Topic: Plum Hall Info
Author: jim.fleming@bytes.com (Jim Fleming)
Date: 1995/05/03 Raw View
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Here is some additional info on Plum Hall, Inc. that evidently
is not included with the DRAFT Standard published by AT&T...
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
C AND C++ LIBRARIES BY P. J. PLAUGER
Dr. P.J. Plauger is well-known to the C and C++ Language
community. He's the Convener of the ISO C Standards committee;
he edits the "C/C++ Users Journal"; he served as head of the
Library Subgroup of the C standards committee; and, most
recently, he assembled for the first time the extensive Library
subclause ("Chapter 17") of the C++ Working Paper that's been
forwarded to ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22 for preliminary review.
He wrote the textbook "The Standard C Library" (Prentice-Hall,
1992) which describes the Standard C library and presents a full,
portable implementation of that library. This implementation
sets new standards for portability, mathematical precision and
robustness, and rich support for ``international'' programming
using locales and large character sets. Plum Hall has served as
the licensing agency for organizations that want to distribute or
use quantities of that library. Several major companies now
distribute Plauger's Standard C library, including IBM and
Taligent.
Dr. Plauger has written a new textbook, "The Draft Standard C++
Library" (Prentice-Hall. 1994). Like its predecessor, it includes
portable source for an implementation of the draft Standard C++
library. ("Draft" because C++ standard development is still in
progress mid-1994.) Plum Hall will again serve to license
distribution and use of that Library. It is already being widely
distributed with the Metrowerks C++ compiler for the Macintosh.
A library from Plauger has distinct advantages for use by your
organization. First of all, you get a quality product that's
already built. This has great advantages over starting a project
from scratch. It's based upon an integrated design. (Some
libraries just evolved and grew.) The C component passes the
Plum Hall Validation Suite for C. From the work of Plauger and
Plum on validation suites and standards, we're familiar with the
widest range of target environments. All our libraries are as
portable as possible, without seriously sacrificing performance
in the bargain. And the C++ library matches the draft standard
for C++.
STRUCTURE OF THE LIBRARY
The textbook edition of Plauger's Standard C++ Library presents a
"layered" library for C++. That is, it is implemented purely in
C++ code that makes calls on the Standard C library. This makes
the textbook's pedagogic presentation easier and it allows a
quicker port of the code atop an existing ANSI/ISO library. But
that also can lead to compromises in compliance, accuracy, and
performance, because a typical ANSI/ISO library lacks certain
needed functionality. Naturally, we also offer a solution to
that potential problem.
For example, the draft C++ Standard includes the extensive
additions to the Standard C library mandated by Amendment 1 to
the C Standard. Approved in late 1994, Amendment 1 provides much
richer support for manipulating large character sets (such as
Kanji) in Standard C. The draft C++ Standard requires the
presence of float and long double math libraries to fully support
all the forms of complex arithmetic that it specifies. And the
C++ iostreams component benefits tremendously from a special
``hook'' into the underlying C stdio component.
To achieve full compliance to the draft C++ Standard, the best
possible accuracy, and top performance requires fleshing out the
Standard C library more completely and integrating the two
components more tightly. We therefore offer three forms of the
library:
XLIB-T "Standard C++ Library - Textbook Edition" Layered
implementation, provides code from "The Draft Standard C++
Library"
XLIB-C "Standard C Library - Textbook Edition", provides code
from "The Standard C Library"
XLIB-P "Standard C++ Library - Professional Edition" Integrated
implementation including both C++ and Standard C libraries, plus
float and long double math libraries, plus full support for
Amendment 1 to the C Standard, plus several performance
enhancements, plus everything from XLIB-T and XLIB-C.
Single-user diskettes of CLIB-T, XLIB-T and XLIB-P are available.
Packs of 5, 10, and 20 licenses are available for networks and
multi-user systems.
Our order form is attached.
PUBLISHED COPYRIGHT
All three forms (CLIB-T, XLIB-T and XLIB-P) are copyrighted and
published. The printed Prentice-Hall C++ textbook presents all
of the source code in XLIB-T. All three libraries are available
from Plum Hall Inc. for purchase "just like a book or musical
recording."
There are several advantages to our clients for procuring a
library that is published copyright. It's quite likely that you
will be able to find maintenance programmers who are familiar
with Plauger's work, because they bought his book and read it.
There is less demand placed upon your internal security
procedures -- Plauger's code isn't a proprietary secret. You can
discuss it with your clients, consultants, and vendors without
any paperwork required.
At the same time, we don't impose upon you any special licensing
like the "copyleft" or "freeware registration" demands. Our
business structure is familiar and compatible with your own
firm's structure: if you use our product, pay something for it.
If you add value to it, that's yours to keep proprietary. Simple
and understandable. If you're going to be distributing the
software, we'll protect you for our part with proper licensing
and intellectual property assurances.
THE EMERGING STANDARD
There is not yet an official Standard for C++. So we don't claim
that Plauger's library implements a Standard, yet. There is a
Working Paper that X3J16 and WG21 have worked four years to
develop. The January 1994 version of this Working Paper was sent
to our parent body, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22, for their comments. It's
the first time we've prepared a Working Paper for ISO scrutiny.
This particular draft captures all the ``existing practice'' from
past C++ libraries likely to be included in the eventual
Standard.
