In late 1999, Esri released ArcMap 8.0, which ran on the Microsoft Windows operating system. In January 1997, Esri decided to revamp its GIS software platform, creating a single integrated software architecture. The various products had branched out into multiple source trees and did not integrate well with one another. Other Esri products included MapObjects, a programming library for developers, and ArcSDE as a relational database management system. Prior to the ArcGIS suite, Esri had focused its software development on the command line Arc/INFO workstation program and several Graphical User Interface-based products such as the ArcView GIS 3.x desktop program.
