NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

         THIS OPTION HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
         AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR
         OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS IT HAS BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
         SECURITIES ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.

                                                                January 31, 2000

                            RESEARCH ENGINEERS, INC.

         WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Stock
Purchase Agreement dated of even date herewith by and between Research
Engineers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and Vinod Bhindi
("Holder"), the Company desires to grant to Holder a non-qualified stock option
to purchase shares of the Company's common stock, $.01 par value per share
("COMMON STOCK").

         NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING, the Company hereby
grants to Holder an option to purchase (this "OPTION") up to Eight Thousand
Three Hundred Thirty Five (8,335) shares (such shares as adjusted from time to
time are referred to herein as an "OPTION SHARE," and collectively, as the
"OPTION SHARES") of Common Stock of the Company at the exercise price determined
as provided hereinafter (such exercise price per share as adjusted from time to
time is referred to herein as the "EXERCISE PRICE"). This Option may be
exercised in accordance with the terms of this Option by surrendering this
Option, with (i) the form of Election to Purchase set forth hereon duly executed
with signatures guaranteed by a member firm of a national securities exchange, a
commercial bank or a trust company located in the United States of America, or a
member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and (ii) the
form of Restricted Stock Letter attached hereto duly executed, at the Company's
principal executive office ("OFFICE"), and by paying in full the Exercise Price,
plus transfer taxes, if any, in United States currency by cash, certified check,
bank cashier's check or money order payable to the order of the Company.

         1. DURATION, VESTING AND EXERCISE OF OPTION.

                  (a) This Option shall vest and become exercisable according to
         the following schedule: On January 31, 2001, Two Thousand Seven Hundred
         Seventy Eight (2,778) Option Shares shall become vested and
         exercisable. On January 31, 2002, an additional Two Thousand Seven
         Hundred Seventy Eight (2,778) Option Shares shall become vested and
         exercisable. On January 31, 2003, the remaining Two Thousand Seven
         Hundred Seventy Nine (2,779) Option Shares shall become vested and
         exercisable, at which time all of the Option Shares shall be vested and
         exercisable.
<PAGE>

                  (b) This Option (to the extent not earlier exercised) shall
         expire on January 31, 2010 (such date being referred to herein as the
         "EXPIRATION DATE"). If this Option is not surrendered to the Company
         for exercise in accordance with SECTION 1(C) prior to the close of
         business on the Expiration Date it shall be void.

                  (c) This Option may be exercised, to the extent not previously
         exercised, in whole or in part, prior to the Expiration Date at the per
         Option Share Exercise Price determined in accordance with SECTIONS 2
         AND 4. In order to exercise such right, Holder shall surrender this
         Option to the Company at the Office with the form of Election to
         Purchase and the Restricted Stock Letter attached hereto duly completed
         and signed, and shall tender payment in full of the Exercise Price to
         the Company for the Company's account, together with such taxes as are
         specified in SECTION 8, for each Option Share with respect to which
         this Option is being exercised. Such Exercise Price and taxes shall be
         paid in full by cash, certified check, bank cashier's check or money
         order, payable in United States currency to the order of the Company.
         If this Option is exercised as to less than all of the Option Shares
         purchasable, one or more new option(s) shall be issued to Holder for
         the remaining number of Option Shares evidenced by this Option.

         2. EXERCISE PRICE. Subject to adjustment pursuant to SECTION 4, the
price per share at which Option Shares shall be purchasable upon exercise of
this Option (the "EXERCISE PRICE") shall be $20.92.

         3. ISSUANCE OF OPTION SHARE CERTIFICATES.

                  (a) Upon surrender of this Option, delivery of an Election to
         Purchase and a Restricted Stock Letter in the forms attached hereto and
         payment of the Exercise Price, the Company shall issue and deliver
         certificates representing shares of Common Stock ("CERTIFICATES") in
         the manner set forth in the Election to Purchase delivered by Holder to
         the Company.

                  (b) The Certificates shall bear a legend in substantially the
         following form:

                  "THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT
                  BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
                  (THE `ACT'), AND MAY NOT BE RESOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR
                  HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
                  STATEMENT UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY
                  TO THE ISSUER THAT REGISTRATION UNDER SAID ACT IS NOT
                  REQUIRED."

4. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES PURCHASABLE. The
Exercise Price and the number of Option Shares purchasable upon the exercise of
this Option are subject to adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of
the events specified in this SECTION 4. If the Company's outstanding Common
Stock shall hereafter be increased or decreased, or changed into or exchanged
for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company or
of another corporation, by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger,

<PAGE>

consolidation, share exchange or other business combination in which the Company
is the surviving parent corporation, stock split, combination of shares, or
dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock or rights to acquire
capital stock, appropriate adjustment shall be made by the Company in the number
and kind of shares as to which any unexercised portion of this Option shall be
exercisable, to the end that the proportionate interest of the Holder shall, to
the extent practicable, be maintained as before the occurrence of such event.
Such adjustment in any portion of this Option shall be made without change in
the total price applicable to such unexercised portion of the Option but with a
corresponding adjustment in the Exercise Price. Such adjustments shall be made
successively whenever any event specified in this SECTION 4 shall occur.

