The following message from a Developer in the Chicago Area does a good
job of describing what ACID is.  After reading it just type ACID and
it will lead you through an evaluation of itself.

Thanks,
Riley Paulk




                                               Clipper Conference
TO: ALL                             FROM: EARL BOCKENFELD
MSG # 325      DATE: 10/26/90       TIME: 01:19 pm
Subject: A new CLASS of Software
---------------------------------------------------------------------
    WHAT IF there was a program....that had some, most or ALL of the
elements of PolyDoc, EasyCase, UI2, QEdit, Project Manager and much
more?
    What if finally there was a program for the purpose of designing,
building and maintaining Application Software written in compiled
Clipper or xBase languages to be used thoughtout the Application Life
Cycle from the Dream-Idea stage all the way through to Old-Age and
the last maintenance fix?
    What if there was a program...that MADE you start designing your
applications like a programmer-analyst and stop using a bunch
of 'quick and and dirty' kludges you first learned with dBase.
    I'm NOT certain there is such a program now, but 'ACID', now
in shareware pre-release tries more and does it better than
anything I have ever seen.  There are too many changes being
made now as it gets finalized to download, but I recommend that
ClipperHeads take a very serious look when it comes out.
.
   OK, What does it do?
   Heard of a data dictionary, this one has a data encyclopedia.
   The encyclopedia includes specifics covering every data element
   (field) in the selected Application package, all the databases
   that contain it, the databases where it is maintained, its Point-
   of-origin, and supplied code allows database normalizing and
   enforces referential integrity.  The encyclopedia also stores
   info for system specification, documentation, user guides,
   context sensitive help screens, testing requirements, report
   writing, database validation and index criteria.
.
   Have a problem documenting your programs?  Enter the design
   criteria into 'ACID' and you can provide a neat, complete and
   functional User's and Technical Manual and a complete Data
   Encyclopedia at the first Project Team Meeting after starting
   a new Application.  Auto documentation features update all
   database changes and create entries for all procedures, functions
   and menu choices in your code as it progresses so you don't
   end up with an 'Apple' spec and docs on an 'Orange' application.
   Need structure, every source code element assumes that it should
   be tested and documented and 'ACID' forces both.
.
   The 'ACID' Test Process begins with the definition and the
   quantification of individual tests for every identifiable
   function in the system.  Nothing gets missed since every
   definable function found during Source Code Analysis generates
   at least one test and based on something called Programs Called/
   Called By, the system auto generates an Integration Test Guide
   that can be edited into a System Performance/Integration Test
   Plan.  Plug in people and time and the Plan becomes a Schedule
   with assignments, and you have accomplished and documented the
   Application System's Operations Test and/or Software Quality
   Assurance.
.
   Much of the code in 'ACID' is generic and would apply to any
   Application Software System.  These code functions will be
   available as a linkable object code or as modifiable templates.
   The generic functions include a pull-down menu system, data base
   management, key word/text string searches, record locator,
   record tagging, context sensitive help, text editing, auto
   pilot/system housekeeping, user log-on and access control.
   A code generator too.
.
   And as they say on TV, much, much more.
