Keeping you abreast of the ever-changing Java world
Headlines
KL Group releases Java graph and chart tool
Build “killer apps” with IBM VisualAge line
GemStone introduces enterprise-class Java app server and Beans builder
Object-oriented courses offered by ObjectSpace
Java NCs are on their way according to study
Microsoft acquires Dimension X in a move to boost its multimedia presence
Java standards process meets with opposition
Developers get enterprise network access with JENI
JScape adds search Bean to JRC
Guess-A-Sketch brings Java Pictionary to the Web
Netsation’s 100% Java tool aids network administrators
JFOX software contest — win Sun hardware
35% discount on all Java titles
Innotech licenses Java-based search engine
MS dev tools exceed expectations
At recent TechEd, Gates campaigns for COM, tips hat to Java
Create 100% Java apps for intranet and extranet — with Vision JADE
IBM’s new intro Java class is online and free!
GemStone to embed Visigenic technology in CORBA-enabled Java app server
Visual Edge unveils four new distributing computing products
SCO delivers JDK 1.1 for Unix systems
KL Group releases Java graph and chart tool
In late April, KL Group began shipping JClass chart, a sophisticated JavaBean that allows developers to easily add graphs and charts into applets and applications. JClass Chart supports many popular types of business and scientific charts, including line, 2D and 3D bar, 2D and 3D pie, stacked bar and plot. “Many of our Fortune 500 customers have been clamoring for a JavaBean that has the same level of quality, performance, and functionality of our Motif and Windows products,” said Greg Kiessling, president of KL Group. “JClass chart is that tool.”
JClass Chart 1.0, which includes the JCLass BWT component collection, is available for JDK 1.02 as well as 1.1 with a common API to eliminate migration re-engineering. In the JDK 1.1 environment, JClass Chart can be used in an IDE supporting 1.1. In the JDK 1.02 environment, JClass Chart acts as a transitional Bean and can be used in all popular IDEs.
You can view JClass Chart at KL Group’s Web site and purchase any of the three packages — JClass Chart Bytecode for 99, JClass Chart Source for 99, or JClass Chart Gold Support for 00 — from KL’s commerce server.
KL Group Web site: https://www.klg.com/jclass/pro/index.html
- KL Group commerce server: https://www.klg.com/store/wcstart.cgi
Build “killer apps” with IBM VisualAge line
In early May, IBM announced an integrated line-up of new and upgraded VisualAge tools to help businesses combine Internet technologies with enterprise systems. The family of tools — VisualAge for Smalltalk V4, VisualAge for Smalltalk Server for MVS/ESA V4, VisualAge for Smalltalk Web Connection V4, VisualAge Generator V2.2, VisualAge Generator Templates V2.2, VisualAge for COBOL V2, VisualAge Tivoli-ready Toolkits, and VisualAGe DataAtlas Multiplatform V2 — is an integral part of IBM’s Network Computing Framework, a roadmap for customers and developers to use when moving their businesses to the Internet.
“E-business has eliminated the separation between server-based and Web-based applications. To create Web-enabled server ‘killer apps,’ our cutomers need tools that interoperate throughout the multiple tiers of the enterprise, and IBM VisualAge family answers that need,” said John Slitz, vice president of application development marketing at IBM.
“These latest products allow enterprise developers to take advantage of state-of-the-art tools and Java to build and extend server-based applications for the enterprise,” added Steve McClure, director of Object Tools Research at International Data Corp. (IDC).
https://www.software.ibm.com/ad/
GemStone introduces enterprise-class Java app server and Beans builder
GemStone Systems Inc. announced GemStone/J and GemBuilder/J for Beans, which provide an end-to-end Java environment for deploying commercial enterprise-class applications that need to support large numbers of Java client applications, involve complex distributed object models, and require open access to other client/server and legacy applications and databases.
GemStone/J is a highly scalable, enterprise-class, Java object application server for building and deploying large Java applications using three-tier intranet technology. It is targeted at the corporate enterprise computing market and implements the industry’s first transactional Java VM, shared object manager, and integrated repository for enabling Java applications involving several hundred million Java objects and thousands of users in a transaction-intensive environment.
The GemBuilder/J for Beans product provides an open development model for enterprise applications based on the JavaBeans component technology. GemBuilder/J for Beans, coupled with standard Java development tools, allows developers to easily partition and manage distributed JavaBeans applications from a GUI environment. GemBuilder/J for Beans is designed to work with any vendor’s Java development tools.
