Instantiations, Inc
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Technology Products and Services |
| Founded 📆 | 1988 |
| Founder 👔 | |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Services | IT Products Services |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | instantiations.com |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Instantiations, Inc is a software technology company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is known for providing commercial software tools and services to professional developers and enterprise organizations. It has roots in early Artificial Intelligence software in the mid-1980s and has proven itself as a global player in enterprise-grade Smalltalk and Java software development for more than 30 years.
Throughout its history, Instantiations has shared its expertise though relationships with various companies like Apple, Google, IBM, Tektronix, Digitalk, and ParcPlace, which led to various collaborations, mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. As a result, the influence of Instantiations’ products and services are evident throughout the software industry. Its software is currently used by Fortune 500 companies as well as small to medium-sized businesses around the globe.
Instantiations was a founding member of the Eclipse Consortium (later known as the Eclipse Foundation) alongside other software companies like Red Hat, IBM, and Borland.[1][2][3] The company was recognized by SD Times as among the Top 100 Most Innovative Software Companies for three years in a row. [4][5][6]
Instantiations’ primary focus continues to be its VAST (VA Smalltalk) Platform software, with product and service expansion continuing into new areas like Internet of Things (IoT) technology.[7]
History[edit]
First Incarnation of Instantiations (1988 – 1997)[edit]
Founders[edit]
- Mike Taylor (Tektronix)
- Allen Wirfs-Brock (Tektronix)[8]
- Paul McCullough (Servio Logic)
- Alan Purdy (Servio Logic)
History[edit]
Instantiations’ origins can be traced back as early as 1984 to Tektronix’s Artificial Intelligence Machines (AIM) division. [9][10] The AIM division created Smalltalk artificial intelligence solutions coupled with powerful, yet cost-competitive, desktop computer workstations.[11][12][13] Additional founders heralded from Servio Logic (currently GemTalk Systems) which focused on the creation of object-oriented databases. When the AIM group didn’t meet revenue expectations, Tektronix closed this division.
This event led to the official formation of Instantiations in March of 1988[14][15] by former members of Tektronix and Servio Logic.
Instantiations became a provider of Smalltalk-based software, training, and consultation services. The company’s software tools were geared towards professional developers, and its training and consulting services were meant to help larger companies use Smalltalk at enterprise scale. Instantiations primarily supported ParcPlace’s VisualWorks Smalltalk product at that time. In the late 1980s, Apple’s research division was a notable client of Instantiations’ consulting services and worked with Apple on operating system (OS) and graphical user interface (GUI) technology.
In 1992, Instantiations was acquired by a new startup, Digitalk.[16] Digitalk was located in Santa Ana, California, but the Instantiations team stayed in their Portland, Oregon office. Taylor and Wirfs-Brock were designated as founders of Digitalk as part of the deal. John Carrington, president of Digitalk [17], wanted to change the direction of the company by replacing their basic $99 Smalltalk software product that was geared towards hobbyists[16] with an improved product geared toward professional developers. Later that year, Carrington’s strategy came to fruition with the release of Visual Smalltalk Enterprise. At its peak, Digitalk had approximately 100 employees.
In 1995, Digitalk merged with ParcPlace Systems[18] (a spinoff of Xerox PARC)[16], forming ParcPlace-Digitalk (PPD). It became one of the leading Smalltalk companies in the world and was estimated to control 80% of the market [17] for Smalltalk computer language development tools. Taylor became Vice President of Professional Services, and Wirfs-Brock was named Chief Scientist and Vice President of Engineering. Digitalk Visual Smalltalk Enterprise (VSE) and VisualWorks Smalltalk (VW) became PPD’s two main products.
In 1996, PPD acquired Objectshare which was founded by Eric Clayberg, Robert Yerex, and Sridhar Sourirajan. (Eric Clayberg would end up being a founder of the second and third incarnation of Instantiations.) The prominent WindowBuilder Pro technology targeting various Smalltalk platforms was originally created at Objectshare. PPD focused on the WindowBuilder technology exclusively for VW, so the version created for IBM VisualAge Smalltalk was largely ignored after the acquisition.
