Cincom Smalltalk Roadmap
A look forward to our upcoming releases
Cincom plans to ship maintenance level releases this summer. Many fixes and refinements will be a major focus of these releases, but we are integrating some high demand feature work noted below for our customers.
- Arden Thomas, Cincom Smalltalk Product Manager
VisualWorks/Foundation
Soap 1.2 Support
What: Upgrading Soap framework to the latest version
How: SOAP 1.2 standards documentation
Why: Many customer requests
Windows 64 bit Support
What: Windows 64 bit VM
How: We will build a VM that will run on Microsoft Windows 64 bit platforms as a true 64 bit application. We have recently made large improvements in our 64 bit work (Solaris, Linux) which will be shared with the 64 bit Windows work.
Why: 64 bit applications allow a much larger object-space, allowing significantly more objects to reside in memory.
Store Merge Engine
What: Improved Store Merging Support
How: We will provide a new Store merge engine, including a leading edge, Meyer's algorithm based differencing engine.
Why: Store merging can be improved, especially for complex scenarios, requiring a new engine. The new differencing engine can be used for other tools, and can be used for customer applications.
Store Merge Tool
What: Improved Store Merge Support
How: We will provide new tools for the new Store merge engine.
Why: We have had numerous requests to improve Store merges under particular merge scenarios, where the merge process can be much improved.
Research
What: Look and Feel
How: Experiments to validate and explore promising ideas.
Why: Continue to provide the ability to develop powerful magnetic and attractive applications.
ObjectStudio
ObjectStudio 8 GUI Update (Partial or Preview)
What: Update the look of the IDE and applications with modern widgets
How: Restructuring of the UI framework to allow the integration of the latest Windows widgets, and allow customers to integrate more widgets of their own choosing.
Why: Modernize the IDE and make it more attractive and appealing - affords more solutions for customers.
ObjectStudio 8 C to Smalltalk VM Work
What: Move many of the C-based ObjectStudio primitives into the Smalltalk image
How: Rewrite primitives currently implemented in C in Smalltalk.
Why: Enable customer level access to code that is currently hidden and hard to change.
WebVelocity
Easy Cloud Deployment
What: Allow simple cloud deployment of WebVelocity applications
How: Allow easy deployment with a leading cloud service; Amazon Web Services.
Why: An attractive feature for new and existing customers looking to leverage or explore the increasing cloud deployment market.
RDS Database Support
What: Allow WebVelocity applications deployed in an Amazon cloud to use Amazon RDS
How: Integrate RDS support into WebVelocity.
Why: Enable easier web deployment and leverage of Amazon services for cloud deployment.
Enhanced Editing/Tools
What: More powerful editing in the browser
How: New editing tools for WebVelocity.
Why: We want web tools that are as capable as, or more capable than, the client tools.
Upgrade to the Latest Foundation
What: Use the latest foundation technology, VisualWorks 7.7 base
How: Use VisualWorks 7.7 as the base for WebVelocity.
Why: Keeps WebVelocity current with the latest Cincom Smalltalk Foundation.
Upgrade Seaside Base
What: Use the latest Seaside release available
How: Continue to manage the VisualWorks port of Seaside.
Why: Allow developers to use the latest Seaside capabilities.
Full Headless Operation
What: Make no-GUI deployment easier
How: Ensure that events in Smalltalk code do not attempt to raise any kind of client UI.
Why: Allows simpler server side deployments.
Interested in watching this take shape - why not join our developer program?