Falcon Framework
Encyclopedia
The Falcon Framework was Mentor Graphics
' second generation software environment. Whereas their original environment had been Pascal-based and ran exclusively on the Apollo/Domain
platform, the Falcon Framework was written in C++
and was portable to other platforms, notably Unix
.
The Falcon Framework was marketed as a key technology for concurrent engineering
in the EDA
realm. However, it was better characterized as a software application framework
. The key components of the Falcon Framework were:
Another key part of the Falcon Framework was the Open Door program. This program provided partners and customers with access to the software libraries and integration services. Open Door was an attempt to eliminate Mentor Graphics' reputation for proprietary products.
The Falcon Framework was the key feature of Mentor Graphics
' 8.0 release and was initially released in 1991. Later developments included LMS (Library Management System) and iDM (integrated Design Manager). Subsequently, it has been ported to Windows NT
.
A particularly eccentric feature introduced in the Falcon Framework was mouse gesture
s using the middle mouse button. For example an operator could delete a CAD symbol by highlighting it with a left mouse button click, then pressing and holding the middle mouse button and drawing a large "D" across the screen. The gesture would appear in red color on top of the drawing and window system and disappear and get interpreted once the user released the middle mouse button again.
Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
' second generation software environment. Whereas their original environment had been Pascal-based and ran exclusively on the Apollo/Domain
Apollo/Domain
Apollo/Domain was a range of workstations developed and produced by Apollo Computer from circa 1980 to 1989. The machines were built around the Motorola 68k family of processors, except for the DN10000, which had from one to four of Apollo's RISC processors, named PRISM.-Operating system:The...
platform, the Falcon Framework was written in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
and was portable to other platforms, notably Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
.
The Falcon Framework was marketed as a key technology for concurrent engineering
Concurrent engineering
Concurrent engineering is a work methodology based on the parallelization of tasks . It refers to an approach used in product development in which functions of design engineering, manufacturing engineering and other functions are integrated to reduce the elapsed time required to bring a new product...
in the EDA
Electronic design automation
Electronic design automation is a category of software tools for designing electronic systems such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits...
realm. However, it was better characterized as a software application framework
Application framework
In computer programming, an application framework consists of a software framework used by software developers to implement the standard structure of an application for a specific development environment ....
. The key components of the Falcon Framework were:
- UIMS - The User Interface Management System. Later dubbed the CUI for the Common User Interface, this component was built on the X Window SystemX Window SystemThe X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
and featured an OSFOpen Software FoundationThe Open Software Foundation was a not-for-profit organization founded in 1988 under the U.S. National Cooperative Research Act of 1984 to create an open standard for an implementation of the UNIX operating system.-History:...
/MotifMotif (widget toolkit)In computing, Motif refers to both a graphical user interface specification and the widget toolkit for building applications that follow that specification under the X Window System on Unix and other POSIX-compliant systems. It emerged in the 1980s as Unix workstations were on the rise, as a...
-like interface. - AMPLE - Advanced Mentor Programming LanguagE or Advanced Multi-Purpose LanguagE. A C-Like scripting programming language.
- DSS - Decision Support System. A spreadsheetSpreadsheetA spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...
-like programming environment featuring many graphical widgets. - DME - The Design Management Environment. A graphical tool known as The Design Manager for managing design components and The Registrar for editing the Falcon Frameworks registry.
- BOLD - An online documentation system. The primary application was the Bold Browser.
- EDDM - The Electronic Design Data Model. A connectivity-based data model for use with Mentor GraphicsMentor GraphicsMentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
' IDEA Station suite of tools. - DDMS - The Design Data Management System. The underlying component management system providing object facilities for managing references, persistence, and versioning.
Another key part of the Falcon Framework was the Open Door program. This program provided partners and customers with access to the software libraries and integration services. Open Door was an attempt to eliminate Mentor Graphics' reputation for proprietary products.
The Falcon Framework was the key feature of Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics
Mentor Graphics, Inc is a US-based multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics, as of 2004, ranked third in the EDA industry it helped create...
' 8.0 release and was initially released in 1991. Later developments included LMS (Library Management System) and iDM (integrated Design Manager). Subsequently, it has been ported to 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 particularly eccentric feature introduced in the Falcon Framework was mouse gesture
Mouse gesture
In computing, a pointing device gesture or mouse gesture is a way of combining pointing device movements and clicks which the software recognizes as a specific command. Pointing device gestures can provide quick access to common functions of a program. They can also be useful for people who have...
s using the middle mouse button. For example an operator could delete a CAD symbol by highlighting it with a left mouse button click, then pressing and holding the middle mouse button and drawing a large "D" across the screen. The gesture would appear in red color on top of the drawing and window system and disappear and get interpreted once the user released the middle mouse button again.