Code generation tools for Windows/PM development

Developing graphical user interfaces (GUIs) such as the OS/2 Presentation Manager or Microsoft Windows is characterised by the use of large function call libraries, usually known as APIs (application programmer interfaces), coupled with an event-driven program structure which is completely different to normal procedural programming. These two factors contribute to the long, shallow learning curve associated with becoming expert in this type of programming. GUI applications also tend to have far more code involved than a textual application, again because of the richness and complexity of the environment. CASE:PM and CASE:W tools are presented as a new approach to the problem. They apply knowledge-based techniques to generate a skeleton application in source code which contains the correct program structure and many of the API calls required. This increases productivity and reduces the learning curve whilst retaining all the advantages of development in a standard 3GL