Cincom Smalltalk™ Digest: July Edition
Welcome to the July 2024 edition of the Cincom Smalltalk Digest.
PartnerOne Acquires Cincom Systems®
In case you missed the announcement last month, Cincom Systems, Inc. is proud to announce that we have been acquired by PartnerOne, one of the fastest-growing enterprise software groups in the world. As a leading provider for Global 1000 and mid-market companies, Cincom brings a strong array of configure-price-quote, customer communications management, business application and development software solutions and services to the vast PartnerOne portfolio of enterprise software companies.
- Learn more details about this acquisition here.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SMALLTALK:
Cincom’s Advancements in Commercial Smalltalk
From the software pioneers of Xerox PARC to the capable engineers of Cincom Systems, Inc., Smalltalk has revolutionized the field of modern programming. This influential object-oriented programming language has left a mark on the global tech industry, shaping the way developers write and structure their code.
With its emphasis on simplicity and readability, Smalltalk offers a unique approach to software development. It allows programmers to break down complex problems into manageable components, fostering collaboration and code reuse. This, in turn, increases efficiency and productivity, making Smalltalk a favorite among developers worldwide.
Smalltalk’s impact goes beyond the realm of programming. Its philosophy of “everything is an object” has influenced other programming languages through the years, shaping their syntax and principles. Smalltalk has also paved the way for modern development tools and frameworks, empowering developers to create robust and scalable applications.
Let’s recap a few of the topics we have covered so far:
Database Connectivity
Cincom Smalltalk’s Seamless Integration with Major Relational Databases
One of the many features of the Cincom Smalltalk Foundation is database connectivity. Cincom Smalltalk supports connectivity to all major relational databases including Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server®, PostgreSQL, MySQL, DB/2 and SQLite. Cincom® VisualWorks® also connects easily with OODBMS systems.
Modeling and Mapping Tools
The Essence of Modeling and Mapping Tools
At the heart of Cincom® ObjectStudio® are its Modeling and Mapping Tools, designed to bridge the gap between developers and their clients. These tools offer a visual representation of the application, from front-end to back-end, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned before significant resources are invested, while also providing a platform for demonstrating potential enhancements or validating the feasibility of a project.
Platform Portability
The Enhancement of Platform Portability in Cincom Smalltalk
Platform portability has revolutionized software development by enabling accessible and maintainable applications across diverse environments. A powerful feature of Smalltalk is the virtual machine, which enables Cincom Smalltalk source code portability across multiple operating systems.
- To read more about these and other topics, click here.
Georg Heeg Celebrates 37 Years with Smalltalk Success
We are delighted to announce that Georg Heeg eK is celebrating its 37th anniversary. Georg Heeg eK was officially established and registered in the city of Dortmund, Germany, on July 7, 1987 when he was 33 years old. The company took care of Smalltalk customers in Central Europe and offered licenses, training, consulting, and project development.
After Cincom Systems, Inc. acquired the Smalltalk business from ObjectShare in 1999, Georg Heeg eK aligned its business to partner with Cincom’s successful Smalltalk business. Heeg and Cincom agreed to a multi-year agreement that focused on Smalltalk Support, Engineering, and Consulting Services to provide Smalltalk services to Cincom, Cincom Smalltalk customers, and application partners.
In June 2011, the subsidiary, Georg Heeg AG, purchased the ERP system Component Studio and began to actively modernize the ERP solution. To further develop and modernize Component Studio using Cincom Smalltalk, Heeg entered a Value Added Reseller (VAR) relationship with Cincom. Through the VAR relationship, Heeg developed the Smallty platform, and in 2023, Component Studio was renamed SmalltyERP, and it has been maintained and further developed using the current Cincom Smalltalk.
With the success of the Smalltalk as a Service business, in late 2023, Heeg initiated discussions with Cincom Systems to transition the 25-year multifaceted relationship to focus on his new application and services business. Through the first quarter of 2024, Cincom and Georg Heeg eK agreed to discontinue the existing agreement, and several developers, consultants, and support staff joined Cincom’s Smalltalk team. Georg Heeg will continue to develop the Smallty platform with the applications based on this platform and offer training and high-level consulting.
We sincerely wish Georg Heeg eK a very happy 37th anniversary and continued success in the many years ahead!
- To see some quotes and learn more, click here.
Innovative Cincom VisualWorks Application Leads to a Historical Discovery about a Famous Composer
The world-famous composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, lived in Cöthen, Germany from 1717 until 1723, where Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen hired him to serve as Kapellmeister, the director of music for the chapel. The town of Cöthen was interested in finding out where Bach had lived during that time, to promote locations related to one of the town’s most famous residents in support of tourism. The problem was that no one knew exactly where Bach had lived.
Bach-Gesellschaft, a Bach society, initiated a project to find out everything they could about Bach’s life when he lived in Cöthen. More specifically, the project, which was funded by the European Commission and the State of Saxony, was charged with locating the house in which Bach lived at that time. Realizing that this study would not only require research but also some sophisticated technology, the project leaders hired Georg Heeg to use whatever applications were necessary to support the research. Heeg – a Cöthen resident – found several innovative uses of Cincom VisualWorks as part of the effort to discover which house it was.
“Without VisualWorks, the project would not have been possible…I am very confident that we wouldn’t have been able to do it with any other approach…” – Georg Heeg
- Read more about this fascinating story, here.
Are You Ready to Evaluate Commercial Smalltalk?
The primary objective of the Cincom Smalltalk Personal Use License (CST PUL) centers around the assessment and evaluation of commercial Smalltalk. This personal use version is intended for individuals who are new to Cincom Smalltalk and are seeking to evaluate its suitability for their application development needs. The current CST PUL consists of two components: Cincom ObjectStudio and Cincom VisualWorks.
The availability of the current version (Cincom Smalltalk 9.4) is limited exclusively to existing customers and partners. If your development needs require the most recent 9.4 version, please contact the Cincom Smalltalk STAR Team. We will connect you with the right salesperson to ensure that you purchase the option that fits your needs.
- To try Cincom Smalltalk for yourself, click here.
New Case Submission Instructions for Cincom Smalltalk
For quick access to Cincom Smalltalk Support:
- Visit Cincom SupportWeb® for immediate support.
- Product Support email to file new support cases:
- Australia – level1@cincom.com
- Europe – Eurotsc@cincom.com
- North America – helpna@cincom.com
- View Cincom Support Levels.
- Review the Cincom Smalltalk Resolutions Portal.
When possible, please provide a test case. Test cases enable Cincom Smalltalk Support to better understand the issue by re-creating it in their environment.
- Reach out to the Cincom Smalltalk Product Team at CSSTARTeam@cincom.com if you have any further questions or comments.
- Email Suzanne Fortman, Smalltalk Director of Operations at sfortman@cincom.com.
- Call +1 513 612 2300.
- Visit us online cincomsmalltalk.com to review interesting articles.