ParcPlace Systems
ParcPlace Systems was a software company that emerged from the research labs at Xerox PARC, focusing on the development and commercialization of Smalltalk programming environments. Here's a detailed look at its history and contributions:
Foundation and Early Years
ParcPlace was founded in 1983 when Xerox decided to commercialize the Smalltalk technology developed at Xerox PARC. The company's initial aim was to make Smalltalk, an object-oriented programming language, accessible and useful for enterprise software development. This period was marked by:
- The release of Smalltalk-80, which was one of the first commercial versions of Smalltalk.
- The creation of a development environment known as Smalltalk/V, which ran on IBM PCs.
Growth and Expansion
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, ParcPlace:
- Introduced VisualWorks, a commercial implementation of Smalltalk with a graphical user interface builder, which was considered ahead of its time.
- Developed partnerships and acquired companies like Digitalk, which brought the Smalltalk/V product line into ParcPlace's portfolio, enhancing its market presence.
Challenges and Merger
The rise of other programming languages like C++, Java, and Visual Basic posed significant competition to Smalltalk. By the mid-1990s:
- ParcPlace faced financial difficulties due to the niche market for Smalltalk.
- In 1995, ParcPlace merged with Servio Corporation to form ParcPlace-Digitalk, aiming to strengthen its market position through the combination of resources and product lines.
Legacy and Aftermath
The merged entity, ParcPlace-Digitalk, continued to develop Smalltalk products, but:
- By 1999, the company was acquired by Cincom Systems, marking the end of ParcPlace as an independent entity.
- The Smalltalk technology, however, lived on through Cincom's VisualWorks and other products, maintaining its influence in software development.
Notable Contributions
ParcPlace's contributions to the software industry include:
- Pioneering work in object-oriented programming, which influenced modern programming paradigms.
- The development of graphical user interface design tools, which were foundational for modern IDEs.
- Significant advancements in software development methodologies, particularly in the realm of agile programming practices.
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