SuperCede Inc, the fast Java compiler company spun out of Paul Allen’s Asymetrix Corp back in 1997 (CI No 3,199), has sold off its high performance Java Flash Compiler technology to rival company Instantiations Inc, on undisclosed terms. The Tualatin, Oregon-based object software house says it has gained exclusive rights to SuperCede’s Flash Compiler and related Java and C++ development technology, and Bellevue, Washington-based SuperCede says it plans to leave the Java development tool business. Instantiations will integrate the technology into its new super-optimizing deployment environment called Jove. In a letter to developers, SuperCede said that Instantiations does not currently plan to continue to offer SuperCede as a stand-alone development tool. SuperCede will continue support for the Professional edition for a further 90 days, during which time the 2.03 maintenance release will continue to be available a the company’s web site. As a result of the acquisition, Paul Allen’s Vulcan Ventures Inc, which was the principal owner of SuperCede, will take an undisclosed equity position in Instantiations. The original Instantiations Inc was formed in 1988 as a software products and services company, taking its key technology members from Tektronix Inc and Objectshare Systems Inc. After four years it was acquired by Digitalk Inc in 1992. In 1994, Digitalk itself was acquired by ParcPlace Systems Inc (which has now reverted back to the ObjectShare name). Three years later, the original technical and management team re-formed Instantiations, and won a $1m investment from Scalability Solutions LLC. As well as fast Java compilation technology, the company has Java spreadsheet and graphics components, a line of Smalltalk tools and components, and still offers object technology consultancy services.
