INDUSTRY

Product to speed software applications using parallel distributed grid computing becomes faster, further simplifies development process - GridIron(TM) Software today announced the availability of version 1.2 of GridIron XLR8(TM), an application development tool and runtime software that makes it profoundly simple to develop, use and manage software with the added speed of parallel distributed computing. GridIron XLR8 enables computationally intensive applications to run faster on multiple computers. Several hundred software developers have obtained the product in the six- month period since version 1.0 was introduced in March. GridIron XLR8 has been used to add tremendous speed to a number of applications, including software for digital content creation, prepress, and computer assisted engineering. "GridIron XLR8 has earned early recognition for greatly simplifying the previously complex and difficult task of coding computationally intensive software applications to run faster in parallel on multiple computers," said GridIron Vice-President of Research and Development Bill Love. "Our focus in this release was to do more of what only GridIron XLR8 can do. We concentrated exclusively on making the product even simpler and faster." "GridIron XLR8 has the potential to make grid computing simple enough for everyday computer users like you and me to reap the benefits of the grid" said Ahmar Abbas, Managing Director of Grid Technology Partners. "With faster performance and improved ease of use, the version 1.2 release of GridIron XLR8 makes the prospect of mainstream commercial viability and use of grid computing even more compelling." The new version 1.2 release includes enhancements that make GridIron XLR8 run faster while further simplifying the process for a developer to add the power of parallel distributed processing to a software application. New APIs provide software developers with greater flexibility and functionality, and an enhanced graphical user interface provides end users with improved control and monitoring. Greater speed was achieved by streamlining GridIron XLR8 protocols for increased efficiency and data transfer, optimizing the product's framework code, and speeding up several algorithms. The addition of file caching and data pre-fetching reduces or entirely eliminates data transfer time. The GridIron XLR8 version 1.2 APIs are available for C/C++ and Java(TM). The XLR8 1.2 runtime software supports Mac(R) OS X, Red Hat(R) Linux(TM) and Windows(R) XP and 2000 operating systems, with a Solaris version due shortly. GridIron XLR8 is available immediately for download at www.gridironsoftware.com.