Zinc Application Framework
{{Short description|Widget toolkit for cross-platform GUIs}}
{{Infobox software
| name = ZAF
| developer = Professional Software Associates
| latest release version =
| latest release date =
| programming language = C++
| operating system = Cross-platform
| genre = Widget toolkit
| license =
| website = {{URL|https://psa.inc}}
}}
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.{{cite magazine |date=February 6, 1995|title=Product Comparison, Portable GUI frameworks, Program once, port often|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=17|number=6|pages=70–72, 76–78, 80–82}}{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMHACwAAQBAJ&pg=PA644|journal=Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in High Energy Physics '95|page=644|title=The H1 Data-Quality Tool-GUI Programming With A Commercial C++ Class-Library|author=Zimmer, M.|year=1996|doi=10.1142/9789814447188_0117|bibcode=1996chep.conf..642Z|isbn=978-981-02-2783-8|url-access=subscription}} 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++.{{cite magazine |last=Watt|first=Peggy|date=May 21, 1990|title=Third-Party Tools Announced at Borland's Turbo C++ Rollout|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=12|number=21|page=21}} 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.{{Cite magazine|last1=Ayre|first1=Rick|last2=Ayre|first2=Sue|date= December 17, 1991|title= Zinc Delivers a Robust Interface Library For Windows Application Development |magazine= PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis|issn=0888-8507|volume=10|number=21|pages= 75}}
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.{{Cite magazine|last=Johnston|first=Stuart J.|date= August 15, 1994|title=Zinc unites environments, languages with one code |magazine= Computerworld |publisher=IDG|issn=0010-4841|volume=28|number=33|pages= 72}}
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 {{cite press release |url=http://www.zinc.com:80/products/pres_rel/zaf5.html |title=Press Release--Zinc Announces ZAF 5 |location=Pleasant Grove, Utah |publisher=Zinc Software |date=June 20, 1997 |access-date=May 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980212102350/http://www.zinc.com/products/pres_rel/zaf5.html |archive-date=February 12, 1998 |url-status=live }} - including source code and limited only by lack of technical support and distribution rights.{{cite news |last=Coffee |first=Peter |url=http://www.zdnet.com:80/eweek/opinion/0929/29coff.html |title=Zinc Application Framework: A too-well-kept secret |publisher=PC Week |date=September 29, 1997 |access-date=May 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010605203207/http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/opinion/0929/29coff.html |archive-date=June 5, 2001 |url-status=dead }}
Zinc Software was acquired in 1998 by Wind River and continued to operate as a subsidiary.{{cite news |last=Coffee |first=Peter |url=http://www8.zdnet.com:80/pcweek/reviews/0706/06wind.html |title=Wind River, Zinc to duel Win CE |publisher=PC Week |date=July 6, 1998 |access-date=May 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990427201032/http://www8.zdnet.com/pcweek/reviews/0706/06wind.html |archive-date=April 27, 1999 |url-status=dead }}
In 2004 Zinc Software was sold to Professional Software Associates (PSA).{{cite web |url=http://www.psa-software.com:80/news.asp |title=PSA Press Releases, Milestones Partnering, 2004 |publisher=PSA |date=2006 |access-date=May 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215034116/http://www.psa-software.com/news.asp |archive-date=December 15, 2006 |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite magazine|last=Maxwell|first=Ken|date=November 1997|title=Creating an Embedded GUI with the Zinc Library, Using Zinc for an Embedded Systems GUI|magazine=Embedded Systems Programming|publisher=Miller Freeman, Inc.|issn=1040-3272|volume=10|number=11|url=http://www.zinc.com:80/products/reviews/emb12-97.htm|access-date=May 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980212102016/http://www.zinc.com/products/reviews/emb12-97.htm|archive-date=February 12, 1998|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite magazine|last=Parker|first=Tim|date=November 1997|title=Zn Is Believin': Zinc's Fortified ZAF 5 Toolkit, Zinc Application Framework 5|magazine=UNIX Review|publisher=Miller Freeman, Inc.|issn=0742-3136|url=http://www.zinc.com:80/products/reviews/ur11_97.htm|access-date=May 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202012442/http://www.zinc.com/products/reviews/ur11_97.htm|archive-date=December 2, 1998|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite magazine|last=Dragan|first=Rich|date=January 1998|title=Software Development: Cross-Platform The Native Code Way|magazine=Windows Sources|publisher=Ziff-Davis|issn=1065-9641|url=http://www.zinc.com:80/products/reviews/ws01_98.htm|access-date=May 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981205001941/http://www.zinc.com/products/reviews/ws01_98.htm|archive-date=December 5, 1998|url-status=live}}
- {{cite journal|url=http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-JSSG200401014.htm|access-date=20 May 2018|first=Liu|last=Xinxin|publisher=CNKI|title=Zinc Application Framework and Its Program Design|journal=Computer & Digital Engineering|date=2004|id=2004-01|url-access=limited}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070715184522/http://www.psa-software.com/zincdev.asp PSA Zinc Development] — 2007
- [http://openzinc.com/ OpenZinc] — open-source software project based on Zinc up to version 4.2