Application Programming Interface for Windows
Encyclopedia
The Application Programming Interface for Windows (APIW) Standard is a specification of the Microsoft Windows 3.1 API drafted by Willows Software, Inc. It is the successor to previously proposed Public Windows Interface standard. It was created in an attempt to establish a vendor-neutral, platform-independent, open standard of the 16-bit Windows API not controlled by Microsoft.
was the top selling software. The various graphical Windows applications had already started to reduce training time and enhance productivity on personal computers. At the same time various Unix and Unix-based operating systems dominated technical workstations and departmental servers. The idea of a consistent application environment across heterogeneous environments was compelling to both enterprise customers and software developers.
On May 5, 1993 Sun Microsystems
announced Windows Application Binary Interface
(WABI), a product to run Windows software on Unix, and the Public Windows Interface (PWI) initiative, a effort to standardize a subset of the popular 16-bit Windows API's. They proposed PWI to various companies and organizations including X/Open
, IEEE and Unix International
. The previous day, Microsoft had announced SoftPC
a Windows to Unix product created by Insignia Solutions as part of a program where Microsoft licensed their Windows source code to select third-parties, which in the following year became known as Windows Interface Source Environment
(WISE). Later that month Microsoft also announced Windows NT
, a version of Windows designed to run on Workstations and Servers.
--who rejected it in March, after being threatened by Microsoft's assertion of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over the Windows APIs-- and the European Computer Manufacturers' Association
(ECMA) . In September, now part of a ECMA delegation, they made a informational presentation about the project at the ISO SC22 plenary meeting in the The Hague, Netherlands. Their goal was to make it a ISO
standard in order to force Microsoft to comply with it (in Windows) or risk not being able sell to European or Asian governments who can only buy ISO standards compliant products.
In April 1995, Willows Software, Inc. (formally Multiport, Inc.) a company that had been working on Windows to Unix technologies (inherited from then defunct Hunter Systems, Inc.) since early 1993, joined the ad hoc ECMA group. This group became Technical Committee 37 in August (About the time Windows 95
was released). Willows vowed to complete a full draft specification by the end of the year. In October the draft specification was completed under the name Application Programming Interface for Windows (APIW). This was accepted as ECMA-234 in December and was put on the fast-track program to become a ISO standard.
Solutions for heterogeneous environments
By the end of 1990 Windows 3.0Windows 3.0
Windows 3.0, a graphical environment, is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, and was released on 22 May 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI front...
was the top selling software. The various graphical Windows applications had already started to reduce training time and enhance productivity on personal computers. At the same time various Unix and Unix-based operating systems dominated technical workstations and departmental servers. The idea of a consistent application environment across heterogeneous environments was compelling to both enterprise customers and software developers.
On May 5, 1993 Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems
Sun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
announced Windows Application Binary Interface
Windows Application Binary Interface
Wabi was a commercial product from Sun Microsystems that implemented the Microsoft Windows Win16 API specification on Solaris; a version for Linux was also released by Caldera Systems...
(WABI), a product to run Windows software on Unix, and the Public Windows Interface (PWI) initiative, a effort to standardize a subset of the popular 16-bit Windows API's. They proposed PWI to various companies and organizations including X/Open
X/Open
X/Open Company, Ltd. was a consortium founded by several European UNIX systems manufacturers in 1984 to identify and promote open standards in the field of information technology. More specifically, the original aim was to define a single specification for operating systems derived from UNIX, to...
, IEEE and Unix International
Unix International
Unix International or UI was an association created in 1988 to promote open standards, especially the Unix operating system. Its most notable members were AT&T and Sun Microsystems, and in fact the commonly accepted reason for its existence was as a counterbalance to the Open Software Foundation ,...
. The previous day, Microsoft had announced SoftPC
SoftPC
SoftPC and SoftWindows were software emulators of x86 hardware. The emulators were developed by Insignia Solutions. Available originally on UNIX workstations to run MS-DOS, the software eventually was ported to Mac OS and also gained the ability to run Windows software...
a Windows to Unix product created by Insignia Solutions as part of a program where Microsoft licensed their Windows source code to select third-parties, which in the following year became known as Windows Interface Source Environment
Windows Interface Source Environment
Windows Interface Source Environment was a licensing program from Microsoft which allowed developers to recompile and run Windows-based applications on UNIX and Macintosh platforms....
(WISE). Later that month Microsoft also announced Windows NT
Windows NT
Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
, a version of Windows designed to run on Workstations and Servers.
ECMA gets involved
In February 1994 the PWI Specification Committee sent a draft specification to X/OpenX/Open
X/Open Company, Ltd. was a consortium founded by several European UNIX systems manufacturers in 1984 to identify and promote open standards in the field of information technology. More specifically, the original aim was to define a single specification for operating systems derived from UNIX, to...
--who rejected it in March, after being threatened by Microsoft's assertion of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over the Windows APIs-- and the European Computer Manufacturers' Association
Ecma International
Ecma International is an international, private non-profit standards organization for information and communication systems. It acquired its name in 1994, when the European Computer Manufacturers Association changed its name to reflect the organization's global reach and activities...
(ECMA) . In September, now part of a ECMA delegation, they made a informational presentation about the project at the ISO SC22 plenary meeting in the The Hague, Netherlands. Their goal was to make it a ISO
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
standard in order to force Microsoft to comply with it (in Windows) or risk not being able sell to European or Asian governments who can only buy ISO standards compliant products.
In April 1995, Willows Software, Inc. (formally Multiport, Inc.) a company that had been working on Windows to Unix technologies (inherited from then defunct Hunter Systems, Inc.) since early 1993, joined the ad hoc ECMA group. This group became Technical Committee 37 in August (About the time Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
was released). Willows vowed to complete a full draft specification by the end of the year. In October the draft specification was completed under the name Application Programming Interface for Windows (APIW). This was accepted as ECMA-234 in December and was put on the fast-track program to become a ISO standard.