What
is it ?
ZAPT is an
Advanced Programming Tool, or 4th Generation computer Language, that was
designed specifically to generate high performance multi-user,
multi-company business applications and has been used for the
development of the entire Stamina Software product range.
What
does this mean to me ?
All processes
within the Stamina Software solution have a consistent look and feel. In
a very real sense this means that once an operator has learnt how to
drive one program they have mastered the entire system ! This in turn
translates to lower initial and ongoing training costs and a greater
likelihood that your operators and managers will use a larger portion of
the system capabilities.
As the complete
ZAPT development environment is supplied with all Stamina Software
systems you can ensure that any special extensions that you may have
developed for the system will share this common look and feel, and allow
for seamless integration with the core product.
ZAPT also provides
the inherent benefits of any 4GL, like rapid program development, and
delivers the framework for unique features like our Dynamic Binding
Technology, Field Level Security, process shortcuts, keyboard macros,
Context Sensitive Help and much more.
If your
organization does need custom development performed, then using the ZAPT
4GL will minimize your overall development costs, reduce delivery time,
and ensure that error free programs are developed that adhere to the
Stamina Software interface standards.
Importantly,
software developed with ZAPT is converted to compiled object code which
contributes to the phenomenal speed and highly efficient resource
utilization that is a characteristic of Stamina Software solutions.
How
does it work ?
For all but
the most technically inquisitive users, the answer to this question is
irrelevant, as the ZAPT 4GL tool kit is something that you will simply
not come in contact with, although you will enjoy the benefits it
enables on a daily basis.
ZAPT consists of a
number of discrete tools which are accessed through a programmers
workbench that has been designed to reduce programmer keystrokes, and
errors, in a development environment. These tools include facilities to
create files, maintain data dictionaries, edit program source code &
maintain the parameters that the main ZAPT compiler operates on.
These high level
program descriptor parameters are analyzed by an optimizing code
generator, which produces native Pick Basic 3GL source code that has
proven to be 100% error free, which is then compiled with the language
compilers supplied with the Advanced Pick:Open Database environment.
If you are using
D3 as a database on a Unix computer platform, then it is also possible
to have this code optimized even further by generating C language source
code, the native programming language of Unix, which is then compiled
with an optimizing C compiler to generate native machine code for your
target CPU.