Bluestone announces visual development tool for the World Wide Web

Business Wire, Sept 11, 1995

MT. LAUREL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 1995--Bluestone, a leader in open systems application development tools, professional services and training, Monday announced Sapphire/Web, a visual development tool for building client/server applications for the World Wide Web.

Sapphire/Web is the first application development tool that allows companies to develop robust internal and cross-enterprise applications for the World Wide Web.

"META Group sees WWW application development and deployment as a significant opportunity for our clients," stated Stan Lepeak, Senior Research Analyst at META Group. "However, the existence of serious WWW application development tools is a prerequisite for the deployment of serious, business-critical WWW applications.

"Bluestone's Sapphire/Web technology solves the problems of developing cross-platform, global applications in an easy-to-use environment and they are out of the gate quicker than other larger players. Sticking to open standards and compatibility with existing WWW products/technologies is also a big plus.

"Finally, Bluestone's well established support and service infrastructure adds considerable value in insuring success as enterprises begin to build WWW applications."

"We believe that just as PowerBuilder helped popularize PC LAN client/server applications, Sapphire/Web will help thrust Web application development into the limelight," said Bob Bickel, Bluestone's director of products. "While people recognize the inherent advantages of Web applications, the lack of quality application development tools has been a real barrier."

"Web applications are being developed using scripting languages, hand coding with APIs or first generation client/server tools, each with its own set of drawbacks. Sapphire/Web overcomes these drawbacks," continued Bickel.

How it works

Sapphire/Web creates applications that use HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) as the cross-platform user interface, running with Oracle, Sybase and Informix databases, as well as legacy application code.

Sapphire/Web has a visual programming paradigm that drastically reduces the coding effort normally associated with developing applications; an open, 3-tier architecture for maximum flexibility, and generates C or C code for power, performance, and portability.

Compatibility

Sapphire/Webs open architecture works with any HTML Editor (such as HoTMetaL, SGI WebMagic Author, as well as HTML created with text editors, or translated from word processing systems like Frame, MS Word, Interleaf and WordPerfect), any HTML Browser, and any Web Server.

This approach assures transparent adoption of fast paced advances in the Web market, such as Netscape Tables, Suns Java, or the next generation of HTML Browsers.

In addition, the product connects to new or previously developed functions, executables or files for full code reuse. Another benefit of its open architecture is its ability to take full advantage of the

Webs native 3-tier architecture. This approach enables applications to be easily scaled, thus avoiding the pitfalls of a fat client.

C and C code generation

Sapphire/Webs end result is pure C or C code. No runtime environment is required. Sapphire/Web developers take advantage of all the functionality, portability and performance associated with C and C applications.

An added advantage to this approach is that Sapphire/Web works with complementary C and C software development tools, such as debuggers, testers and code management systems to immediately offer users a complete application development environment.

Comprehensive Services, Training and Support for Sapphire/Web

To support Sapphire/Web application development, Bluestone's Professional Services and Training organizations now offer services and training for both Sapphire/Web and the Internet/WWW, in general.

Training courses include Introduction to the Internet, Introduction to the World Wide Web, and specific Sapphire/Web courses. Courses are available at Bluestone corporate HQ, at 14 affiliate sites nation wide and on-site.

Professional Services will consult, provide contract programming and perform system integration services for the Internet/WWW and specifically for Sapphire/Web. Bluestone Professional Services and Training groups specialize in Technology Transfer.

With Technology Transfer the goal is to get projects done on-time, within budget, and to transfer Bluestone's knowledge to the client, so the client is well positioned for future projects.

Additionally, Bluestone offers a full range of support services for Sapphire/Web including a leading-edge on-line WWW service. Capabilities of the service include instant problem resolution through Bluestone's Technical Search database, Explorer; the ability to browse and search development newsgroups, and submission of questions, as well as, product ideas and suggestions.

Sapphire/Web Technical Details & Pricing

Based upon the success of the over 100 Beta program participants, Sapphire/Web is scheduled for Production release Oct. 30, 1995. The initial development platforms include SunOS and Solaris, SGI, HP UX, Digital UNIX and IBM AIX. Version 2 will expand development support to Windows/NT, Windows 95 and Macintosh.