Editing VisualAge

{{Short description|Integrated development environment}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = VisualAge
| logo                   = 
| screenshot             = 
| caption                = 
| collapsible            = 
| developer              = [[IBM]] and [[Taligent]]
| discontinued           = yes
| released               = {{start date and age|1993|10|12}}
| latest_release_version = 6.0
| latest_release_date    = {{Start date and age|2007|04|30}}
| latest_preview_version = 
| latest_preview_date    = 
| operating_system       = [[Cross-platform]]
| language               = Multilingual
| programming_language   = [[Smalltalk]] (original)<br/>[[Java (programming language)|Java]] (later)
| genre                  = [[Software development]]
| license                = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website                = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20110915104218/http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/vacpp|www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/vacpp}}
}}

'''VisualAge''' is a family of computer [[integrated development environment]]s from [[IBM]], which supports multiple [[programming language]]s. VisualAge was first released in October 1993. It was discontinued on April 30, 2007, and its web page was removed in September 2011.<ref name="FirstVisualAge">{{cite press release|title=VisualAge for OS/2, Version 1.0 |url=http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/5/877/ENUSZP93-0585/ |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|publisher=IBM|id=ENUSZP93-0585|date=October 12, 1993 |access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Software withdrawal: Selected IBM C, VisualAge C++, and XL Fortran programs |url=http://www.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/0/897/ENUS905-270/ENUS905-270.PDF |publisher=IBM|id=ENUS905-270|date=December 13, 2005 |access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> VisualAge was also marketed as VisualAge Smalltalk, and in 2005, Instantiations, Inc. acquired the worldwide rights to this product. IBM has stated that [[IBM XL C/C++ Compilers|XL C/C++]] is the followup product to VisualAge.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/vacpp |title=VisualAge C++|publisher=IBM|access-date=January 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915104218/http://www-01.ibm.com/software/awdtools/vacpp|archive-date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>

==Early history==
VisualAge was created in the IBM development lab in [[Research Triangle Park, North Carolina]], which was established in 1984 and had responsibility for application [[Programming tool|development tools]]. The EZ-VU dialog manager product, a personal computer derivative of the user interface elements of the [[ISPF]] [[IBM 3270|327x]] product was one of the first products in this family. The lab also had a group which was one of the early adopters of [[object-oriented programming]] technologies within IBM using an internally developed language called ClassC to develop applications with more sophisticated [[graphical user interface]]s which were just starting to be widely available.

Eventually, the availability of usable implementations of [[Smalltalk]] for [[IBM PC]]-AT class machines allowed IBM advanced technology projects to experiment with Smalltalk. At about the same time, visual interface construction tools were coming up on the radar screens. Smalltalk research projects such as InterCons by David N. Smith of IBM, and [[Fabrik (software)|Fabrik]] by a team at Apple led by [[Dan Ingalls]] were building interactive graphical applications built from composition of graphical primitives. Higher level construction of user interfaces was evidenced by other tools such as [[Jean-Marie Hullot]]'s interface builder first done in [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]] and then evolved to become the [[Interface Builder]] tool in [[NeXTStep]] and [[Mac OS X]]. Such tools allow for building user interfaces by [[WYSIWYG]] composition of UI widgets which can be "wired" to each other and to application logic written in the system's native object oriented language, or possibly with no coding at all.

The original prototype which led to VisualAge was an attempt "to make something like the [[Interface Builder|NeXT interface builder]]"<ref name="RoundInCircles">{{cite web|url=http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/articles/2008/10/15/will-it-go-round-in-circles |title=Will It Go Round in Circles? (IBM, Smalltalk, and VisualAge) |access-date=November 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019055616/http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/articles/2008/10/15/will-it-go-round-in-circles |archive-date=October 19, 2008}}</ref> within the [[Smalltalk/V]] development environment. By the time VisualAge was released as a product, much more emphasis was placed on visual construction of application logic as well as of the user interface. This emphasis was in part due to the "positioning" for "strategic" reasons of Smalltalk as a generator rather than a language within IBM's [[Systems Application Architecture]].

===VisualAge===
The name "VisualAge" is the result of a contest between the members of the development team. After the initial release of VisualAge/Smalltalk the name VisualAge became a brand of its own and VisualAges were produced for several different combinations of languages and platforms.

This is the eventual total of supported languages, variously available depending on the platform: [[BASIC]], [[COBOL]], [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]], [[EGL (programming language)|EGL]], [[Fortran]], [[Java (programming language)|Java]], [[Pacbase]], [[PL/I]], [[IBM RPG]], and [[Smalltalk]]. 

This is the eventual total of supported platforms, each of which support different languages: [[AIX]], [[OS/2]], [[i5/OS]] (formerly named [[OS/400]]), [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Transaction Processing Facility|TPF]], [[z/VM]], [[z/OS]] (formerly named [[OS/390]], [[MVS]]), and [[z/VSE]].

