The first salvos in what is threatening to develop into the Windows Wars were duly fired last week (CI No 2,162). Sun Microsystems Inc’s SunSelect formally announced its Wabi Windows applications binary interface which enables Windows applications to run under Unix without MS-DOS or Windows being needed, and Microsoft Corp announced its alliance with UK firm Insignia Solutions Ltd, High Wycombe, to create Windows applications programming interfaces for the Apple Computer Inc Macintosh and Unix and other operating systems. Unix System Laboratories Inc, Santa Cruz Operation Inc and SunSoft will each integrate Wabi into their respective Unix offerings, while Toshiba Corp, Fujitsu Ltd, Network Computing Devices Inc, Tadpole Technology Plc and Quarterdeck Office Systems Inc have lent their support to the effort. Windows application vendors Lotus Development Corp, WordPerfect Corp, Software Publishing Corp, Aldus Corp, Datastrom Technologies Inc and Borland International Inc gave their blessings. Unix Labs has been working with SunSelect on Wabi and is responsible for developing the Windows shell, Wabi control panel, help subsystem, dynamic link libraries that support dynamic data exchange and common dialogue, and ISO Latin internationalisation. SunSelect has licensed Bitstream Technology Inc’s font handling technology, enabling Wabi users access to the same TrueType fonts as Windows users. Wabi translates function calls made by Windows applications into those recognisable by X Window. A self certification programme for Wabi vendors starts in June – though there are said to be only a dozen Windows applications up on it and the thing still doesn’t print – Wabi 1.0 will be out in the summer. IBM Corp and Hewlett-Packard Co were scheduled to be at Wabi’s unveiling as licensees but turned into no-shows. The scuttlebutt says their contracts were not yet signed and that the pair were holding out for better terms and conditions.

Public domain

However IBM was expected to come forward as a Wabi development partner, like Unix Labs, which would automatically make it eligible for SunSelect’s most favourable pricing schedule. IBM is understood to regard Wabi as a highly important lever. At the same time, SunSelect unveiled its proposal for a Public Windows Interface specification that would bring the Windows applications program interface into the public domain and make it harder for Microsoft to alter it so as to trip up the competition. It will also submit the specification to standards organisations and X/Open, which says it is ready to receive the specification. Public Windows Interface attracted more adherents than Wabi itself, including IBM Corp, Hewlett-Packard Co, American Airlines, Borland International, Corel Corp, ICL Plc, Fujitsu Ltd, Network Computing Devices, Norwegian Telecom, Quarterdeck, Tadpole, Siebe Plc’s Foxboro Co, Santa Cruz, Unix Labs and WordPerfect. Originally the Wabi and Public Windows Interface announcement were to be made separately, with Public Windows Interface slated for May 19, and there were said to have been long discussions over the wisdom of fusing the two together. In the end Sun chief executive Scott McNealy had his way and they came as twin cannon shots. Insiders say that Hewlett-Packard Co and IBM lawyers have cleared Wabi, and reckon that Microsoft can’t make much of a case. However Microsoft or its new anti-Wabi champion, Insignia Solutions could still sue.