The Plauger Library implements the library described in that
January version of the Working Paper. The draft continues to be
revised every four months, and we continue to track it. Recent
additions to the library almost exclusively involve inventive
uses of template technology, a language feature that is itself
still evolving. From time to time, we will issue new releases of
the C++ library that include changes to the existing library, as
well as new components that have demonstrated a reasonable degree
of stability and utility with then current compiler technology.
(Plauger is already under contract with Prentice Hall to produce
a book on the ``Standard Template Library,'' one such addition to
the draft C++ Standard.)
LICENSING
We have distribution licenses for linkable binary images of the
Professional Edition, which will also allow distribution of
linkable binary images of the Textbook Editions. We look forward
to discussing pricing with you. We will need the name of the
product which will include the linkable binaries. We will need
from you a ballpark estimate of the number of linkable binaries
you are planning to distribute. (We can offer quantity-price
quotes for as few as ten or as many as a million-plus units.)
We count "shared library" and "DLL" distribution formats as one-
half of a linkable binary. For other "borderline" questions,
please contact us.
COMPILATION MODES
The draft Standard C++ Library consists of the Standard C
Library, float and long double math libraries, code for Amendment
1, a few minor variants of the C functions, plus a major
collection of classes and functions for the C++ Library proper.
The first few components, through Amendment 1, can be compiled as
C code. Using the headers provided, this provides a C library
that meets the requirements of the amended C Standard. We call
this the "C Library."
The C component is structured and programmed in such a way that
it can also be compiled as C++. Using the headers we provide, it
implements the "minor variant" requirements (such as overloaded
versions of strchr) of the C++ January 1994 Working Paper. It
works together with, and supports, the C++ Library proper. We
call this the "C++ Library in only-C++ mode."
Alternatively, the C component can be compiled as C and the C++
proper can be compiled as C++. Using the headers we provide, the
combined libraries also meet the requirements of the C++ January
1994 Working Paper. We call this the "C++ Library in mixed C/C++
mode."
All three of these alternatives are provided with the Plauger
Library. All three have been extensively tested. The C Library
has been fully tested with the Plum Hall Validation Suite for C.
We have located and addressed all the little linkage "gotchas"
that have presented themselves in each mode.
EVALUATING "MAKE OR BUY"
How will your organization provide and support a library to meet
the C++ standard? It's a major decision. Please contact us by
phone, FAX, or email with all your issues and questions. We'd
like to show you how the Plauger libraries can provide a top-
quality cost-effective solution.
YOUR NEXT STEP
__ Just want one or a few source copies? Return the attached
order form.
__ Interested in distribution? Call us with your product name
and ballpark quantity desired.
__________________________________________________________________
PLUM HALL PO BOX 44610; Kamuela HI 96743 TEL +1-808-882-1255 FAX
+1-808-882-1556 EMAIL sales@plumhall.com
------------------ [cut here] --------------------------------------
Price list / Order Sheet - Print a copy, mail or FAX to Plum Hall
Company: __________________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
City: ___________________________ State: _____ ZIP: _______________
TEL: ____________________________ FAX:_____________________________
email: __________________________________________________________
Qty License Requested Unit Price Total
(USD)
____ C++ Library Textbook xlibt Single User 99.95 _______
____ C++ Library Textbook xlibtn-5 pack 395.00 _______
____ C++ Library Textbook xlibtn-10 pack 695.00 _______
____ C++ Library Textbook xlibtn-20 pack 1195.00 _______
____ C++ Lib Professional xlibp Single User 395.00 _______
____ C++ Lib Pro Network xlibpn-5 Pack 1595.00 _______
____ C++ Lib Pro Network xlibpn-10 Pack 2795.00 _______
____ C++ Lib Pro Network xlibpn-20 Pack 4795.00 _______
____ The Standard C Library Textbook clibt 99.95 _______
____ The Standard C Library Textbook clibtn-5 pack 395.00 _______
____ The Standard C Library Textbook clibtn-10 pack 695.00 _______
____ The Standard C Library Textbook clibtn-20 pack 1195.00 _______
____ MS/DOS DS-HD (1.44 Mbyte) 3.5" diskettes
____ Mac Diskette (available in Profession Packs only)
____ Cartridge Tape QIC - 150 (150 Mbyte) tar format 30.00 _______
____ Shipping Priority Mail 3.50 _______
____ Shipping Fed Ex Economy 10.00 _______
____ Shipping Fed Ex Standard 25.00 _______
____ Shipping International 45.00 _______
____ Hawaii customers please add 4% Excise Tax TAX _______
Enclose Check or Money Order
or Credit Card Information TOTAL _______
Visa / Master Card #_________________________________
Expiration Date _______________
Signature ___________________________________
Title: _________________________________ Date: _______________
PLUM HALL PO BOX 44610; Kamuela HI 96743
TEL +1-808-882-1255 FAX +1-808-882-1556 EMAIL sales@plumhall.com
Price list/Order Form REV 10/94
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
--
Jim Fleming /|\ Unir Corporation Unir Technology,
Inc.
%Techno Cat I / | \ One Naperville Plaza 184 Shuman Blvd.
#100
Penn's Landing / | \ Naperville, IL 60563 Naperville, IL
60563
East End, Tortola |____|___\ 1-708-505-5801
1-800-222-UNIR(8647)
British Virgin Islands__|______ 1-708-305-3277 (FAX) 1-708-305-0600
\__/-------\__/ e-mail: jim.fleming@bytes.com
Smooth Sailing on Cruising C+@amarans ftp: 199.3.34.12
<-----stargate----+
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\____to the end of the
OuterNet_|