In 1992, Apple and IBM cofounded [[Taligent]], based upon [[Apple Pink|Pink]], an operating system with a mass of sophisticated object-oriented compiler and application framework technology from Apple. Pink became CommonPoint, the partnership was dissolved, and CommonPoint was absorbed into VisualAge starting with the Compound Document Framework to handle OLE objects in VisualAge C++ 3.5 for Windows. In February 1997, the first mass release of Taligent technology came in the form of the Open Class within VisualAge C++ 4.0. This bundled SDK adaptation includes CommonPoint's frameworks for desktop (infrastructure for building unified OCX or OpenDoc components), web (called WebRunner, for making drag-and-drop compound documents for the web, and server CGIs), graphics for 2D GUI, international text for Unicode, filesystems, printing, and unit tests. ''PC Magazine'' said "Now, the best of the CommonPoint technology is being channeled into Open Class for VisualAge. ... For sheer breadth of features, the Taligent frameworks are unmatched. An all-encompassing OOP framework has always proved a difficult ideal to realize, but VisualAge's Open Class Technology Preview is by far the most credible attempt we've seen.".<ref name="Previewing Taligent">{{cite magazine | magazine=PC Mag | date=February 4, 1997 | first=Gabrielle | last=Gagnon | title=VisualAge for C++ 4.0: Previewing Taligent | url={{google books | id=ZwHxz0UaB54C | page=206 | plainurl=yes}} | access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

Most of the members of the VisualAge family were written in Smalltalk no matter which language they supported for development. The IBM implementation of Smalltalk was produced by [[Object Technology International]] which was acquired by IBM and run as a wholly owned subsidiary for several years before being absorbed into the overall IBM organization.

VisualAge for Java is based on an extended Smalltalk [[virtual machine]] which executes both Smalltalk and Java [[byte code]]s. Java natives were actually implemented in Smalltalk.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/articles/2008/10/15/will-it-go-round-in-circles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019055616/http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/articles/2008/10/15/will-it-go-round-in-circles |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2008 |title=Will It Go Round in Circles? |publisher=denhaven2|access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref>

VisualAge Micro Edition, which supports development of embedded Java applications and cross system development, is a reimplementation of the IDE in Java. This version of VisualAge morphed into the [[Eclipse (computing)|Eclipse Framework]].

Various members of the family have been replaced by products in the [[WebSphere]] Studio family of products. By 2005, Smalltalk specialist Instantiations, Inc. had assumed technical support responsibilities and been granted global rights to the IBM VisualAge Smalltalk product line and technology base.<ref>{{cite web|title=VisualAge Smalltalk Transition FAQ |url=http://www.instantiations.com/company/ibm-transition.html |publisher=Instantiations |access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref> Instantiations continues to offer the “enhanced product” named VA Smalltalk (VAST Platform).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.instantiations.com/products/vasmalltalk/index.html |title=Smalltalk Products Home |publisher=Instantiations|access-date=May 19, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.instantiations.com/company/history.html |title=Instantiations History |publisher=Instantiations|access-date=May 19, 2009}}</ref> The C, C++ and Fortran compiler on AIX, Linux and z/OS are renamed as [[IBM XL C++|XL C/C++]] series.

==Releases==
Applications designed with VisualAge C++ may be portable between target platforms without any code changes needed if VisualAge guidelines were followed. IBM also included additional tools and libraries in instances where portability was not possible without code changes.<ref>{{cite web|title=VisualAge C++ |url=http://www.edm2.com/index.php/VisualAge_C%2B%2B |publisher=EDM/2|access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref>

===OS/2 and Windows===
*VisualAge C++ 3.0 ([[OS/2]] and Windows)
*VisualAge C++ 3.5 (Windows 95/NT only)
*C and C++ Compilers for OS/2, [[AIX]] and [[Windows NT]] Version 3.6
*VisualAge C++ Professional 4.0 (OS/2 and Windows)
*VisualAge Generator Developer V3.1 for OS/2
*VisualAge Generator Server V3.1 for OS/2<ref>{{cite press release |title=IBM VisualAge Generator for OS/2 and Windows NT Version 3.1 Boosts Application Development Productivity |url=http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/0/897/ENUS298-190/ |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=IBM |date=June 16, 1998 |id=ENUS298-190 |access-date=March 12, 2018 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023011313/http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/0/897/ENUS298-190/ |archive-date=October 23, 2017 }}</ref>
*VisualAge for OS/2 1.0 (1993-10-12)<ref name="FirstVisualAge"/>
*VisualAge COBOL for OS/2 1.0 (1994-03-29)<ref>{{cite press release|title=VisualAge for OS/2, Version 1.0 |url=http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/877/ENUSZP94-0232/ |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|publisher=IBM|id=ENUSZP94-0232|date=March 29, 1994 |access-date=March 12, 2018}}</ref>
*VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2 1.1
*VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2 1.2
*VisualAge for COBOL for OS/2, Version 1 Release 2
*VisualAge COBOL for OS/2 2.0
*VisualAge for COBOL Version 2.1
*VisualAge COBOL 2.2 
*VisualAge COBOL Enterprise 3.07 (Windows only)

