Zinc Application Framework

The Zinc Application Framework is an application framework, intended for the development of cross-platform software applications with graphical user interface (GUI), using a widget toolkit.^[1][2] Zinc targets both embedded (such as Wind River's VxWorks) and desktop platforms.

ZAF

Developer(s)	Professional Software Associates
Written in	C++
Operating system	Cross-platform
Type	Widget toolkit
Website	psa.inc

History

In 1990 Zinc Software released its first software development package Zinc Interface Library as a tool for Borland Turbo C++.^[3] This package allowed creation of text and graphics based user interface, initially only for DOS applications and since the 2.0 release also for Windows programs.^[4]

In 1994 Zinc Software introduced version 4.0 of its C++ tool under Zinc Application Framework name. Zinc aimed at cross-platform development of the user interface supporting DOS, Windows, Mac and Unix.^[5]

With the release of the version 5 in 1997, Zinc Software changed pricing policy and distributed "Personal Version" of the Zinc Application Framework free of charge for non-commercial use ^[6] - including source code and limited only by lack of technical support and distribution rights.^[7]

Zinc Software was acquired in 1998 by Wind River and continued to operate as a subsidiary.^[8]

In 2004 Zinc Software was sold to Professional Software Associates (PSA).^[9]