Workplace Shell
| Company type | Software component |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | IBM Boca Raton research facility |
| Headquarters | Boca Raton , United States |
| Products | Desktop environment for OS/2 |
The Workplace Shell (WPS) represents an object-oriented desktop environment created by IBM's Boca Raton research facility specifically for OS/2 version 2.0. Drawing on the principles of Common User Access, it introduced a major departure from the earlier Program Manager interface found in prior OS/2 releases and Windows 3.x, as well as differing from the application-centric WIMP paradigm characteristic of the Apple Macintosh. The WPS was subsequently incorporated into OS/2 Warp 3 and Warp 4 editions, along with later OS/2-derived platforms such as eComStation and ArcaOS.
Initially intended for the OfficeVision/2 LAN suite, IBM declared in 1991 that the Workplace Shell would instead be integrated into OS/2 2.0. This integration enhanced the system’s graphical user interface by introducing drag-and-drop capabilities across multiple applications.
Constructed primarily using the C language, the Workplace Shell is architected as an object-oriented class library utilizing IBM's SOM. Classes within WPS are specified through an IDL. Developed at IBM’s Austin laboratory, SOM facilitates interaction with WPS classes via straightforward "KEYWORD=VALUE;" string commands accessible through both C and REXX programming interfaces.
New classes within WPS are derived from existing ones within a hierarchical structure, requiring developers to override only select methods to customize or extend functionality while preserving a consistent interface. These classes are distributed as DLL modules; after registration and instantiation, they operate indistinguishably from native Workplace Shell objects.
A notable capability permits developers to substitute an existing class X with a modified class Y during installation, causing every instance of X to adopt Y’s behavior—effectively implementing retroactive inheritance. This mechanism enables third-party tools to augment or modify Workplace Shell functionality without access to IBM’s original source code. Additionally, published IDL files and class headers allow further extension of derived classes.
See also
External links
- xWorkplace – a leading open-source extension suite for Workplace Shell that enhances the user experience through class substitution.
- osFree – an initiative focused on fully re-creating OS/2 as free software.
- Workplace Shell Toolkit – a development resource designed to streamline creation of WPS classes and facilitate Presentation Manager programming for OS/2 and eComStation developers.
- DFM – a Linux file manager inspired by Workplace Shell, built for the X Window System.
- Workplace Shell for Windows – an unofficial freeware clone of WPS for Windows, developed by former IBM personnel.
- Download Workplace Shell for Windows
- OS2eZine Article: WPS for Windows v1.51
- Download Workplace Shell for Windows 1.51 Source Code