===OS/400===
*VisualAge C++ for AS/400 V3R6
*VisualAge C++ for AS/400 V3R7
*VisualAge C++ for AS/400 V4R4

===AIX===
*VisualAge C++ Professional for AIX
*VisualAge C++ Professional for AIX, V5.0
*VisualAge C++ Professional for AIX, V6.0

===POWER Linux===
*VisualAge C++ V6.0 for Linux
*VisualAge C++ V6.0 for Linux refresh

===POWER MacOS X===
* VisualAge XL C++ V6.0 for Power MacOS X (10.2, 10.3)
* VisualAge XL C++ V6.0 for Power MacOS X (10.2, 10.3)
* VisualAge XL Fortran V8.1 for Power MacOS X (10.2, 10.3)

==See also==
* [[IBM Cross System Product (CSP)]]: an article which discusses IBM VisualAge Generator
* [[Source Code in Database]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
VisualAge - Smalltalk

*   IBM Corp., IBM, (1994). “IBM VisualAge (printed paper bound retail hardboard box)”. . IBM Corp. Part Number 14H0969 and lid Part Number 30H2314 Product Number 17H7495 Bar code: 087944096085
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (Spring 1995). “Smalltalk resource catalogue”. . IBM Corp. (96 pages) Product Number G325-0813-01 Part Number 30H2238
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (October 1994). “Development guide”. 1st edition. (250 pages) Product Number SC34-4495-00 Part Number 14H0295
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (October 1994). “Programmer’s reference”. 2nd edition. IBM Corp. (458 pages) Product Number SC34-4493-01 Part Number 14H0297
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (October 1994). “IBM Smalltalk”. 2nd edition. IBM Corp. (172 pages) Product Number SC34-4491-01 Part Number 14H0296
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (October 1994). “Installation guide booklet”. 2nd edition. IBM Corp. (48 pages) Part Number 14H1071
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (October 1994). “Programmer’s guide to building”. 2nd edition. IBM Corp. (149 pages) Product Number SC34-4496-00 Part Number 14H1070
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (October 1994). “User’s Guide and Reference”. 2nd edition. IBM Corp. (642 pages) Product Number SC34-4490-01 Part Number 14H0922;

IBM VisualAge for COBOL Standard is “Year 2000 ready” and Requires: Warp Version 4.0 plus FixPak 1 or Windows NT 4.0 plus Service Pack 3

*   IBM Corp., IBM, (1997). “IBM VisualAge for COBOL Standard (printed retail card box)”. Version 2.1. IBM Corp.  Product Number P4301938 Bar Code: 1264301938000104 Part Number 4301978
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (1997). “IBM VisualAge for COBOL Getting Started on Windows Manual”. IBM Corp. (130 pages) Product number GC26-8944-01 Bar Code: GC26-8944-01 Part No. 4301981
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (September 1997). “IBM VisualAge for COBOL Getting Started on OS/2 Manual”. IBM Corp. 2nd Edition. (156 pages) Document Number GC26-9051-01
*   IBM Corp., IBM, (April 1997). “Resource Catalogue for IBM COBOL Family V 1”.  Release 4. (44 pages) Product Number GC26-8488-03 Part Number 4226010
{{refend}}

==External links==
*{{Official website}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041205025652/http://www-306.ibm.com:80/software/awdtools/vaes/ VisualAge Enterprise Suite]
*[http://www.edm2.com/index.php/VisualAge_C%2B%2B VisualAge C++] description from Electronic Developer Magazine for OS/2 (EDM/2)
*[http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?VisualAge Visual Age] description from Portland Pattern Repository
*[http://www.instantiations.com/products/vasmalltalk/index.html VA Smalltalk at Instantiations]
*[http://www.javadude.com/vaj/ VisualAge for Java Tips and Tricks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616082448/http://www.javadude.com/vaj/ |date=2011-06-16 }}

{{Smalltalk programming language}}
{{Integrated development environments}}

[[Category:C (programming language) compilers|VisualAge]]
[[Category:C++ compilers|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Compilers|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Eclipse (software)|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Fortran compilers|VisualAge]]
[[Category:IBM software|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Integrated development environments|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Linux integrated development environments|VisualAge]]
[[Category:MacOS programming tools|VisualAge]]
[[Category:OS/2 software|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Programming tools for Windows|VisualAge]]
[[Category:Smalltalk programming language family]]