Eiffel
Eiffel - the Language ...
When in 1985 Bertrand Meyer and Jean Marc Nerson, natives of France, wanted to develop a syntax-controlled editor, they carefully examined the market of commercial software development. They were especially interested in a programming language that combined reliability and the ability to construct complex architectures. And because they found that none of the existing programming languages satisfied their expectations, they decided to develop a completely new one: Eiffel.
The name of the language reveals their goal: like the symbol of Paris, the new language should ensure a maximum of complexity, transparency and stability. It offers the power of languages like C++ without being cryptic. On the other hand, Eiffel ensures pure object-orientation - like Smalltalk - but with mechanisms that enable the development of extremely reliable software.
Step by step innovations
- 1985: Bertrand Meyer and Jean Marc Nerson begin with the development of a new, original programming language: Eiffel.
- 1986: Presentation of the first Eiffel compiler (April), first customer deliveries (December)
- 1987: Eiffel achieves commercial success (many commercial applications are developed)
- 1991: NICE (Non-profit International Consortium for Eiffel) is founded, which retains all rights and is in charge of controlling language evolution and standardization and the definition of standards for basic classes.
- 1991: Description of the language with the publication of "Eiffel the language" by Bertrand Meyer (Prentice Hall)
- 1995: The NICE presents ELKS (Eiffel Library Kernel Standard), which sets standards for basic Eiffel classes.
- 1996: Halstenbach ACT commercializes the Eiffel-based development system iss-base.
- 1997: NICE, the Eiffel Consortium, organizes Eiffel Struggle `97. Prizes are awarded for Eiffel applications and Eiffel libraries.
- 1998: Halstenbach presents the new version of its development environment iss-base 2.0. The ease and flexibility with which libraries, frameworks and subsystems are developed, distributed and used have been increased from a technical and commercial perspective.