From neves@aristotle.ils.nwu.edu Thu Nov 10 21:01:48 EST 1994 Article: 6075 of comp.lang.lisp.mcl Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!howland.reston.ans.net!news.cac.psu.edu!news.pop.psu.edu!psuvax1!news.ecn.bgu.edu!anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu!aristotle.ils.nwu.edu!neves From: neves@aristotle.ils.nwu.edu (Neves ) Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp.mcl Subject: MCL news release Date: 10 Nov 1994 20:24:36 GMT Organization: The Institute for the Learning Sciences Lines: 119 Message-ID: <39tvi4$7nt@anaxagoras.ils.nwu.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: aristotle.ils.nwu.edu X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL9] THIS RELEASE MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1994 AT 8:34 AM, EST Contact: Janet Spinks Regis McKenna, Inc. (408) 974-3886 Apple Turns Over Development of Macintosh Common Lisp to Digitool, Inc. Digitool to Market and Support Macintosh Common Lisp, Provide Native Power Macintosh Version Cupertino, California--November 10, 1994--As part of its program to accelerate the availability of developer tools for the Power Macintosh , and demonstrating its commitment to Macintosh Common Lisp (MCL) users, Apple Computer, Inc. today announced that it has licensed its MCL development software to Digitool, Inc. The purpose of the agreement is for Digitool to take over future development of MCL. Digitool has agreed to provide ongoing marketing and technical support for MCL, and to introduce next year a Power Macintosh version of the software, which will generate native PowerPC code. Digitool also has agreed to continue further development of the version of MCL for Macintosh systems based on the Motorola 680x0 processors. Apple will continue to offer MCL through APDA, the company's source for developer tools. "This agreement underscores Apple's ongoing commitment to the developer community to provide strong support for our developer tools and to allow developers to move their code forward to new hardware platforms and OS releases," commented Peter Christy, Apple's senior director of Developer Products Engineering. "With this agreement, Apple and Digitool will be working together to ensure a bright future for MCL on both the 680x0-based Macintosh and Power Macintosh." Apple now expects that developers who have programs based on MCL code will be able to continue development efforts with the knowledge that their code can be ported to the Power Macintosh. In addition, developers will benefit by full support--and future enhancements--of the 680x0 version of MCL by Digitool. "Digitool is very pleased with this new MCL responsibility," said Hazem Sayed, president and founder of Digitool. "MCL is in a league of its own as an implementation of the Common Lisp standard and object system. It has sold many Lisp users on the Macintosh and sold many Macintosh developers on Lisp. Now, as well as with our future release of a Power Macintosh native MCL, many of the large workstation-based Lisp systems developed in academe, aerospace, telecommunications, military, finance and medicine will find an unbeatable price/performance delivery platform." Digitool, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a new software company formed by the principals of Paradigm Software, Incorporated, and staffed by former employees of Apple's MCL development team. Digitool's MCL development effort is partially funded by eleven corporate sponsors and MCL customers including Apple Computer, Inc., Flavors Technology, Inc., KyTek, Inc., Lissys Ltd., and the University of Basel. Product Summary Common Lisp is an advanced programming language widely used in industry and research. MCL is recognized as a premier implementation of Common Lisp on personal computers with performance comparable to Lisp workstations. An object-oriented dynamic language, MCL implements the ANSI Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) and includes an incremental compiler and application generator. MCL is ideally suited for quick application prototyping and provides a delivery environment for intelligent applications as well as high-level Macintosh interface access. Availability and Pricing MCL Version 2.0.1 is available for U.S. $495 through APDA, Apple's source for development tools and related programming products. Pricing for future versions will be announced upon product availability. Digitool also has announced that it will provide current users with the ability to upgrade to future versions at a reduced price. Site licenses for MCL are also available from APDA. APDA publishes the APDA Tools Catalog which describes hundreds of Apple and third-party products. Developers should contact APDA for orders only and Digitool for product support and all other inquiries using the following addresses or phone numbers. APDA Apple Computer, Inc. P.O. Box 319 Buffalo, NY 14207-0319 800-282-2732 (U.S.A.) 800-637-0029 (Canada) 716-871-6555 (International) 716-871-6511 (Fax) Digitool, Inc. 675 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 