Novell Inc’s new AppWare Network Application Development Strategy (CI No 2,200) has at its core technology derived from its recent acquisitions and investments. AppWare is claimed to allow developers to create applications using object-type building blocks that will run under Unix, OS/2, Macintosh System, MS-DOS and Windows. AppWare uses the latest acquisition, Serius Corp’s visual programming environment and Transformation Inc’s application programing interface plus other tools and libraries as well as back-end network and application services from NetWare. Novell has also invested in Data General Corp spin-out HyperDesk Corp – and is to bundle the company’s Distributed Object Management System with NetWare – and has struck alliances with PowerSoft Corp and Object Design Inc. With AppWare on the outside, Novell will provide operating system and hardware-independent middleware. First AppWare tools are expected within 90 days but the company’s announcement studiously avoided any mention at all of objects – the love that dare not speak its name? Surely not…
