New York-based Popkin Software & Systems Inc has released what it claims is the first enterprise modeling tool to integrate business, process, component, object and data modeling techniques. Mark McGregor, a Popkin spokesperson, says that the System Architect 2001 tool adds to the traditional object modeling tool concept with new front-end features and a new model-based approach for data modeling. McGregor said that the new approach allowed users to build several different pieces into a model-based paradigm or zoom in on selected pieces using drag ‘n’ drop techniques. The 32-bit tool runs in a Windows environment, supporting Visual Basic for Applications. McGregor said that the company was using DCOM because of the Windows basis of the product but stressed that the tool could generate CORBA interface definition language – allowing the program to communicate with other programs. McGregor claims that Popkin, unlike rivals such as Select Software Tools Inc made money from enterprise modeling. McGregor said that Popkin was not expecting to be unduly affected by IT spending on Y2K issues, explaining that growth had slowed through the end of last year but was not in reverse. He also prophesied a bright future for modeling tools, claiming that companies could use the programs to target the most cost-effective application development spending after the ‘drought’ caused by year 2000 problem ‘fire-fighting.’ System Architect 2001 will be available in March at $4,910.