GemStone/J comes with a set of Java development tools (browsers and debuggers); these are used in conjunction with standard Java development environments. GemBuilder/J for Beans integrates with JavaBeans component assembly tools, giving developers the ability to easily partition or split applications into client and server pieces — all from within the graphical Java Studio environment. GemBuilder/J for Beans provides the facilities necessary for easily managing, maintaining, and optimizing distributed multi-user Java applications.
In a separate announcement, GemStone stated that its GemStone for Java product family will integrate tightly with Sun’s JavaBeans dev tools, becoming the first Java app server supplier to formally support Sun’s Java Studio for assembling JavaBeans components.
Object-oriented courses offered by ObjectSpace
In an effort to help educate technology professionals and help companies upgrade the skills of existing employees, ObjectSpace has expanded its advanced technology curriculum. New courses include “Building Object Systems with MFC,” “C++ for Object Programmers,” “Java and Object Design,” “Java for Object Programmers,” and “Advanced Java.”
Jack Carter, director of educational services for ObjectSpace, explained the need for an expanded set of courses: “We recognize that the explosion of the World Wide Web has given many companies a reason to reconsider software development plans. This new series of courseware is targeted at giving software organizations the ability to immediately produce the complex systems that companies require today.”
https://www.objectspace.com/Training/
Java NCs are on their way according to study
Datapro Information Services Group recently released two new reports that indicate Java-enabled network computers will become as familiar to the corporated IT landscape as PCs, minis, workstations, and mainframe terminals.
The reports — “Networking Computing Strategy: Sun Microsystems” and “Sun Microsystems: JavaStation” — found that it is likely NCs will succeed in replacing fixed-function 3270, 5250, and VT-100 terminals in the short term, and that the NC is likely to replace PCs wherever a PC provides more firepower and complexity than an employee needs to do a particular job.
In a separate poll conducted by CMP Media’s InformationWeek magazine, nearly 4 of 10 respondents in an industry survey believe network computers will replace desktop PCs as their organizations’ primary computer platform.
Microsoft acquires Dimension X in a move to boost its multimedia presence
In a move to get a more secure foothold in the multimedia marketplace, Microsoft announced in early May that it has acquired Dimension X, a San Francisco multimedia software company that pioneered the use of Java over the Internet. Dimension X is highly regarded for its technology, which has resulted in such products as Liquid Motion Pro, a Java-based multimedia authoring tool, and Liquid Reality Composer, a Java-based VRML broswer.
Microsoft plans to integrate components of three Dimension X software applications to its DirectX multimedia platform. In essence, said Rich Scocozza, software analyst at Brown Bothers Harriman, “Microsoft is moving away from growing their own technology. Instead of building it themselves, they’re accelerating the product development cycle by purchasing existing technology.”
“This (purchase) gives us an 18-month lead over anyone else for developing multimedia in the Java environment,” said John Ludwig, vice president of Microsoft’s Internet Content and Collaboration group.
The 18-month lead claim may be an overstatement; JavaSoft plans to release a multimedia solution later this summer, and a group of other companies, including Apple Computer, IBM, and Netscape, are working to develop a standard Java multimedia solution. However, Microsoft has indicated that this aquisition is the first of many announcements (product, tools, and aquisitions) to come over the next two months.
Java standards process meets with opposition
Java’s road to standardization is starting to get a bit bumpy. In the months since JavaSoft disclosed plans to release Java to the ISO/IEC standards body, more than half a dozen U.S. companies and organizations have voiced opposition. They claim JavaSoft’s standards effort doesn’t turn over enough control of the technology to the standards body. In fact, part of the proposal involves JavaSoft becoming a quasi-standards body itself.
JavaSoft’s application to the ISO/IEC included an application for a right to be a submitter of Publicly Available Specificiations (PAS) on behalf of Java. JavaSoft is the first developer to apply for PAS status, a status typically reserved for consortia or other standards-setting bodies.
The fear is that given control of the submissions process, Sun may not make Java truly open. Companies voiced their opposition at a Web site maintained by the joint technical committee of ISO/IEC: JTC1.
Sun executives claim overseas support is enough to ensure its victory when JTC1 votes on the measure in July, but have decided to amend the plan slightly to address criticisms from its opponents.
