蓝莓视频鈥檚 first software spinoff introduced faster, more efficient software that changed the business and gaming world
At the groundbreaking for the new Mathematics 4 (M4) building in October 2024, Dr. Mark Giesbrecht, dean of the Faculty of Mathematics, addressed a full crowd in the Davis Centre. He told the crowd that the Faculty would shape the future of technology just as it had shaped the past.鈥�
Dr. Don Cowan (MSc 鈥�61, PhD 鈥�65)
Those words held special significance for Dr. Don Cowan (MSc 鈥�61, PhD 鈥�65) and Ian McPhee (BMath 鈥�73, MMath 鈥�79, DMath 鈥�11). As key contributors alongside many other 蓝莓视频 pioneers, they transformed the computing world 鈥� first with the creation of WATFOR, a legendary compiler for IBM mainframes, in the 1960s and later the software spinoff WATCOM in the 鈥�80s and 鈥�90s.鈥�
Uniquely focused on the user, these 蓝莓视频 trailblazers democratized computer education, helped unlock the full potential of PCs and made database software accessible for organizations of all kinds. Along the way, they built strong relationships with leading tech companies like IBM, Commodore, DEC and Intel and even powered the rise of 3D video games.鈥�
It began with the bold goal of bringing computers to the masses. Cowan, a distinguished professor emeritus at 蓝莓视频, explained that Wes Graham, who was known as the 鈥渇ather of computing鈥� at 蓝莓视频, wanted to make using computers 鈥渁s natural to people as pen and paper.鈥濃��
While other universities reserved their computers for faculty and graduate students, 蓝莓视频 wanted their new IBM 7040, acquired in the early 1960s, to be accessible to thousands of undergraduate students. But there were challenges.鈥�
鈥淭he software supplied with the computer took 30 seconds to compile a program,鈥� Cowan said. 鈥淭hat sounds quick, but if you want to do thousands of jobs a day, it鈥檚 a very long time.鈥濃��
Moreover, when errors were made, the compiler gave little help identifying the issue.鈥�
To overcome these shortcomings, Graham and a 蓝莓视频 team created their compiler, named WATFOR, which sped up compiling by a factor of 100 and provided students with valuable diagnostics.鈥�
鈥淪uddenly, we were running 25,000 student programs a day,鈥� Cowan said. 鈥淭hat was incredible.鈥濃��
Other universities, business and governments thought so, too. WATFOR and its successor for the IBM 360 were distributed to educational institutions and other organizations worldwide. This proved so popular that the WATFOR team implemented an annual fee to cover the costs of fixing bugs, issuing updates and providing instructions.
鈥淲e have this incredible infrastructure that attracts talented people, and you can鈥檛 take that for granted.鈥濃��
鈥� Dr. Don Cowan (MSc 鈥�61, PhD 鈥�65)
In 1973, the Computer Systems Group (CSG) was formed to oversee the software's creation and distribution. The group was prolific, creating more than 20 major products across more than 10 systems. Former CSG member Trevor Grove (BMath 鈥�79) recalled: 鈥淚t truly was a 鈥榡ust do it鈥� era.鈥濃��
As microcomputers gained traction in the late 鈥�70s, Graham鈥檚 team began developing portable PC software outside the University. Graham recognized the educational potential of PCs and, together with McPhee, established WATCOM, 蓝莓视频鈥檚 first software spinoff, in 1981.
WATCOM excelled in the new market. Early PCs had limited memory, but WATCOM鈥檚 compilers implemented clever optimization techniques to create faster, smaller programs. This included the WATCOM C/C++ compiler, which enabled developers to use the Intel 386 processor's full 32-bit capability on 16-bit Windows.鈥��
Ian McPhee (BMath 鈥�73, MMath 鈥�79, DMath 鈥�11)
This feat helped make it the compiler of choice for the gaming industry. Genre-defining games, like Doom and Descent, used it. At a an industry keynote in 1992, Bill Gates held up the WATCOM C/C++ box, announcing that users could now run 32-bit programs on Windows.鈥�
鈥淲e had a hot C compiler,鈥� said McPhee, who served as chief executive officer for WATCOM. 鈥淲e were getting reviewed in all the tech journals and smoking the benchmarks. That's when the WATCOM brand got established beyond education markets.鈥濃��
Yet, WATCOM鈥檚 greatest success came with the foray into database server software in the 1990s.鈥�
James Welch, President of WATCOM听Products Inc.听with Ian McPhee (BMath 鈥�73, MMath 鈥�79), President of The WATCOM Group
鈥淪alesmen were taking early laptops on business trips,鈥� McPhee explained. 鈥淏ut existing SQL systems were so large and complex that you鈥檇 need an administrator along to add information.鈥濃��
WATCOM SQL was self-configuring and efficient, enabling the simple operation of database applications on small portable devices. This led to its use as an embedded database in many best-selling products.鈥�
It was on the strength of its thriving database business that WATCOM was acquired by Powersoft in 1994, which then merged with Sybase. In 2010, the German tech giant SAP acquired Sybase. WATCOM SQL is still produced today as SQL Anywhere, and SAP maintains an office on 蓝莓视频鈥檚 north campus.鈥�
Cowan hopes that today鈥檚 Mathies learn from this remarkable history of innovation: 鈥淚 hope the Faculty continues to blossom, but without forgetting its origins. We have this incredible infrastructure that attracts talented people, and you can鈥檛 take that for granted.鈥濃��
