Developing Common Code for Both Windows and Macintosh

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1

We are not aware of any kind of Windows-to-Macintosh interpreter or translator that will allow you to directly run Windows code on the Macintosh, but there are some alternatives:

1. The January 1989 issue of the "Microsoft Systems Journal" contains two relevant articles titled "Developing Applications with Common Source Code for Multiple Environments" and "Porting Apple Macintosh Applications to the Microsoft Windows Environment."

2. The "Windows Developer Guidebook" [available by calling (800) 426-9600] contains a listing for a product that helps you develop code in an environment-independent way. The product is called XVT (Extensible Virtual Toolkit) for Microsoft Windows, Presentation Manager, and Macintosh. XVT is made by the following company:

         GSS (Graphical Software Systems)
         9590 SW Gemini Drive
         Beaverton, OR  97005
         (503) 643-8642
   

   According to GSS, "XVT allows developers to create and maintain one set of source code and port it to Windows, PM, and Macintosh environments."

3. A third-party product called CommonView contains Glockenspiel C++ object libraries to simplify creation of applications for Windows and OS/2 Presentation Manager (PM) using the same core source code. Contact the company to find out more about porting to the Macintosh.

   CommonView is a set of class libraries for creating Microsoft Windows and PM applications. They come with the C++ compiler, which is an object-oriented version of C. They are actually translators that translate C++ code into C code, which you can then run through your C compiler. You can write an application using CommonView, and it will isolate you from the particular Windows environment. The product is distributed by Imagesoft, (800) 245-8840 or (516) 767-2233.