200 which allows you port your application and show its feasibility on a UNIX platform. The evaluation library is functionally identical to the full library and will operate for a period of 6 months with occasional messages indicating that the library is licensed only for evaluation. It is restricted only for use by the licensee; products built with the library can not be shipped to end users. Once you prove the feasibility of your port, the amount paid for the evaluation library will be applied to the purchase of a full object code license.
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