Zinc Application Framework Explained
The Zinc Application Framework is an application framework, intended for the development of cross-platform software applications with graphical user interface (GUI), using a widget toolkit.[1] [2] Zinc targets both embedded (such as Wind River's VxWorks) and desktop platforms.
History
In 1990 Zinc Software released its first software development package Zinc Interface Library as a tool for Borland Turbo C++.[3] This package allowed creation of text and graphics based user interface, initially only for DOS applications and since the 2.0 release also for Windows programs.[4]
In 1994 Zinc Software introduced version 4.0 of its C++ tool under Zinc Application Framework name. Zinc aimed at cross-platform development of the user interface supporting DOS, Windows, Mac and Unix.[5]
With the release of the version 5 in 1997, Zinc Software changed pricing policy and distributed "Personal Version" of the Zinc Application Framework free of charge for non-commercial use [6] - including source code and limited only by lack of technical support and distribution rights.[7]
Zinc Software was acquired in 1998 by Wind River and continued to operate as a subsidiary.[8]
In 2004 Zinc Software was sold to Professional Software Associates (PSA).[9]
Further reading
- Maxwell. Ken. November 1997. Creating an Embedded GUI with the Zinc Library, Using Zinc for an Embedded Systems GUI. Embedded Systems Programming. Miller Freeman, Inc.. 1040-3272. 10. 11. May 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/19980212102016/http://www.zinc.com/products/reviews/emb12-97.htm. February 12, 1998. live.
- Parker. Tim. November 1997. Zn Is Believin': Zinc's Fortified ZAF 5 Toolkit, Zinc Application Framework 5. UNIX Review. Miller Freeman, Inc.. 0742-3136. May 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/19981202012442/http://www.zinc.com/products/reviews/ur11_97.htm. December 2, 1998. live.
- Dragan. Rich. January 1998. Software Development: Cross-Platform The Native Code Way. Windows Sources. Ziff-Davis. 1065-9641. May 25, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/19981205001941/http://www.zinc.com/products/reviews/ws01_98.htm. December 5, 1998. live.
- Zinc Application Framework and Its Program Design. 20 May 2018. Liu. Xinxin. CNKI. Computer & Digital Engineering. 2004. 2004-01. limited.
External links
Notes and References
- February 6, 1995. Product Comparison, Portable GUI frameworks, Program once, port often. InfoWorld. IDG. 0199-6649. 17. 6. 70–72, 76–78, 80–82.
- The H1 Data-Quality Tool-GUI Programming With A Commercial C++ Class-Library. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in High Energy Physics '95. 644. Zimmer, M.. 1996. 10.1142/9789814447188_0117. 1996chep.conf..642Z. 978-981-02-2783-8.
- Watt. Peggy. May 21, 1990. Third-Party Tools Announced at Borland's Turbo C++ Rollout. InfoWorld. IDG. 0199-6649. 12. 21. 21.
- Ayre. Rick. Ayre. Sue. December 17, 1991. Zinc Delivers a Robust Interface Library For Windows Application Development . PC Magazine . Ziff Davis. 0888-8507. 10. 21. 75.
- Johnston. Stuart J.. August 15, 1994. Zinc unites environments, languages with one code . Computerworld . IDG. 0010-4841. 28. 33. 72.
- Press Release--Zinc Announces ZAF 5 . Pleasant Grove, Utah . Zinc Software . June 20, 1997 . May 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/19980212102350/http://www.zinc.com/products/pres_rel/zaf5.html . February 12, 1998 . live .
- News: Coffee . Peter . Zinc Application Framework: A too-well-kept secret . PC Week . September 29, 1997 . May 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010605203207/http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/opinion/0929/29coff.html . June 5, 2001 . dead .
- News: Coffee . Peter . Wind River, Zinc to duel Win CE . PC Week . July 6, 1998 . May 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/19990427201032/http://www8.zdnet.com/pcweek/reviews/0706/06wind.html . April 27, 1999 . dead .
- Web site: PSA Press Releases, Milestones Partnering, 2004 . PSA . 2006 . May 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061215034116/http://www.psa-software.com/news.asp . December 15, 2006 . live .
