AppBeat 1.2 debuts; helps developers tweak performance

Cityview Software has announced the release of AppBeat 1.2, a new version of their first product. It’s the latest version of the company’s performance tweaking tool for Macintosh developers. AppBeat enables programmers to see exactly what’s going on inside their apps as they run. Programmers can then locate specific performance bottlenecks.

AppBeat also features a real-time memory monitoring utility which programmers can use to visually inspect their application’s memory usage to find memory links and functions that are using too much memory.

AppBeat’s applications extend to more than just performance tweaking and memory management, according to Cityview. Programmers new to a code base can use AppBeat’s hierarchical function call display to see what functions are being used and in which order. The software can even use debugging data generated by the development system to find file and line info about where specific functions are defined and used.

Cityview said that AppBeat integrates into Carbon applications. “The programmer simply links against the provided static library, calls the appropriate initialization function, and turns on the compiler switch for profiling,” explained the company. “AppBeat installs its own menu that lets the user select the application data to be displayed.”

Freely downloadable as an evaluation version, AppBeat can be registered at Cityview’s online store. Licenses range from US$19.95 for the Basic key to $39.95 for the Professional key — each supports applications of different sizes.

Cityview Software was formed this year by Brent Pease, formerly of game developer Bungie Software. He left Bungie in 1999 to pursue work as an independent contractor, and has worked with Apple and Metrowerks in the intervening time.

Cityview will be giving attendees of next week’s WWDC event in San Jose, Calif. a chance to check AppBeat out in action, so if you’re going, make sure to stop by.