In 1997, market shifts — like the introduction of the Java programming language — contributed to growing pains at PPD, and downsizing seemed imminent. Instantiations founders reached a deal with PPD to absorb the Portland-based (original Instantiations) team into a second incarnation of Instantiations.[19]
Second Incarnation of Instantiations (1997 – 2010)[edit]
Founders[edit]
- Mike Taylor
- Allen Wirfs-Brock[19]
- Eric Clayberg
- Pat Caudill
- Dan Rubel
- Steve Messick
- Juanita Ewing
History[edit]
As part of the spinoff deal from PPD in 1997, Instantiations acquired the rights to the WindowBuilder Pro software that was compatible with IBM VisualAge Smalltalk, and had remained unused by PPD since the Objectshare acquisition in 1996. Instantiations used the WindowBuilder for VisualAge and VA Assist technology to help build a relationship with IBM which soon grew into a close partnership between the companies.[20][21] Outside of Smalltalk, Instantiations further diversified its team and worked to create sophisticated Java development tools. Eclipse was an advanced software product originally developed by IBM to be the next generation of development platforms and to replace VisualAge Smalltalk. In 1999, Instantiations was one of the first IBM partners to be briefed on Eclipse, and by 2001, the Eclipse IDE (integrated development environment) was released as open source with Instantiations was poised to develop products around it. By 2003, a full suite of new CodePro products were released by Instantiations to enhance the Eclipse development environment.[22] In 2004, IBM VisualAge Smalltalk was near “end-of-life” from IBM’s perspective, and IBM started discussions with Instantiations to take over technical support of IBM Smalltalk users and to be granted global rights to the IBM VisualAge Smalltalk product line and technology base. In early 2005, an agreement was reached and announced. A few months later, a Raleigh, North Carolina office was established.
By August 2005, Instantiations had two primary product lines: Eclipse-based CodePro products and VA Smalltalk v7.0 (a rebranded and enhanced version of IBM VisualAge Smalltalk v6.0).
In 2006, when Google announced GWT (Google Web Toolkit), Instantiations developed a version of their WindowBuilder product to work with it. With that technology link, Instantiations started to build relationships with the Google GWT team in Atlanta, Georgia and after about 4 years it led to Instantiations’ acquisition by Google in 2010.[14] In August 2010, Google acquired Instantiations for its Java-related products and enterprise-level software expertise.[23] The formerly independent company’s Java division became Google’s Portland, Oregon office.[24] As part of this acquisition, two of Instantiations’ founders — Taylor and Clayberg — reached an agreement to spinoff Instantiations’ Smalltalk-related products and create a third incarnation of Instantiations.[25]
Third Incarnation of Instantiations (2010 – Present)[edit]
Founders[edit]
- Mike Taylor
- Eric Clayberg
History[edit]
Mike Taylor and Eric Clayberg reached an agreement with Google to retain ownership of Instantiations’ Smalltalk products and trademarks. Mike Taylor became CEO and President of the new Instantiations with Eric Clayberg becoming a passive partner while concurrently running the Google engineering team in Portland. The third generation Instantiations team continued to focus on the VAST (VA Smalltalk) product and support its growing customer base. In September 2017, Seth Berman, previously CTO, became President & CEO of Instantiations and the headquarters was officially moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, where a group of staff members had worked since 2005. Founder Mike Taylor remains Chairman of the Board. Instantiations actively develops, extends, and supports the VAST (VA Smalltalk) Platform for a global customer base. Simultaneously, Instantiations advances its development expertise in the emerging IoT technology space where it provides technology and engineering services to companies implementing the new technology. As of 2019, Instantiations sponsors NC RIOT, ncriot.org, [26] whose mission is to “lead our community in capturing IoT opportunities locally, nationally, and globally.”
