It all started back in 2014 ...

I tried - once again - to solve the problems of lost and missing code. I've been programming for 50 years and had to throw out and rewrite a lot of code as technology has changed. I have old mainframe and DOS programs that never justified the cost of conversion. I've also written many data file converters to connect applications. Some refer to that as data and code integration hell. It's a big problem for everyone and the move to the web is no solution. Separate website APIs and SaaS methods are not simple or automatic. The world is app-centric when it should be data centric with owners controlling their own data.

Evolution of a solution

In 2014, I did a test to have a spreadsheet launch one of my large calculation batch programs (thousands of lines of code) in the background, but have the input come from the spreadsheet and the results returned back to the spreadsheet for display and analysis. To the user it looked like the calculations were done inside of the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet was generalized to plug into any compatible external batch calculation program with the data coming from a separate file. Data was split from code.

This launched the development of three working versions for the desktop that defined three separate plug-and-play components of UI, code, and data. Results were written up in seven peer-reviewed papers (with one award) presented in the US and Europe over 7 years. Short courses were given along with expo demonstrations. This new programming architecture could do things not possible any other way. There was a big demand, but everything is moving to the web!

Moving to the web

I created TriSplit to build large repositories of code and public data for immediate use, combination, and monetization with ads and E-ZPass-like tolls. You upload your components that plug into Universal "Community App" (UCA) user interfaces. You can learn to do this in an afternoon. New and decades of lost and missing code and data can now be usable on the web. There is no charge for uploading, and code is run on the server and not exposed in the browser. This is not open source.

Components can also be wrapped together with little or no extra code to create new solutions. TriSplit provides an environment for universal plug-and-play API and SaaS. Ad and toll revenue will be automatically split. Separate websites can't do this.

Note that you upload only public data into a TriSplit repository for all to use. Your private data that feeds and connects repository components stays on your computer or cloud service completely under your control. This is essential for a data centric, data driven, and functional programming world.

Lost code and small markets

In 1996, I gave a paper about a program I wrote that combined three separate calculations for ship hull shape variation, hydrostatics, and resistance calculation. You could search through thousands of shapes automatically to find the one with the lowest resistance. Unfortunately, DOS was going away and the conversion to Windows could not be justified.

In 2016, I gave another paper where I recreated that work using my new plug-and-play technique that's resistant to technological change. There are many lost programs and small market applications that will never get on the web with the current complexity and cost. TriSplit changes that to give every individual in the world the ability to to upload, collaborate, and monetize in one afternoon.

Win-Win-Win

There is a vast world of software that exists between OSS infrastructure code and the few web startups that succeed. TriSplit fills that gap to allow everyone to contribute code and public data to build and connect new agile web solutions from the bottom up. Data is separated from code and defined and controlled externally. In one afternoon, you can begin to build visibility and income streams that can grow to many levels without venture capital support. It's plug and play collaboration and growth.

Components can be combined together by anyone to create new and automated solutions that will provide passive income for all using a single API and SaaS service. TriSplit will facilitate and not get in the way. Everyone will come to TriSplit because it will be THE PLACE to find, use, and combine code and data. Big Data and Big Code come to the web for all to use.

TriSplit offers an environment for "coopetition" where you can share and compete with moats of excellence, not control. Everyone can use best-in-class, not best-in-suite. TriSplit is what I needed twenty-five years ago.

Steve Hollister - SNAME, IEEE (Life Member), ACM