Objective The objectives of the PCTE project were to define the necessary interface specifications and to implement the basic utilities and working prototypes of a portable common tool environment (PCTE) to support tool development. The tool and user interface specifications were to be maintained as public domain documents to ensure common tool portability. Portable common tool environment (PCTE) is a set of interface specifications for a public (software) tools interface. It is intended to be used as the basis for the construction of integrated software engineering environments.By defining a standard public tool interface, such as environment can be constructed more economically from a range of different vendors' products, since adherence to the standard would make such tools independent of a particular vendor or particular hardware. In addition, there is now widespread recognition that computer aided software engineering (CASE) requires a control common database to act as a repository for all the development objects (code, designs, requirements, etc) which are an integral part of large scale software development. PCTE provides sophisticated mechanisms for such a repository by means of its object management system. It should also be stressed that PCTE is primarily targeted towards the open systems market.The objectives of the project were to define the necessary interface specifications and to implement the basic utilities and working prototypes of a portable common tool environment (PCTE) to support tool development. The tool and user interface specifications were to be maintained as public domain documents to ensure common tool portability. The kernel which constitutes the environment was evaluated by developing a configuration management system (CMS), a knowledge based programer's assistant (KBPA), and other tools. Specifications of the tool and user interfaces were made, and are available in the public domain under the control of the independent PCTE interfaces management board (PIMB). Both Ada and C specifications are also available. Various prototypes of the PCTE functionalities have been demonstrated. Commercial implementations are already available on the market. An Ada versions of the PCTE object modelling system (OMS) and tool interfaces is available in order to ensure that the PCTE can provide the basis for an efficient Ada project support environment.The kernel which constitutes the environment was evaluated by developing a Configuration Management System (CMS), a Knowledge-Based Programmer's Assistant (KBPA), and other tools. Specifications of the tool and user interfaces were made, and are available in the public domain under the control of the independent PCTE Interfaces Management Board (PIMB). Both Ada and C specifications are also available. Various prototypes of the PCTE functionalities have been demonstrated. Commercial implementations are already available on the market (Emeraude on Bull SPS7 and Sun 3). An Ada version of the PCTE OMS and tool interfaces is available in order to ensure that the PCTE can provide the basis for an efficient Ada project support environment. Exploitation PCTE provides a European standard for support environment interfaces enabling the growth of a software tools market and the efficient, coherent development of large systems across multi-company development teams. Links are presently being established withvarious European national programmes and European development agencies, and industry prospects appear good for achieving a high level of coordination. PCTE is used in national programmes and EUREKA projects, and is forming the basis for international efforts to build standard programmer environments. The PCTE Interfaces Management Board (PIMB) is controlling the interfaces and will be in charge of their evolution. Particular attention is given to standardisation through the activities of ECMA Technical Committee 33. Many tool designers and developers have adopted these interfaces in Europe, and the Ada version will have a considerable impact in the US. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware developmentnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software Programme(s) FP1-ESPRIT 1 - European programme (EEC) for research and development in information technologies (ESPRIT), 1984-1988 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator Bull SA EU contribution No data Address 68 route de Versailles 78430 Louveciennes France See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all GEC Marconi Research Centre United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address West Hanningfield Road Great Baddow CM2 8HN Chelmsford See on map Total cost No data Ingegneria C. Olivetti and C. SpA Italy EU contribution No data Address Via Palestro 30 56100 Pisa See on map Total cost No data International Computers Ltd (ICL) United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Kidsgrove Westfields Kidsgrove ST7 1TL Stoke-on-Trent See on map Total cost No data SIEMENS-NIXDORF INFORMATIONSSYSTEME AG Germany EU contribution No data Address BERLINER STRAßE 1000 BERLIN See on map Total cost No data Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG Germany EU contribution No data Address Otto-Hahn-Ring 6 81739 München See on map Total cost No data
