Third-party software component

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In computer programming, and particularly in Microsoft Windows programming, third party software component refers to a reusable software component developed to be either freely distributed or sold by an entity other than the original vendor of the development platform. The third party software component market thrives because component oriented development improves the efficiency and quality of developing custom applications.

Visual Basic

Microsoft Visual Basic spawned the first commercially viable market for reusable software components. Visual Basic's first extensibility mechanism was the specification for Visual Basic Extensions, commonly known as "custom controls".

In version 4.0 of Visual Basic, the OCX custom control was introduced to replace VBX. OCX was later renamed ActiveX and then COM. In version 7.0 of Visual Basic, also known as VB.NET, Microsoft introduced the .NET Component to replace both VBX and ActiveX. It was still possible to use many ActiveX components in VB.NET by wrapping them in a .NET layer.

See also

• Enterprise Java Beans
• VCL / CLX
• KParts (KDE)

External links

Leading third party component vendors (in alphabetical order):

• ComponentArt (Web and charting components for Microsoft's .NET platform)
• ComponentOne (Full range of components)
• Data Dynamics (Data analysis and reporting components)
• DevComponents (User Interface components with source code)
• Dundas Software (Charting and Diagramming components)
• FarPoint (Spreadsheet/datagrid components)
• Infragistics (User Interface components)
• KDCalc (KDCalc - Excel compatible spreadsheet components and web application generators for Java and .NET)
• LEADTOOLS (Imaging components)
• Nevron LLC (Charting, Diagramming and UI components)
• /n software (Internet/e-Business components)
• Seekford Solutions, Inc. (Internet, Security and UI components)
• Software/FX (Charting components)
• SpreadsheetGear LLC (Excel compatible spreadsheet components)
• Syncfusion (.NET component libraries with source code)
• The Ultimate Toolbox (MFC components)
• Xceed (Full range of components)

Other third party component vendors:

• Divido Software (PDF components for Microsoft's .NET platform)
• GemBox Software (Spreadsheet read/write components)
• Ingenuware (General purpose components)

Leading Resellers of third party components are:

• Xtras.Net (Microsoft-centric Components and Tools Store: .NET & ActiveX)
• ComponentSource (Java, .NET and ActiveX Components Store)

Leading Information website about third party components:

• DevDirect (List of third party components)
• SharpToolbox (List of third party tools)
• How-To-Select Guides (Guides for helping developers select .NET components and tools)

Associations and Groups representing the Component Industry

• The Component Vendor Consortium (CVC) is a not for profit industry association dedicated to supporting organizations and developers building components and tools for the professional Windows developer.

Online Forums for discussing third party components:

• Forums.Xtras.Net (Microsoft-centric: focuses on helping developers find and use .NET & ActiveX components and tools)
• How-To-Select Guide Forums (.NET-centric: Focuses on helping developers select .NET components and tools)