Products & Services[edit]
VAST (VA Smalltalk) Platform[edit]
VAST enables software developers to create highly portable, scalable, multi-tier business applications using object-oriented technology. VAST applications fit into existing infrastructures and support the latest web application, database, and operating system technologies.[27]
Add-ons for VAST Platform[edit]
WindowBuilder™ Pro[edit]
WindowBuilder Pro (WBPro) is an add-on that enhances the process and results of building user interfaces (UI) for VAST. WBPro allows interactive creation, placement, and editing of user interface controls in Smalltalk applications. The interface is designed to allow intuitive fine-tuning of the UI. [27]
WidgetKit/Business Graphics[edit]
WidgetKit/Business Graphics is a library of graphic components. It provides a variety of charts and graphs for your Windows applications. It contains 50 standard and 21 3D chart types, all with printing and metafile support. WidgetKit/Business Graphics uses the Presentation Graphics SDK, also used in Corel Chart, and Macromedia Action. [27]
WidgetKit/Professional[edit]
WidgetKit/Professional is a library of spreadsheets, tables, and other components. It includes a spreadsheet with functionality similar to Excel®, a virtual spreadsheet, data aware validation components, and multi-column display. A spreadsheet designer assists in the creation and visuals of the spreadsheet that’s being created. The spreadsheets are designed to have print and storage capability. [27]
WindowBuilder Pro Translation Toolkit[edit]
The WindowBuilder Pro Translation Toolkit allows the migration of existing Visual Smalltalk window definitions to VA Smalltalk. [27]
IoT Development Services[edit]
As of 2019, Instantiations has launched a “full stack IoT development & related services” offering for the IoT space. They advertise these services as encompassing “concept, design, implementation [and] deployment.”[28]
Legacy Products[edit]
CodePro Products[edit]
The CodePro suite of products was fully transferred to Google as part of the Google acquisition of 2010. Google subsequently made them available as open source software.[29] Instantiations made CodePro products to assist in the development processes of IBM WebSphere Studio and Eclipse 2.0. The CodePro Studio suite includes the following:
CodePro Advisor – Best practice tools that assist in automating the process of analysis and application enhancements. Main features include code metrics, code audit, and Javadoc audit and repair.
CodePro Agility – Productivity tools that are designed to reduce the time, effort, and expenses for developers. Main features include design patterns, improved browser views, and improved Java navigation.
CodePro Build – Build-management tools using standard software procedures to automate the development of stable and dependable applications. ain features include export sets, improvements in Ant integration, and a scheduler for creating and managing tasks. [22]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Eclipse Foundation 10 Years Down Many More to Come". eweek.
- ↑ "Instantiations Adds Two Channel Partners in the Netherlands". prweb.
- ↑ "Instantiations, Inc. - Eclipse Plugins, Bundles and Products - Eclipse Marketplace". marketplace.eclipses.
- ↑ "Tools & Environments 2007 - SD Times". sdtimes.
- ↑ "Best in Show - Tools 2008". sdtimes.
- ↑ "Tools Ides 2009". sdtimes.
- ↑ "IoT Development & Services - Instantiations". instantiations.
- ↑ "Allen Wirfs Brock". wiki.c2.
- ↑ "Smalltalk Foundation Board". smalltalkfoundation.
- ↑ "Company & VAST Platform History". instantiations.
- ↑ "Artificial Intelligence Machines (AIM)". vintagetek.
- ↑ "Tektronix 44xx Apr86.pdf" (PDF). bitsavers.
- ↑ "Tek 4404-Flyer.pdf" (PDF). Wirfs-brock.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Google Buys Oregon Based Insta". Oregonlive.
- ↑ "Instantiations Inc - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets". Bloomberg.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Profile its all About Quality". Visualstudiomagazine.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Software Maker Digitalk to Merge With ParcPlace Systems:". Latimes.
- ↑ "ParcPlace-Digitalk Merger". Groups.google.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Allen Wirfs Brock". Wiki.c2. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
- ↑ "Instantiations Adds Two Channel Partners in the Netherlands". Prweb. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ↑ "Mark Johnson.ppt" (PDF). esug.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Instantiations Releases New Codepro Products". Computerworld.
- ↑ "Google Buys Java/Ajax Tool-Maker Instantiations". Techcrunch.
- ↑ "Google Opening Portland Office Expanding Presence in the Northwest". Geekwire.
- ↑ "Google Buys Eclipse Tool Vendor". Thejournal. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
- ↑ "Sponsors - RIoT". Ncriot.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 "VA Smalltalk Add-Ons". Instantiations.
- ↑ "IOT Development Services - Instantiations". Instantiations.
- ↑ "Google Relaunches Instantiations". Webtoolkit. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
External links[edit]
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