Some developers of shrinkwrapped graphics applications reacted negatively to NeXT's earlier proposal to adopt a "document engine," written by Archetype, as a standard for all NeXT publishing software (see "DTP engine proposed," NeXTWORLD Extra, March 1992). The NPE concept was an attempt by NeXT to align its publishing direction with its focus on custom-application development.
Steve Jobs told developers that a universal API was not in NeXT's interests, according to attendees.
"NeXT is now pursuing a more general approach that encompasses both shrinkwrapped apps and objects," said Bruce Webster, of Pages Software in San Diego. "NPE still exists, but it now has a broader definition."
Webster said that a group of developers is working together to propose protocols that cover file formats and translation filters.
Ð by Dan Ruby