Related stories: CNet: https://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,10458,00.html
CNet: https://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,10368,00.html
CNet: https://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,10344,00.html
PC Week:https://www8.zdnet.com/pcweek/news/0505/06ejava.html
- Wired News: https://www.wired.com/news/technology/story/3692.html
Developers get enterprise network access with JENI
Jentec Corp. announced the beta version of the Java Enterprise Network Interface (JENI). JENI gives Java applications full access to enterprise networks and servers by allowing access to file, print, directory, and e-mail services on any back-end server.
JENI offers network protocol independence in the same way that Java offers platform independence. Like Java, which essentially reduces all possible operating system functionality to a finite set of Java classes that are then interpreted by a virtual machine, JENI reduces network functionality to a finite set of classes and objects that are then exposed to a “vendor jack.” A vendor jack, which Jentec makes available for each supported protocol, is the code necessary to expose network services of a particluar server. JENI supports many popular servers, services, and protocols.
Developers have two choices when working with the JENI framework: They can use the standard JENI classes directly, or they can use the JavaBeans implementation. Five Beans — Open File, Save File, Print, Send Mail, and Receive Mail — provide full JENI functionality.
Jentec offers the interface, source code, and JavaBeans for free but licenses its vendor jacks. The JENI classes, source code, and documentation is available on the Jentec Web site. JENI code is in open beta; the full release will be available in August. JENI JavaBeans will be available later this month from the same location.
https://www.jentec.com/live/BigPicture.html
JScape adds search Bean to JRC
JScape announced PowerSearch, a pattern-matching and search engine written entirely in Java. PowerSearch, which is a member of the JScape Reusable Componentware (JRC) family of products, fully supports the Perl 5 regular expression syntax and provides advanced features such as back references.
PowerSearch provides full native support for Java 1.02, 1.1, JavaBeans, and Java Studio. A full-featured evaluation copy is available free of charge.
Guess-A-Sketch brings Java Pictionary to the Web
Next time you’re feeling like doodling, put your pen down, surf on over to Digital Planet, and start up a game of Guess-A-Sketch — a sort of virtual Pictionary. Digital Planet recently announced this game, which makes use of a proprietary Java applet. Guess-A-Sketch is designed for multiple users and lets players compete to identify the greatest number of drawings in the least amount of time. One player receives a phrase indicating what to draw; the other players try to guess what is being drawn before time runs out.
The game is free, but you will need Netscape 3.01 or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 to play.
https://showcase.digiplanet.com/guessasketch.html
Netsation’s 100% Java tool aids network administrators
Network Configurator, from Netsation Corp. is the first in a series of platform-independent network management tools. Written entirely in Java 1.02, Network Configurator is designed to help network administrators tackle the giant task of configuring large and complex routed networks.
“Until now,” explained Sean Harrison, president of Netsation, “configuration has been the ‘black sheep’ of network management. While other elements of network management have slowly been integrated into plaform-based tools, configuration management has been left behind. Most common networking devices are still configured through a command-line interface or using a device-and platform-specific graphical tool that provided limited functionality. Because each device generally had its own unique tool, network administators are forced to contend with a variety of plaftforms, software installation woes, and other headaches. Network Configurator eliminates the need to utilize these different tools when configuring network devices.”
Network Configurator approaches configuration management from the device- and platform-neutral standpoint. The consistent, flexible API at the heart of the Network Configurator framework allows any number of different device types (regardless of vendor) to be specified.
https://www.netsation.com/products/network_configurator/v1r0/index.shtml
JFOX software contest — win Sun hardware
Sun Microsystems recently announced the Java Financial Object Xchange, or JFOX, software contest to promote the creation and public availability of Java applets and applications designed for use in the financial services. Contest categories include Capital Markets, Banking, and Insurance. Submissions will be judged based on originality, innovation, idustry applicability, reliability, look and feel, extensibility, and reusability.
The first-prize winners in each category will receive a credit of up to 0,000 for the purchase of specially designated Sun hardware. Prizes are also awarded to second- and third-prize winners. For more information on this contest, be sure check out JavaWorld‘s Events Calendar.
35% discount on all Java titles
From May 16 through June 30, Macmillan Publishing Online is offering a 35% discount on all books with “Java” in the title. Just stop by the site listed below and browse through 54 available titles.
The discount is limited to books purchased online.
Innotech licenses its Java-based search engine
Innotech Multimedia Corp. announced a number of licensing agreements with other companies.
