The external programs like the optimizer or DoE and RSM tools are mainly written in C and some parts are also in FORTRAN like the optimization algorithms. The framework part is written in VLISP using the object-oriented features of this interpreter. The applications written in VLISP run on all supported platforms of the VISTA base system6.1 and have full Graphical User Interface support by the integrated MOTIF widget set. This makes this interpreter language well suited for prototyping during the development stages. For building a robust industrial application the missing runtime type checking features have to be added in the code to prevent faults caused by bad input data.
Upcoming new languages like Java offer new concepts, like a virtual machine on which the precompiled application is executed, integrated Graphical User Interface and network support etc. This object-oriented compiler language can give new ideas or even build a platform for coming applications.