Codemesh® - About Us

Our Vision

We're not that big on vision statements, but we believe that we have a genuine vision:

Software should just work with each other, no matter what language it's written in!

We started out with Java/C++ interoperability, but in our mind that has always only been a first step. We added Java/.NET interoperability and had plans to add more interoperability solutions in the future.

Over two decades of operation we discovered that it is hard to make a living in the software tool space; hard but not impossible. Success requires focus and dedication. Instead of branching out into ever more programming languages we decided to focus on our two core products and the derived solutions. This strategy has worked well for us and has allowed us to survive all crises that have killed many other software companies. We have also—so far—been doing very well during the COVID pandemic.

We continue to explore new ideas and are open to adding additional features and brand-new products, but the business case must always be strong. We remain dedicated to serving our customers.

The Founders

Alex is a 30 year software veteran with experience in product development, and project management in the United States and Europe. He has been extensively involved in a variety of complex product development efforts using his in-depth understanding of .NET, C++, and Java.

Alex' successes have ranged from contributing SEC compliance components in the financial sector to managing the development of e-commerce servers for Hitachi Computer Products.

In addition to founding and managing Codemesh, he has worked for IBM, Thomson Financial Services, Hitachi, Veeder-Root, and Document Directions Inc., where he was involved in product rollout, customer training, and customer relations for a diverse set of products and services.

Recognizing the need for easy to use, quality software integration products, Alex co-founded Codemesh to satisfy a growing market need and his own entrepreneurial instincts. His history with product successes, as well as failures, has taught him what it takes to build a company with strong technology, firm business principles, and excellent customer support: Codemesh.

Alex studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.

Prior to co-founding Codemesh, Neil worked in a diverse range of positions and companies. He designed and wrote significant, industry-leading software products at Lotus Development Corporation, Thomson Financial Services, Progress Software, and Kronos, Inc.

In addition to his individual contributions, he has led software development team efforts, serving in both technical and project management capacities. Engaged with Java since its inception, Neil has worked with Java to develop applications for the financial industry and for real-time decision management. His Java experience is built on years of programming reliable, successful, and popular products such as Lotus 1-2-3. He has the perspective of not only building but sustaining products over multiple releases. He is driven by the desire to develop new products and to ensure client satisfaction.

Neil received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

A Brief Corporate History

Alex starts exploring the feasibility of a Java/C++ integration solution. After determining the technical feasibility and putting together a strategic plan, Alex and Neil officially incorporate Codemesh, Inc. as a Delaware Corporation in July 1999.

For the first 15 months of its existence, the company operates in obscurity while laboring on the first release of its JunC++ion product, a product that greatly eases the burden of integrating Java with C++.

After a three month beta period, JunC++ion 1.0 is released for Windows on September 29th 2000. Codemesh immediately wins a large networking company as its first customer and has its first international sale by December.

In March 2001, the first platform port is completed on Solaris.

During the first half year of being in public business, it has become obvious that there is a market not just for a general purpose integration tool like JunC++ion but also for targeted integration solutions. Consequently, between May and August of 2001, Codemesh is hard at work to create the first release of its JMS Courier product, a targeted integration solution for using the Java Message Service from C++.

At that point in time, the post-bubble recession has started to take its toll on Codemesh's customers: a survey done in 2002 finds that approximately one third of potential customers who had downloaded evaluation kits does not exist anymore, one third has cancelled or postponed projects or disbanded the group that was using our tool, and the remaining one third has no money to spend.

Codemesh survives this very challenging business climate and launches its JuggerNET product in July 2003. JuggerNET is a companion product to JunC++ion and helps developers with the integration of Java and .NET code.

Codemesh finally receives a first official recognition of its work when it is awarded a "Best JMS Implementation" award by a popular German IT magazine for its JMS Courier product. Everyone is very surprised because no one had been aware of the fact that we had been nominated at all!

Codemesh started a major rewrite of all its products with the goal of consolidating the code bases of JunC++ion and JuggerNET and making the products ready for new challenges. The rewrite culminates in a JunC++ion 3.0 release in November 2005. The new implementation has been instrumental in winning several important partnership deals.

After many years of waiting (and paying for legal services), Codemesh is also finally awarded US patent #6,901,588 for its integration technology.

Codemesh officially releases JuggerNET 3.0 and signs up several new partners. It is a good year for business.

Codemesh continues to do well. JunC++ion is ported to additional platforms and it is another profitable year.

More JunC++ion platform ports and Codemesh's most profitable year yet.

Amidst a very challenging business climate following the financial crisis of 2008, Codemesh introduces a new product named terp. terp incorporates a template engine that is useful in code generation as well as a set of powerful and versatile ANT tasks that allow us to build C++ applications on all platforms of interest.

terp never gains much traction as a commercial product but remains an integral part of Codemesh's code generator products.

Codemesh introduces the long-awaited, major JunC++ion v4 release that combines the two code generators into one application (they are still licensed separately).

The v4 release is a complete code generator rewrite that includes a revamped GUI, integration project management, and template-based, customizable code generation.

Codemesh adds GUI integration into JuggerNET and creates a demo of NASA's WorldWind hosted by a .NET Forms application.

Codemesh fixes bug in 64-bit runtime that only exhibited on one platform. One customer affected for three days. Last known runtime bug.

Codemesh starts exploring a completely redesigned runtime library with heavy reliance on C++ templates.

With this work going on and the released products being stable, Codemesh neglects its website.

Codemesh completes move to new facility, migration to new build grid, and releases new website.

COVID pandemic seems to have minimal impact on business.

Covid pandemic causes slowdown in new sales. Development of new terp release is started with goal of supporting much more complex document generation scenarios.

Codemesh completes beta period and switches over to new website.