617-441-5000 617-576-7680 (fax) DIGITOOL (AppleLink) HSAYED@DIGITOOL.COM (Internet) Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries. -30- Apple, the Apple logo, APDA and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks of the individual companies and respectfully acknowledged. Note to Editors: If you are interested in receiving Apple press releases by fax, call 1-800-AAPL-FAX (1-800-227-5329) and enter I.D. number 6172. AppleLink Pathway News Break Apple & Industry News PR Express Apple Press Release 11/10/94 Date: Fri, 11 Nov 1994 12:10:39 -0500 To: announce-mcl@cambridge.apple.com From: hsayed@digitool.com (Hazem Sayed) Subject: MCL now under Digitool Dear MCL users It brings me great pleasure to announce, on the behalf of Digitool Inc., plans for the continued development and support of Macintosh Common Lisp including its porting to the Power Macintosh. Digitool has taken over MCL from Apple Computer and we are committed to the long term success of Lisp in general and Lisp on the Macintosh in particular. Our plans and ongoing cooperation with Apple will assure not only the same level of product quality, but also a greater market presence for MCL. Digitool would like to take this opportunity to thank the eleven corporate sponsors, whose financial backing secured this agreement and assures the completion of the port, and of whom we are able to mention Apple Computer, Inc., Flavors Technology, Inc., KyTek, Inc., Lissys Ltd., and the University of Basel. We would also like to thank the community of MCL users whose belief in MCL played no small part in realizing this agreement. As Lisp devotees you are well aware of how under-appreciated Lisp is in certain circles. Well, we are dead set on changing that, and with your help we will prove that the GOOD GUYS CAN WIN. Digitool is a new startup formed by principals of Paradigm Software Incorporated and former employees of Apple's MCL development team, including and most notably, Gary Byers, the main author of MCL's kernel and compiler. Our goals are: 1) to port MCL to the Power PC platform. 2) to assure the long term viability and success of MCL as both a prototyping and delivery platform. 3) to keep MCL current with both developments in the Macintosh platform and the Lisp world, while maintaining the same level of product quality. 4) to provide the high quality of technical support MCL has been known for. 5) to pursue opportunities for MCL on new platforms and with new VARs and development partners. 6) to aggressively market MCL to the developer and academic communities. In the same spirit that developed the Common Lisp standard, we will be very open with our plans for MCL. In the days and weeks to come we will outline our development, marketing and selling plans. We will set public goals for MCL and will actively encourage the MCL community in helping us achieve them. We invite you to be equally open with your thoughts, suggestions and participation in MCL's future. Together, MCL can be a big win for everyone. Again, thank you for your tenacious support of MCL and stay tuned for more news from Digitool. Sincerely, Hazem Sayed President Digitool, Inc. 675 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Internet: hsayed@digitool.com AppleLink: digitool Tel: 617 441-5000 Fax: 617 576-7680 Date: Wed, 16 Nov 1994 00:00:41 -0500 To: announce-mcl@cambridge.apple.com From: hsayed@digitool.com (Hazem Sayed) Subject: 1st MCL Development Update We have begun the port of MCL to the PowerPC platform, and hope to have it completed late next year. MCL for the Power Macintosh will be based on the as yet unreleased MCL 3.0. In the first half of 1995, we expect to release MCL 3.0 for 680x0 Macs to include support for multiple threads, improved FRED text handling and display with WorldScript support, and new handy programming tools. Though this will notbe a PowerPC native release, it will be a major step in that direction, with a considerable reduction of 680x0-specific code. More importantly for MCL users, version 3.0 will provide functionality to assure a smooth transition to future versions of the Mac OS with a high degree of cross-platform source code compatibility. Specific new features will be announced as they are committed to. Also planned for the first half of 1995 is a student edition of MCL with a target price of under $100. Nominations for an introductory Lisp book to accompany the student edition are welcome. The price of MCL 3.0 for 680x0 Macs will be $595 per license. A 20% discount will be introduced for education. No price is announced for MCL for the PowerPC. The upgrade to version 3.0 will be: $135.00 for customers who purchased MCL 2.0.1 prior to November 1, 1994. $75.00 for customers who purchased MCL 2.0.1 as of November 1, 1994. Sincerely, Hazem Sayed President Digitool, Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 675 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 USA Internet: hsayed@digitool.com AppleLink: digitool Tel: 617 441-5000 Fax: 617 576-7680 ====================