The Object-Oriented Framework for Motif and CDE Developers

ViewKit is a mature C++ application framework designed to simplify the task of developing UNIX and Linux applications, particularly those based on the Motif user interface toolkit. The ViewKit framework promotes consistency by providing a common architecture for applications and improves programmer productivity by providing high-level, and in many cases automatic, support for commonly needed operations. In addition to providing facilities normally associated with a graphical user interface, the framework serves as a central integration platform for other facilities applications typically need. These include support for inter-application communication, process control, and automatic on-line context-sensitive help.

Using an application framework like ViewKit, and reusing software significantly increases the quality of an application, reduces development time, and cuts costs. A University of Maryland study found that for every 10% increase in the reuse rate:

• productivity increases by nearly 20 LOC (lines of code) per hour.
• error density drops by nearly 1 error per KLOC (thousand lines of code).
• rework drops by 7%

"Viewkit's object-oriented architecture and reusable component model saves time and investment by raising the level at which developers work."
-Doug Young, Silicon Graphics