THE HISTORY OF CROSSWARE
FROM 1984 TO 1996

Crossware Products was established in September 1984 to fill an important and expanding niche in embedded software development. The means of creating such software was at an early stage in its evolution and required comparatively complex computer systems to generate effective, workable solutions.

By that time, the BBC microcomputer had gained widespread acceptance throughout the United Kingdom, in both the educational and industrial sectors, because it was easy to use and relatively inexpensive. Alan Harry, Crossware's founder, quickly recognised the potential of this popular machine as a tool to develop software for a multitude of applications encompassing machine tools, office machinery, telecommunications, process control systems and domestic appliances.

Alan's expertise and approach is unusually multi-disciplinary. He has personally been responsible for the creation of some of the world's most successful and technologically innovative products, ranging from familiar office machines to exotic oil well drilling systems. His proficiency covers fields as diverse as electro-magnetics, mechanics, materials and product design which complement his skills in electronics and software creation. This broad skill base enables Crossware to adopt a much more holistic approach to users' needs in creating software tools to carry out complex and sophisticated functions.

Versatility has been, and remains, an essential element in the Company's user-orientated philosophy. In the drive to develop a succession of technological innovations, it allows Crossware to meet and, indeed, anticipate the rapid changes taking place in the embedded software industry.

The Company's first product was a cross assembler for the Hitachi 6301X microcontroller, which was featured in many of Hitachi's press releases and brochures of that time. This was swiftly followed by cross assemblers for the other popular 8 bit microprocessors including the Z80, the 6305 and 6809.

In June 1985, Crossware succeeded in the formidable task of combining a complete 68000 cross assembler with a disassembler, a terminal emulator and help system into a single 16 kilobyte eprom. This revolutionary program was quickly adopted by a number of OEM hardware manufacturers to provide software support for their target systems.

By 1987 IBM's personal computer had achieved industry standard status which led to the release of an enhanced 68000 cross assembler for this platform. The package also contained an editor, terminal emulator and an on-line help facility, which could be used both in command line mode or IDE mode. Soon afterwards, Crossware ported its entire range of products to the IBM PC.

The following year saw the introduction of the Company's first high level language product a C compiler for the 68000. This integrated seamlessly with the existing cross assembler to provide a user-friendly DOS development environment.

In 1990, Crossware was commissioned to develop a C compiler and cross assembler to accompany Motorola's 68EC020 EVM evaluation module. The package was successfully launched later that year. A C compiler for the 8051 microcontroller was introduced in 1991. This demanded an ever-higher level of sophistication in the form of a relocatable object module system and the simultaneous development of a relocatable cross assembler, relocating linker, library manager and make utility.

During the following twelve months, relocatable versions of all Crossware's cross assemblers were released and this advanced feature was applied to the 68000 and 68020 C compilers as well. In 1993 the C compilers were further enhanced by the inclusion of support for source level debug, using the comprehensive IEEE695 format.

1994 saw the pace of Crossware's own development accelerate still further. Direct sales operations were focused on the professional market, whilst the Company's worldwide chain of specialist distributors concentrated on sales in the educational field. The company launched its first package for Microsoft Windows a simulator for the 8051 microcontroller, quickly followed by an enhanced version for the 8052.

Following a period of sustained growth, Crossware was obliged to expand and moved its headquarters early in 1995 to the prestigious St John's Innovation Centre at the heart of Cambridge's technology belt. Since then the Company has continued to develop and extend its product range, with particular focus on ANSI C compilers and simulators, to meet the specific needs and ever-increasing demands of a fast-developing professional market.

As the current year (1996) has unfolded, the pace of change has continued unabated. This provides Crossware with the motivation to maintain its position at the cutting edge of technological innovation.