From: dtaylor@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Douglas A Taylor)
Subject: PC/GEOS FAQ List part 2/3 -- Developers' Q & A
Followup-To: comp.os.msdos.pcgeos
Summary: PC/GEOS is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) developed by
         GeoWorks.  It runs on top of MS (or DR) DOS and provides
         a multitasking, multithreaded environment for any DOS
         machine with at least 512k of RAM and a hard disk.
Reply-To: doug-taylor+@osu.edu
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 13:13:52 GMT

Archive-name: pcgeos-faq/part2
Last-modified: modified September 1, 1992

The letter below is being sent by GeoWorks to various software
developers regarding PC/GEOS software development and the upcoming
SDK.  Following the letter is a series of questions that a developer
might have, along with GeoWorks' responses.  Thanks to John Mitchell
for providing these.

--- start of letter ---

    Dear Sofware Developer,

    We are currently offering the first draft of the PC/GEOS Software 
    Development Kit Technical Documentation.  This documentation is 
    for anyone interested in PC/GEOS technical information or product 
    development.  The documentation covers PC/GEOS concepts, object 
    oriented programming, system services and libraries, and 
    development tools.  Sample C source code is also included. 

    The price of the four volume documentation set is $200.  This 
    price covers the initial draft version plus subsequent updates 
    that will be send to you at no additional charge.  The 
    documentation alone will not enable you to begin programming for 
    PC/GEOS.  However, obtaining documentation now will allow you to 
    evaluate PC/GEOS as a platform for future product development and 
    to get a head start on PC/GEOS development.

    Development tools for PC/GEOS are scheduled for BETA testing this 
    summer and will be available to participants for an additional 
    fee.  BETA testers will also receive access to GeoWorks Developer 
    Support for assistance during development.  Please note that 
    purchase of the documentation does *not* guarantee that you will 
    be chosen as a BETA tester of the SDK.  We have received many more 
    requests to participate in BETA testing than we can accommodate, 
    but we will give each candidate careful consideration.

    [...]

--- end of letter ---

PC/GEOS Developers Questions & Answers
--------------------------------------

Q:  How can I start writing applications for PC/GEOS?

A:  The first step to writing PC/GEOS applications is becoming part of 
    our PC/GEOS Independent Software Vendor (ISV) program.  To enter 
    into our ISV program, you must complete an ISV questionnaire and 
    return it to GeoWorks.  A questionnaire is probably included along 
    with this document.  If a questionnaire is not included and you 
    haven't already sent one to us, please contact GeoWorks.  Once we 
    receive your completed questionnaire, we'll enter your name into 
    our developer database and keep you informed about all developer 
    related information. 

    The current PC/GEOS development tools run on Unix workstations.  
    These Unix based tools are not supported and are not available to 
    the general developer community.  Because of requests from 
    developers, we're porting these tools to run under DOS, rather 
    than releasing a Unix software development kit (SDK).  The 
    DOS-based SDK will be available to BETA testers later this year.  
    At that point, our BETA developers can begin writing PC/GEOS 
    programs.  The SDK will be widely available some time in 1993, 
    once BETA testing is complete.

    We're currently offering preliminary SDK documentation.  By 
    reading the documentation now, you can evaluate PC/GEOS as a 
    development platform and get up to speed on PC/GEOS programming.  
    If you did not receive an SDK documentation order form, please 
    contact GeoWorks.  


Q:  How do I become an SDK BETA tester?

A:  If you're interested in becoming a BETA tester of the SDK, you 
    should indicate this on your your ISV questionnaire.  We've 
    received many more requests to BETA test the SDK than we can 
    accommodate.  In selecting our BETA test group, we're looking at a 
    number of factors, such as your previous programming experience, 
    programming languages used, whether you've BETA tested a 
    development kit before, and products you've developed.  The job of 
    testing development tools is much more difficult than testing 
    regular software products.  We need a very qualified group of BETA 
    testers who can deal with imperfect tools and who will give us the 
    feedback we need to make ours the best SDK possible.


