Jump to content

Logitech Modula-2: Difference between revisions

From EDM2
← Older edit
No edit summary
Ak120 (talk | contribs)
35,819 edits
mNo edit summary
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
==Description==
A historically important [[Modula-2]] compiler for 16 bit DOS and OS/2 developed by the Swiss [[Logitech]] company.
A historically important [[Modula-2]] compiler for 16 bit DOS and OS/2. Originally introduced in 1982 or 1983 as a DOS and CP/M-86 compiler but in 1984 as a DOS system including an editor, a mouse, a compiler, debugger and library, but the system previously existed as a DEC VAX application that could both produce native VMS applications and cross-compile code for DOS and CP/M, the VAX native version was sold until the shut-down of the M2 division and the cross compilation version continued to be sold as such for a couple of years after the introduction of the Logitech native 86 system.


==History==
[[Image:Lm2-1983.jpg|thumb|200px|right|1983 - Logitech Modula 2 advert]]
Originally introduced in 1982 as an [[CP/M-86]] tool, in 1983 as a DOS compiler but in 1984 as a complete DOS development system including an editor, a mouse, a compiler, debugger and library, but the system previously existed as a DEC VAX application that could both produce native VMS applications and cross-compile code for DOS and CP/M, the VAX native version was sold until the shut-down of the M2 division and the cross compilation version continued to be sold as such for a few years after the introduction of the Logitech native x86 system.


[[Logitech]] started developing a [[XENIX]] version of their toolkit known as '''Modula-2/X''', but somewhat unexpectedly dropped development of the system in the midst of a beta program in early 1988. This was taken by many as a sign that by this time the company was more interested in selling mice than to develop the M2 compiler on new systems.


The Multiscope division of Logitech was sold to Symantec in 1992 and they were really only interested in the debugger and shut down sales and development of the Modula-2 compiler shortly thereafter, although there was some minimal internal development to support the in-house use of the tool primarily as it was what the debugger and [[Time Line]] were written in. Some of the original developers in Switzerland founded their own company called [http://www.terraterra.ch Terra Datentechnik] that offers compatible compilers and libraries to allow you to port Logitech M2 code to newer systems and offer a licensed version of the original DOS version of the compiler that has been updated.
The Multiscope division of Logitech was sold to Symantec in 1992, and they were really only interested in the debugger and shut down sales and development of the Modula-2 compiler shortly thereafter, although there was some minimal internal development to support the in-house use of the tool primarily as it was what the debugger and '''Time Line''' were written in. Some of the original developers in Switzerland founded their own company called [http://www.terraterra.ch Terra Datentechnik] that offers compatible compilers and libraries to allow you to port Logitech M2 code to newer systems and offer a licensed version of the original DOS version of the compiler that has been updated.
[[Image:Lm2-1983.jpg|thumb|200px|right|1983 - Logitech Modula 2 advert]]
====Logitech mouse====
Being the first PC software that required a mouse the Logitech company ran into some problems finding a suitable product to mate with their software, mice had been announced for the PC but either not shipped or as a specialised piece of hardware costing prohibitively large amounts of money, also the editor had been developed with a three button mouse from a ETH Lilith system and most available mice only supported one or two. This left the company in something of a quandary, but they decided to have a mouse built for them that was a simplified, productionised version of the Lilith mouse, complete with an PC/XT bus interface card.


Everywhere the company showed their Modula-2 development system people started making inquires about the mouse and its availability as a separate item, Logitech scrambled to put together a developers kit and started to offer the mouse for sale, first as a a bus mouse but a little later with a serial connection that saw the controller moved into the mouse. The mouse became a bona fide hit as it was of a similar quality to existing mice but much cheaper, while a host of companies including [[Microsoft]] introduced mice in response to the Logitech mouse the latter remained the best seller for years, and was made unchanged well into the 90's. One factor in its relative success was the the company actually had a half decent and cheap developers kit while Microsoft et al. focused their development kits and drivers towards their own products only.
==Version==
[[File:M2-point.png|thumb|Point editor]]
;OS/2
* 1.00 (1989)
* 1.3W
:Note DOS and OS/2 version numbers not in synch.


Over time the mice became a more important product line for the company than the development software and today the company's history omits any mention of their start as a software company.
;DOS
* 1.00 (Mar 1984) previous to that compilers with 0.x version numbers had been sold.
* 1.10 (Dec 1984)
* 2.00 (Apr 1986) instead of having to buy the whole system you could now buy it piecemeal with just the compiler retailing for USD 89 instead of 899 for the whole system.
* 2.30
* 3.0 (Sep 1987)
* 3.03
* 3.40 (Mar 1990)
* 4.0 - developed by Stony Brook Software
:Note that the company continued to sell and support the v3 branch after v4 came out.


