Computerworld

DEC spins off software tools division

Digital Equipment Corp. says it will spin off its San Jose, California-based software development tools arm, into an independent company aimed at tools for Windows 95 and NT-based applications. Digital will retain a majority stake in the new company, called TracePoint Technology Inc., which will be staffed by about 25 former Digital employees.

Digital Equipment Corp. says it will spin off its San Jose, California-based software development tools arm, into an independent company aimed at tools for Windows 95 and NT-based applications.

Digital will retain a majority stake in the new company, called TracePoint Technology Inc., which will be staffed by about 25 former Digital employees. A venture capital group led by Menlo Park, California-based Sequoia Capital has provided financial backing for the project, officials say.

TracePoint's development tools will be similar to those that Digital makes for the Alpha 64-bit Unix system platform, except they will support Intel and other x86-based PCs, officials said. TracePoint's tools are based on the C and C++ languages developed by AT&T Corp.

Digital can be contacted on the Web at http://www.dec.com/. Tracepoint can be contacted at http://www.tracepoint.com/.