Q:  What will be provided with the SDK and what else will I need to use it?

A:  We currently plan to provide the following as part of the SDK:

  * Technical documentation on concepts, tools, routines, 
    libraries, and objects that make up the PC/GEOS operating 
    system.

  * An Object Assembly assembler, linker, debugger, C preprocessor 
    and some utility programs for creating PC/GEOS programs.

  * Source code examples and complete sample programs in C and
    assembly language

  * Header files for assembly language and C development.

  * 2 complete versions of the system software including
    kernel, libraries, drivers, etc.  One is the standard
    software and one is a debugging version for use during 
    development.

    We anticipate that you will need to provide the following:

  * 2 PCs.  One must be a 386 or better with approximately
    40M available disk space and 6 to 8 Megs of RAM.  This machine
    is for running the development tools.  The other machine can
    be any PC that runs PC/GEOS, from an XT to a 486.
    [Again, please note that you don't have to have two machines but
    it is certainly recommended (and is required if you wish to
    use the Swat debugger).  --JDM]

  * For C development, you will need a compiler that is compatible 
    with either Borland or Microsoft compiler object files.  We plan 
    compatibility with Borland version 2.0 or later and Microsoft 
    version 6.0 or later.


Q:  What languages are supported?  Can I program in C++?

A:  Initially the SDK will allow programming in either C or Object 
    Assembly language.  We've extended both C and Intel 80x86 Assembly 
    language with PC/GEOS specific syntax for defining objects, 
    classes, message handlers, etc.  The first version of the SDK will 
    not support C++.  This is because PC/GEOS is a completely object 
    oriented operating system while C++ is language based object 
    orientation (used to do object oriented programming on non OOP 
    systems).  You can still use a C++ compiler as long as it allows 
    standard C language development as well as C++.


Q:  Do I have to write a program specifically for PC/GEOS to take
    advantage of its features?

A:  Yes.  To create a program that runs in the PC/GEOS environment, 
    your application must be written specifically for the PC/GEOS 
    operating system API (Application Program Interface).  Standard 
    DOS, Windows or other types of applications will not run under 
    PC/GEOS.


Q:  Can I port my Windows application to run under PC/GEOS?

A:  It's possible to port any application to a new environment and 
    therefore you could port your Windows application to PC/GEOS.  
    However, PC/GEOS is a radically different operating system and 
    provides much more for developers than Windows does.  PC/GEOS 
    applications should be written to take advantage of the 
    sophisticated libraries and system services offered in PC/GEOS and 
    should shed their Windows programs' baggage.  If you try to port a 
    slow, 3 Meg Windows application to PC/GEOS, you'll probably wind 
    up with a slow, large PC/GEOS application.  By making the most out 
    of what PC/GEOS offers to application developers, you'll have a 
    product that's small, fast, and elegantly designed.


Q:  What is the difference between Pen GEOS and regular PC/GEOS?

A:  Pen GEOS is the PC/GEOS operating system with extensions for pen 
    based computers.  Additional libraries and drivers are included to 
    support pen input devices, handwriting recognition and capturing 
    and storing pen input as digital ink.  The same SDK and operating 
    system is used whether or not you are doing a pen based 
    application.


Q:  What type of developer support will be provided?

A:  Developer support is one reason we must limit the size of our BETA 
    test group.  During our BETA test, we will use our technical 
    documentation, engineering, and online support staff to answer 
    questions and assess the support needs of our developers.  This 
    will ensure that when the SDK is more widely available, we will 
    have an established developer support program designed to meet the 
    needs of our ISVs.


Q:  How can I get more information?

A:  If you have additional questions or need more information, please 
    write or FAX GeoWorks Developer Support.  Our FAX number is (510) 
    644-0928.
-- 
   Doug Taylor                         |   Nothing real can be threatened.
   The Ohio State University           |   Nothing unreal exists.
   doug-taylor+@osu.edu                |            - A Course in Miracles