The Outsourcing Solution for Complex Product Software Development

What is a control application?

A control application is a program that provides control and support of some intelligent device(s) external to the platform on which the application resides.  A common example is the configuration, programming, troubleshooting etc. of an embedded device or robotic system.  The version 1.1 of the toolkit supports the development of control applications for Cimetrix based robotic systems and almost any kind of embedded device.

What is a framework and toolkit?

In an object-oriented language such as C++, a framework is the next level of organization above an object. It provides the mechanisms and rules to easily "assemble" a collection of objects.  A toolkit is just a collection of programs, examples and source code components that aid in the construction of something. In this case control application software.

Why was this framework and toolkit developed?

T. H. E. Solution needed something that would improve our capability to develop Windows based control applications for client companies. This solution would have to:

  • Support the generalized architecture we desired for control applications, a collection of cooperating components.
  • Provide the ability to exercise relatively low level control at the thread level.
  • Support the "mixed" programming model (the use of Windows and traditional multi-tasking events within threads).
  • Provide compiled code.

A look at the available solutions, C++ with MFC or OWL, Visual Basic etc., found none of them really satisfactory. So we built our own.

Is this framework and toolkit appropriate for the development of any kind of Windows application?

The framework/toolkit will provide developer support no matter what kind of application is being developed. However, it was constructed to support a specific environment. In this environment the primary factors are the ability to communicate with a device, often using the simplest and cheapest physical means available, robustly. The users are either technical staff or operators of the device. Basic user friendliness is important but glitz and the immediate incorporation of the latest Microsoft "solution" is not. Therefore, it is probably not what the developer wants to use for general purpose Windows applications. The only case where the framework is at an advantage no matter what the nature of the application is when both desktop and CE device are targeted. This is especially true for palm-sized CE devices.

How has the framework and toolkit been used?

To date the framework has been used as the basis for multiple delivered client developments.

When is the product available for download?

Now.

Can we get support?

T. H. E. Solution LLC will be happy to arrange a support contract that will meet the specific needs of your organization