====Multiscope debugger====
;XENIX
The Logitech company added a run-time debugger as an option to their system in late 1984.
* Last known Logitech Modula-2/X system for [[XENIX]]: Version O.5


==Version==
==Links==
* Version 1 introduced in 1984, previous to that compilers with 0.x version numbers had been sold.  
;Manuals
* Version 2 introduces in late 85 or early 86 and instead of having to buy the whole system you could now buy it piecemeal with just the compiler retailing for USD 89 instead of 899 for the whole system.
* http://bitsavers.org/pdf/logitech/modula-2/
* '''Last known version:''' OS/2 v1.3W - DOS v4.0 - Note DOS and OS/2 version numbers not in synch.
* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/logitech/Logitech_Mouse_Programmers_Toolkit_Nov86.pdf Logitech Mouse Programmers Toolkit] - 1986
:Note that the company continued to sell and support the v3 branch after v4 came out.
;Reviews
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=e-gI2W-3JwkC&pg=PA191 A review of Logitech Modula-2 v0.3c]
* [http://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/so/1986/03/01695553.pdf A review of Logitech Modula-2/86 v1.1] - From Software Review - 1986
* S. R. Ladd,: Modula-2 Compilers: New Kids on the Block Mature. - Computer Language magazine March 1989 pages 99 to 110.


==License==
==License==
* Commercial - Discontinued.
* Commercial - OS/2 version discontinued, versions for DOS, VMS and Alpha Unix still available from Terra Datentechnik.


==Links==
* [http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/logitech/Logitech_Modula-2_86_1.0_Feb84.pdf User manual for Version 1] - 1984
* [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e-gI2W-3JwkC&pg=PA191&lpg=PA191&dq=logitech+modula-2&source=bl&ots=VZFpvH_vbt&sig=7I5RwNmKvsGXHrnP5kxXAK289ZU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kOiOVM31O5X3asf5gbAH&ved=0CC4Q6AEwATgU#v=onepage&q=logitech%20modula-2&f=false A review of Logitec Modula-2 v0.3c]
* [http://www.textfiles.com/bitsavers/pdf/logitech/Logitech_Mouse_Programmers_Toolkit_Nov86.pdf Logitech Mouse programmers toolkit manual] - 1986
==Author==
==Author==
* [[Logitech]]
*[[Logitech]] S. A.
* [[Symantec]]
*MultiScope Inc.
 
*[[Symantec]]
*Terra Datentechnik


[[Category:Tools]][[Category:DOS Tools]][[Category:Modula-2]][[Category:VMS Tools]][[Category:CP/M Tools]]
[[Category:Modula-2]][[Category:Software written in Modula-2]]

Latest revision as of 22:27, 25 August 2022

A historically important Modula-2 compiler for 16 bit DOS and OS/2 developed by the Swiss Logitech company.

History

1983 - Logitech Modula 2 advert

Originally introduced in 1982 as an CP/M-86 tool, in 1983 as a DOS compiler but in 1984 as a complete DOS development system including an editor, a mouse, a compiler, debugger and library, but the system previously existed as a DEC VAX application that could both produce native VMS applications and cross-compile code for DOS and CP/M, the VAX native version was sold until the shut-down of the M2 division and the cross compilation version continued to be sold as such for a few years after the introduction of the Logitech native x86 system.

Logitech started developing a XENIX version of their toolkit known as Modula-2/X, but somewhat unexpectedly dropped development of the system in the midst of a beta program in early 1988. This was taken by many as a sign that by this time the company was more interested in selling mice than to develop the M2 compiler on new systems.

The Multiscope division of Logitech was sold to Symantec in 1992, and they were really only interested in the debugger and shut down sales and development of the Modula-2 compiler shortly thereafter, although there was some minimal internal development to support the in-house use of the tool primarily as it was what the debugger and Time Line were written in. Some of the original developers in Switzerland founded their own company called Terra Datentechnik that offers compatible compilers and libraries to allow you to port Logitech M2 code to newer systems and offer a licensed version of the original DOS version of the compiler that has been updated.

Version

Point editor
OS/2
  • 1.00 (1989)
  • 1.3W
Note DOS and OS/2 version numbers not in synch.
DOS
  • 1.00 (Mar 1984) previous to that compilers with 0.x version numbers had been sold.
  • 1.10 (Dec 1984)
  • 2.00 (Apr 1986) instead of having to buy the whole system you could now buy it piecemeal with just the compiler retailing for USD 89 instead of 899 for the whole system.
  • 2.30
  • 3.0 (Sep 1987)
  • 3.03
  • 3.40 (Mar 1990)
  • 4.0 - developed by Stony Brook Software
Note that the company continued to sell and support the v3 branch after v4 came out.
XENIX
  • Last known Logitech Modula-2/X system for XENIX: Version O.5

Links

Manuals
Reviews

License

  • Commercial - OS/2 version discontinued, versions for DOS, VMS and Alpha Unix still available from Terra Datentechnik.

Author

Retrieved from "https://www.edm2.com/index.php?title=Logitech_Modula-2&oldid=78098"