         5. FRACTIONAL OPTION SHARES. The Company shall not be required to issue
fractions of Option Shares upon exercise of this Option or to distribute
certificates that evidence fractional Option Shares. All fractions of Option
Shares to which Holder would otherwise be entitled shall be aggregated and in
lieu of such remaining fractional Option Share, there shall be paid to Holder at
the time this Option is exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to
the stated fraction of the fair market value of an Option Share as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

         6. RESERVATION AND ISSUANCE OF OPTION SHARES. The Company represents
and warrants that (a) there have been reserved, and the Company shall at all
times keep reserved, out of its authorized Common Stock a number of shares of
Common Stock sufficient to provide for the exercise of the rights of purchase
represented by this Option, and (b) there are no restrictions in the Company's
articles of incorporation or bylaws that prevent the Company from issuing shares
of its Common Stock for the purpose of enabling it to satisfy any obligation to
issue Option Shares upon exercise of this Option in accordance with its terms.
The Company covenants and agrees that it will not amend its articles of
incorporation or bylaws in any manner, or take any other action, that could
adversely affect the Company's ability to issue Option Shares upon exercise of
this Option.

         The Company further represents and warrants that all shares of its
Common Stock issued upon exercise of this Option will, upon issuance in
accordance with the terms of this Option, (a) be legally issued and free from
all taxes, liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests created by the
Company with respect to the issuance thereof and (b) be duly and validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable Common Stock as to which no holder shall have any
liability other than Holder's payment of the Exercise Price.

         7. MUTILATED OR MISSING OPTION CERTIFICATES. If this Option is
mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue and deliver, in
exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Option, or
in lieu of and substitution for the lost, stolen or destroyed Option, a new
option in substantially the same form as this Option and representing an option
to purchase an equivalent number of Option Shares, but only upon receipt of
evidence satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction of this
Option and an indemnity or bond, if requested, satisfactory to the Company.
Holder shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and pay such
other reasonable charges as the Company may prescribe.
<PAGE>

         8. PAYMENT OF TAXES. The Company will pay all documentary stamp taxes
attributable to the issuance of Option Shares issuable upon the exercise of this
Option; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax
or taxes that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance
of any options or any Option Share certificates in a name other than that of
Holder, and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver such Option
Share certificates unless and until the person or persons requesting the
issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall
have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

         9. CERTAIN NOTICES TO HOLDER. Upon any adjustment to the number of
Option Shares issuable pursuant to exercise of this Option or to the Exercise
Price pursuant to SECTION 4, the Company, within fifteen (15) calendar days
thereafter, shall cause to be given to Holder, at his address appearing on the
Company's records, written notice of such adjustments in accordance with this
SECTION 9. Where appropriate such notice may be given in advance and included as
part of the notice required to be mailed under the other provisions of this
SECTION 9.

         If:

                  (a) The Company authorizes the issuance or distribution of
         securities or assets to holders of its shares of Common Stock or makes
         any distribution (other than cash dividends and distributions payable
         out of consolidated earnings) to the holders of its shares of Common
         Stock;

                  (b) The Company becomes a party to any consolidation or merger
         for which approval of any shareholder of the Company is required,
         conveys or transfers all or substantially all of its properties,
         assets, or business, shall engage in any reorganization or
         recapitalization or makes any tender or exchange offer for shares of
         its Common Stock;

                  (c) The Company becomes subject to voluntary or involuntary
         dissolution, liquidation or winding up; or

                  (d) The Company proposes to take any other action that would
         require an adjustment of the Exercise Price pursuant to SECTION 4;

the Company shall cause to be given to Holder at his address appearing on the
Company's records, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the applicable
record date hereinafter specified, a written notice in accordance with this
SECTION 9 stating (i) the date as of which the holders of record of Common Stock
to be entitled to receive any such securities or assets are to be determined,
(ii) the initial expiration date set forth in any tender or exchange offer made
by the Company for shares of its Common Stock or (iii) the date on which any
such consolidation or merger, conveyance, transfer, reorganization or
recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become
effective or consummated, and the date as of which it is expected that holders
of record of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange such Common Stock for
securities or other property that may be deliverable upon such consolidation or
merger, conveyance, transfer, reorganization or recapitalization, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up. The failure to give the notice required by this
SECTION 9 or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of any
distribution, right, option, consolidation, conveyance, transfer,
reorganization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up or the vote upon any
action.
<PAGE>

         Nothing contained in this Option shall be construed as conferring upon
Holder the right to vote or to consent or to receive notice as a shareholder in
respect of any rights or other matter whatsoever as a shareholder of the
Company, or any other rights or liabilities as a shareholder of the Company.

         10. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION. Except by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, this Option is not transferable by Holder.

