C++ object house Versant Object Technology Corp, Menlo Park, California, has decided it needs to get more serious about the burgeoning demand for Smalltalk and is getting closer to ParcPlace Systems Inc for Smalltalk technologies. It has agreed to market a version of ParcPlace’s VisualWorks Smalltalk development environment as Argos through Miramar Technology. It has also joined the Object Technology International group, which peddles the Smalltalk-based Envy/Developer management tool. Versant says it will work to ensure the tool can be used in conjunction with its object database and is integrated with Argos. Versant has also introduced a version 2.0 of its SmallTalk interface for connecting its Open Database Management System to VisualWorks.2.0 includes the ability to change schema on-line, to store Smalltalk methods in the Versant object database, create and store embedded objects and static data checking. Sparc versions are out now, Windows NT, Windows 3.1 and HP-UX and other versions will follow. Prices start at $2,400.
