MIPS Computer Systems Inc has folded its independent software arm, Synthesis Software Inc, back into the main company, and replaced it with a new software effort called the RiscWare programme. Synthesis was launched last year, with a great fanfare, and aimed to track software, acquire the rights for MIPS-based hardware, and resell it to users of the MIPS RISC processor. The organisation was to be self-funding and profitable. But according to MIPS spokesman John Hime, the organisation is no longer needed. Synthesis was successful in porting eight to 10 products to the MIPS architecture, including Oracle, Ingres and FrameMaker. But this year, our profile has increased so that Synthesis is no longer an important part of our strategy. We now have 200 software packages under the RiscWare programme, and are trying to avoid the marketing expense and difficulties involved in the Synthesis effort. We don’t need 10 packages, but hundreds, and can now get the ports on referral. Hime implied that, although an Application Binary Interface and Application Programming Interface for MIPS users is not yet available, work is progressing on moves to establish standards for 1990 and 1991 – the company has since announced an agreement with AT&T for a System V.4 applications binary interface. MIPS users include Silicon Graphics and Tandem, with announcements last week from Bull and Nixdorf. DEC has also taken the processor, but has changed the byte ordering of the chip to integrate its Ultrix-based DECstation line more closely with the traditional VAX systems.