         11. NOTICES. Any notice or demand authorized by this Option to be given
or made by Holder to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if
personally delivered or sent by first class United States mail, by overnight
courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, or by facsimile confirmed by letter,
addressed (until another address is given in writing by the Company) to the
Office.

         Any notice pursuant to this Option to be given by the Company to Holder
shall be sufficiently given if personally delivered or sent by first class
United States mail, by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, or by
facsimile confirmed by letter, addressed (until another address is filed in
writing by Holder with the Company) to the address specified in the Company's
records.

         12. SUPPLEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS. The Company may from time to time
supplement or amend this Option without the consent or concurrence of Holder in
order to cure any ambiguity, manifest error or other mistake in this Option, or
to make provision in regard to any matters or questions arising hereunder that
the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not adversely affect,
alter or change the interests of Holder.

         13. SUCCESSORS. All the representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants and provisions of this Option by or for the benefit of the Company or
Holder shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective permitted
successors and assigns hereunder.

         14. GOVERNING LAW. This Option shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the State of California and for all purposes shall be
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California
without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

         15. BENEFITS OF THIS AGREEMENT. Nothing in this Option shall be
construed to give to any person or entity other than the Company and Holder any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Option, and this Option
shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and Holder.

         16. INVALIDITY OF PROVISIONS. If any provision of this Option is or
becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall
be deemed amended to the extent necessary to cause it to express the intent of
the parties to the maximum possible extent and be valid legal and enforceable.
The invalidity or deemed amendment of such provision shall not affect the
validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
<PAGE>

         17. NO IMPAIRMENT. The Company will not, by amendment of its
certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, recapitalization
transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issuance or sale of
securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance
or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the
Company, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all
the provisions of this Option and in the taking of all such actions as may be
necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of Holder against
impairment.

         18. SECTION HEADINGS. The section headings contained in this Option are
for convenience only and shall be without substantive meaning or content.



<PAGE>



         The Company has caused this Option to be duly executed as of the day
and year first above written.

                                                COMPANY:

                                                RESEARCH ENGINEERS, INC.



                                                By: /s/ Jyoti Chatterjee
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Jyoti Chatterjee, President





<PAGE>


                            RESEARCH ENGINEERS, INC.

                           NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION

                              ELECTION TO PURCHASE

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to purchase ____________
Option Shares issuable upon the exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option dated
January 31, 2000 ("OPTION"), and requests that certificates for such Option
Shares be issued and delivered as follows:

ISSUE TO:                  _____________________________________________________
                           (Name)

                           _____________________________________________________
                           (Address, including Zip Code)

                           _____________________________________________________
                           (Social Security or Tax Identification Number)

DELIVER TO:                _____________________________________________________
                           (Name)

                           at __________________________________________________
                              (Address, including Zip Code)

         If the number of Option Shares hereby exercised is less than all the
Option Shares represented by the Option, the undersigned requests that a new
option representing the number of Option Shares not exercised be issued and
delivered as set forth above or otherwise as the undersigned shall direct in
writing.

         In full payment of the purchase price of the Option Shares being issued
upon exercise of the Option and transfer taxes, if any, the undersigned hereby
tenders payment of $_____________ by cash, certified check, bank cashier's check
or money order payable in United States currency to the order of Research
Engineers, Inc.

Dated:  _________________             __________________________________________
                                     (Signature)

                                     (Signature must conform in all respects to
                                     name of holder as specified on the face of
                                     the Option.)

                                     PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAX
                                     IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF HOLDER

Signature Guaranteed:

_______________________________





<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                    ---------

                         FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK LETTER

         THE UNDERSIGNED (hereinafter referred to as "PURCHASER") is exercising
the Non-Qualified Stock Option tendered with this Restricted Stock Letter, and
in connection with such exercise, makes the following representations and
warranties to Research Engineers, Inc. (the "COMPANY") with the knowledge and
intent that the Company shall be entitled to rely thereon in delivering shares
of the Company's Common Stock ("SHARES") to Purchaser upon exercise of the
Non-Qualified Stock Option:

         1. Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for investment for Purchaser's own
account, and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution
thereof. Purchaser understands that the Shares to be purchased have not been
registered pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "ACT"), and
the offer and sale of the Shares is intended to be exempt from registration
under the Act, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide
nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of Purchaser's representations
as expressed herein.

         2. Purchaser is an "accredited investor" as defined in the rules and
regulations of the Act and Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of Purchaser's investment in the Shares, and Purchaser is capable of
bearing the economic risks of such investment, including the risk of loss of
Purchaser's entire investment in the Shares.

         3. Purchaser acknowledges that the Company has made available to
Purchaser or Purchaser's agents all documents and information relating to an
investment in the Shares requested by or on behalf of Purchaser.

         4. All Shares issued on delivery of this Restricted Stock Letter shall
bear the legend set forth in SECTION 3 of the annexed Non-Qualified Stock Option
and the Shares received on delivery of this Restricted Stock Letter shall be
subject to the restrictions set forth therein.

         Executed ______________________

                                            Purchaser:  ________________________



                                            Signature:  ________________________