Xref: utzoo comp.lang.eiffel:1433 comp.object:2611 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!cmcl2!uupsi!kepler1!fcaggian From: fcaggian@kepler.com (Frank Caggiano) Newsgroups: comp.lang.eiffel,comp.object Subject: SUN/HP Press Release (long) Message-ID: <550@kepler1.kepler.com> Date: 26 Feb 91 15:37:08 GMT Followup-To: poster Organization: Kepler Financial Mgmt., Setuket, NY Lines: 162 I thought the following would be of interest to the group. This is the first I have heard of this project does anyone have any further information.? Anyone know just who or what the OMG (Object Managment Group) is and what it is they are suppose to be doing? I'll summarize if there is enough interest. ################################################## Subject: SunFlash: HP, Sun: Object Management Specifications ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash HP and Sun Submit Object Management Specification To Industry Organization As Potential Standard SunFLASH Vol 26 #21 February 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submission to OMG is First Step in Goal to Create Multi-Vendor Software Environment for the `90s REDWOOD CITY, Calif. --February 25, 1991-- Sun Microsystems and Hewlett-Packard Company today submitted a jointly developed object management specification to the Object Management Group (OMG), an international organization of information system vendors and users. Called a distributed Object Management Facility (OMF), it defines an advanced method for using and sharing information on networked computers from different vendors. If endorsed by OMG, it will be a core element in an industry-standard architecture that will be used by software developers to quickly, easily design sophisticated applications for a variety of high-volume hardware and software platforms. The announcement was made by executives from HP and Sun at the Hotel Sofitel here. For the two companies, the proposed technology is the first step in a shared vision to quickly create a multi-vendor software environment that transcends the differences between the underlying system software -- the operating system, graphical user interface, window system, networking protocol and other elements. This is because applications would be written to a common software interface rather than to vendor-specific system software. The result will be application interoperability for many systems on a network, from DOS PCs and UNIX-based workstations to high-performance servers. The Sun/HP collaboration initially was urged by UNIX System Laboratories (USL), which saw the proposed technology as a way of unifying the industry and bringing the benefits of UNIX(R) to more users. The Distributed OMF is Multi-Platform; Supports Both NCS and ONC The distributed OMF is the submission from the HP/Sun team for the "object request broker" being solicited by OMG. This is the mechanism by which "objects" transparently make and receive requests and responses between different computers in a networked environment. Among the advantages of the HP/Sun high-level, object-oriented specification is the fact it can be used for applications that run on UNIX and other operating systems from different vendors. The distributed OMF is the only specification submitted to OMG that supports more than one networking service: Sun's ONC(TM) and HP's Network Computing System (NCS). These are the two leading networking protocols and have been licensed by hundreds of major companies and organizations worldwide. Sun and HP will work through standards bodies to promote interoperablity between ONC and NCS at the networking protocol level in the future. The HP/Sun submission allows developers to use several object-oriented programming languages -- particularly C++ -- as well as traditional languages. This gives it added flexibility. USL, provider of C++ base technology, will ensure that its C++ Language System will support the distributed OMF if this technology is endorsed by OMG. Consistent with OMG's specifications, the distributed OMF creates a standards-based environment that enables application developers to take advantage of object-oriented programming and also brings its benefits to users. OMG, founded in 1989, includes nearly all leading system vendors as well as users such as American Airlines and Citibank. The HP/Sun submission displays the design expertise of two of the industry's leading vendors of UNIX-based systems, with combined 1990 UNIX sales of $4.6 billion, according to International Data Corp. It uses an object management facility derived from HP NewWave -- an application environment for DOS PCs -- and distributed application technology from Sun's ONC and HP's NCS. The Benefits of Object-Oriented Technology "This alliance is the most significant thing that ever happened to object-oriented computing," said Christine Hughes, a well-known industry watcher and president of Myriad Technologies, a consulting firm. "The new technology from HP and Sun will finally bring object-oriented computing into the mainstream, delivering its benefits in a standard, comprehensive way." Object-oriented technology is a next-generation paradigm that defines "objects," which are pieces of data and parts of applications. Programmers can mix and match these objects to quickly create new applications, thereby increasing productivity by a factor of four to ten, according to market researcher, the Gartner Group. End users also benefit, since object-oriented technology hides many of the computer processes required to perform most functions. In addition, users can seamlessly integrate data -- for example, a spreadsheet, a graphic and a block of copy -- located on any machine on one or more networks. The simplicity of object-oriented technology also reduces user training and support costs. The Future of the Distributed OMF Developers who write to the distributed OMF will be assured of supporting the many systems that use the ONC and NCS networking protocols. HP and Sun will use this technology as the basis for a multi-vendor software environment so that UNIX developers can design easy, interoperable applications. Supporting the heterogeneous computing goals of HP and Sun is the fact that the underlying system software will be transparent to developers and end users. HP and Sun expect this software environment to be used by software designers and vendors of other computers based on UNIX or other operating systems. This would give network computing and the systems on these networks capabilities beyond what exist today. Both HP and Sun are licensing this technology to other vendors. As a committed member of OSF, HP plans to make the distributed OMF available for other systems that support the OSF/1 operating system and the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE). As members of UNIX International, Sun and USL plan to work with this organization, encouraging the integration of distributed OMF technology into systems based on UNIX System V Release 4 and ONC (a standard part of SVR4). Hewlett-Packard Company is an international manufacturer of measurement and computation products and systems recognized for excellence in quality and support. The company's products and services are used in industry, business, engineering, science, medicine and education in approximately 100 countries. HP has 91,000 employees and had revenues of $13.2 billion in its 1990 fiscal year. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. ### ONC is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc. All other products mentioned herein are identified by the trademarks as designated by the companies who market those products. Inquiries concerning such trademarks should be made directly to those companies. PR contact Marty Coleman (415) 336-6543 Hewlett-Packard Co. Gayle Uchida (408) 447-0905 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -- Frank Caggiano INTERNET: fcaggian@kepler.com Kepler Financial Management, Ltd. UUCP: ..!uunet!kepler1!fcaggian 100 North Country Rd. fax: (516) 751-8678 Sekauket, NY 11733 voice: (516) 689-6300 Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com