* Original Area: comp.os.os2.programmer.tools
* Original From: brettw{at}io.com

From: brettw{at}io.com

In , os2!Craig.Swanson{at}pebble.cts.com
(Craig Swanson) writes:
>Does anybody have some experience using CommonPoint tools for OS/2?
I've been >trying to find more information on developer experiences
using cpConstructor >(which is supposed to ship on December 15) and
cpProfessional (which might be >part of what is shipping on December 15,
but I'm not sure) on OS/2. >
>I'm particularly interested in getting some responses to the following
>questions:
>
>1) What are the minimum hardware requirements for a responsive >  
development system?  (IBM's description appears to indicate >   a
Pentium 100MHz, 32MB RAM, 2GB disk space, and 1024x768 >   display, but
is that really enough?)

IBM's requirements as stated above are, for once, correct.

>2) Are finished applications suitable for use on 486DX2/66 >  
systems with 16MB RAM?  If not, what would be a suitable >   run-time
platform?

Not by a long shot.  I'd say a P75 with 24MB of RAM.

>3) What benefits do you gain by using cpConstructor and
>   cpProfessional?  (such as: faster turnaround between
>   changes and running code, faster user interface development,>   etc.)

I couldn't tell you.  I helped develop CommonPoint, but it's so large we
all had to wear blinders to focus on our piece.

>4) What drawbacks are there to using cpConstructor
>   and cpProfessional?  (such as: much bigger EXE files,
>   applications needs lots of RAM, etc.)

Again, I'm no help here.

>5) Finally, are the tools worth the $2999 list price?

I'd have to say "No".  I worked on CommonPoint for OS/2 as a
developer (multimedia stuff primarily).  It is a very large and ambitious
product, with lots of cool and nifty stuff, but I'd have to say not
currently worth investing in other than as a jumpstart for a company
thinking about using it in the future.  CommonPoint's future is
unfortunately in question.

Personally, I'd wait and look for parts of CommonPoint to appear in other
IBM products, such as SOM, OpenDOC, VAC++, and OS/2 itself over the next
year. CommonPoint itself may never see 2.0.

Brett

P.S.  How big and complex is CommonPoint?  Well, it takes three 100MHz
Pentiums with 64MB RAM and 2gig HD each, running constantly, to build it in
under a 24hr. period. :)


--- Maximus/2 2.02