Emeryville, California-based Sybase Inc has acquired 22-employee Toronto company Deft Inc on undisclosed terms. The company offers design and development tools for building client-server applications for Unix and VAX relational database management systems. Currently, Deft runs in the Apple Computer Inc Macintosh environment although as the company and products become integrated with Sybase the product set will move to more familiar Sybase territory such as Unix and VAX workstations. However, Sybase’s Keith Dixon says that Deft will not become a closed tool tied to the Sybase database – integration with Sybase will be improved but Deft will remain tightly integrated with Ingres, Oracle and Rdb. Sybase wanted to acquire Deft in particular because being based in the Apple environment it offers graphical front ends for design and development rather than being character-based – in future it will be making use of Motif and Open Look. It is also designed to support multiple database management systems and provides for automatic conversion from one relational database schema to another through its reverse engineering capabilities. The rationale behind the acquisition is to enable Sybase to provide a one-stop shop for users wanting a total SQL development lifecycle, via Deft, SQL Toolset and the SQL Solutions productivity tools.The company was founded in February 1988, and has sold over 1,600 development licences to over 400 companies worldwide. It distributes its products worldwide through direct sales, distributors and OEM customers. Founder Eric Goldman will become become Sybase director of software engineering.
