![[ShapeFit screenshot]](sf.gif)
This is largely an outline of my personal odyssey in computing.
Various early explorations of computing, including batch processing in Algol and teletype in Fortran, culminating in acquisition of Texas Instruments TI 99/4A and IBM PC XT.
Wrote statistics package around Anscombe's APL package, in IBM PC APL.
Started business partnership of EHN & DIJ Oakley.
First commissioned work to construct a parallel occam compiler for PC Transputer boards, for MicroWay (Europe). Completed using C and occam.
Wrote for Personal Computer World and other magazines, including the first UK source code for Mandelbrot sets.
Prototype operating system for Amiga Transputer boards started (but not completed) for Commodore Business Machines (US), written in 8086 assembler, C, and occam.
Commissioned by Island Marine Technology (later Axon Technology) to write 'ShapeFit', a CAD/CAM system to support use of their laser cutters by sailmakers. Developed for Apple Macintosh using Object Pascal and MacApp 1.1.1 (class library). Sold and maintained to present, now running native on Power Macs.
ShapeFit ready to cut panels for a sail
Commissioned by Axon Technology to develop full sail CAD/CAM package for use by Diamond Sailmakers: LOFT, again for Mac using Object Pascal and MacApp. Sold and maintained to present, and running native on Power Macs. The leading freeform racing sail design application on any platform, with impressive record across Admiral's Cup, America's Cup, and other international competitions.
For Axon Technology, separated CAD elements from ShapeFit to produce The Panellist (Mac, Object Pascal, MacApp). Still selling and maintained today, and running native on Power Macs. The leading single panel design application on any platform.
Became registered developers with Apple Computer, remaining so to the present.
LOFT with a complicated sail design
![[LOFT screenshot]](loft.gif)
Additional applications for Axon Technology including Triptych, which autotraces TIFF (scanned) images into vector graphics format (Mac, Object Pascal and C, MacApp).
Wrote suite of file translators to convert from EPSF, DXF and HPGL graphics files into ShapeFit internal formats, using Icon (string processing language), for Mac.
For own research, wrote a simulation of finger cooling (Mac, Object Pascal and MacApp), which has recently been ported to APL and further developed. Paper
Wrote for Axon Technology a utility to convert TrueType fonts into CAD files: Glyptic (Mac, Object Pascal with MacApp). This was the first commercial application in the world to use TrueType fonts.
Wrote a multi-layer DXF to ShapeFit graphics file translator, using Macintosh Common Lisp.
Undertook commission for Tencara (major composite materials fabricator in Italy) to automate laboratory analysis using LabView (Mac), interfacing with variety of laboratory instruments.
Started to write freelance for MacUser.
Worked with Diamond Sailmakers to set up SQL database server (Butler, Mac) and clients (written in Macintosh Common Lisp). System subsequently replaced by SAP minicomputer package (HP 9000 with Oracle), which was later abandoned. Installed Mac and Ethernet network in their Copenhagen sail loft.
Started research into genetic programming using Macintosh Common Lisp. Ported a genetic algorithm package to Macintosh. Paper
Commissioned by Airwave Gliders to develop bespoke paraglider design system (Mac, Object Pascal with MacApp), used for all their design work.
Constructed various tools using Common Lisp, Object Pascal and APL to support own PhD research. Currently in use on Mac and Power Mac.
Author of first freeware utilities for the Apple Newton palmtop, including a calculator (written in NewtonScript).
Developed FairLine, for checking and fairing curves in CAD, for Diamond Sailmakers (Mac, Object Pascal with MacApp).
One of the founding contributors to The Mac magazine, writing MacAgony problem pages.
Commissioned to write a series of plotter drivers (including HPGL) for expanding members of Diamond group. These were implemented as Mac Communications Toolbox file transfer tools, in a mixture of C and Object Pascal.
Wrote Apple Guide to HTML for release on MacUser CD-ROM.
Major development of sailmaking applications to export and import alien file formats, to cope with merging of Diamond and North (who use Windows 95) sailmaking groups.
Registered Be developer, with one of first 5 BeBox systems in the UK. Port of sgmls to BeBox (using C in Unix-like environment).
Commissioned to write the Mac column for Personal Computer World.
Registered Adobe Developer, for PostScript and Acrobat categories.
Continue to write for MacUser, contributing much of the Know How section in each issue.
My next major project is to program in FORTRAN 90. I know this is very retrogressive, but there's plenty of scientific software which needs writing, and Absoft's ProFortran 6.0 looks a good platform for it.
Last updated 21 Dec 1998
Howard Oakley
Mail howard@quercus.demon.co.uk