Innotech has signed a licensing agreement to incorporate its Java-based search engine, NetResults, into ION Systems, Inc.’s On-Screen Publishing Tool Kit. Under the agreement, Innotech will provide ION with a customized version of its search engine that is exclusively compatible with ION’s Designer document file types. This product will be fully integrated into the next version of ION’s Designer software scheduled for release in August. ION will also start a promotional campaign to retrofit NetResults into its in stalled client base of close to 100,000 seats.
Innotech also signed a licensing agreement in which its NetResults search engine will be integrated with Hummingbird Communications Ltd.’s publishing and document distribution software. Hummingbird develops a family of applications and drivers for creating, viewing, distributing, and searching documents that are sold and supported internationally in more than 40 countries.
Finally, Innotech signed a licensing agreement whereby NetResults will be incorporated into new software products of a major global software firm based in Canada. The licensee is a public company trading on major Canadian and U.S. stock exchanges. Innotech will make further details available as the software products integrating NetResults are announced.
MS dev tools exceed expectations
Microsoft’s leading development tools are doing exceedingly well. In March, the company’s Visual Basic and Visual C++ tools broke revenue records, and Visual Studio+ 97, which was recently released, already is exceeding expectations. But wait, there’s more! An independent research company based in Portland, OR, called Market Decisions Corp., found Visual J++, Visual Basic, and Visual C++ to be leading in their software categories by wide margins.
The percentage of professional Java developers using Visual J++ doubled between November ’96 and March ’97, increasing from 25 to 50 percent. Visual J++ has seen a huge increase in use, with the total number of professional developers using the tool increasing by 270 percent.
According to Market Decisions’ study, 96 percent of Java developers are developing and deploying their Java apps on Windows — more than double the number of Java developers deploying their applications on any other platform. In fact, Sun Microsystems has designated Microsoft’s Java virtual machine the Official Reference Implementation of Java on Windows 32-bit platforms.
Data from the study shows that 6 percent of programmers choose Java as their primary language, which is up from 1 percent last year.
Gates campaigns for COM and tips hat at Java at recent TechEd
At Microsoft’s TechEd ’97 conference held in early May in Orlando, FL, Bill Gates, the company’s chairman and CEO, gave a keynote speech in positioning Windows as the cornerstone of distributed computing. In Gates’ vision of the future, the Windows platform and COM architecture (Component Object Model) will form the basis for a new type of distributed, component-based application. The goal? To bring information from any type of data store to dispersed users throughout a corporation.
According to Gates, services provided by the Windows operating system will include transactions, security, and message queuing. The appeal of the new applications will their lightweight and self-managing qualities and the fact that they can be created from existing components.
How do already existing tools and programming languages fit in with this distributed computing environment? The head of Microsoft claimed that, Java included, these will be brought in with the plan in order to leverage pre-existing programs.
“We do think Java is quite important,” said Gates, “and we’re doing the leading work to make it debuggable, to make it native-code compilable, and to allow you to continue to work with your existing code and to fit into the Windows environment.”
Microsoft announced Digital Equipment Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) will include COM in their next operating system releases. Digital will integrate COM into Digital Unix and OpenVMS by year’s end, while HP committed to including the specification in HP/UX within a year. And versions of COM for Solaris and MVS will be commercially available in the next few months. These versions are being developed for Microsoft by Software AG.
Create 100% Java apps for intranet and extranet — with Vision JADE
Vision Software just introduced Vision JADE, a development environment aimed at creating robust transactional and query processing intranet and extranet applications. Vision JADE creates multi-tiered, component-based Java apps that can be adapted to new business requirements and processes.
Applications created with the Vision JADE environment work with multiple application servers and infrastructures without the need for modifications for individual systems. No longer tied to HTML and its limits, developers can use Vision JADE to create interactive, cross-platform, 100% Java apps.
IBM’s new intro Java class is online and free!
IBM is now offering a free, Internet-based course on the fundamentals of Java, including the programming language’s implications for electronic business on the Web. This one-hour course uses a combination of video, audio, graphics, and text — presented right on the Web, making it accessible via home or office. All that’s needed is audio capability, a Netscape browser, and a download of IBM’s Bamba player.
https://www.ibm.com/Java/education/intro
GemStone to embed Visigenic technology in CORBA-enabled Java app server
GemStone Systems, Inc. has teamed up with Visigenic Software, Inc., (provider of IIOP-based distributed object technology for integrating mixed software environments) to provide customers with a CORBA-enabled, enterprise-level Java application server. GemStone has licensed the VisiBroker for Java object request broker (ORB) from Visigenic and has integrated it into its Java app server, GemStone/J.
The VisiBroker for Java ORB will be marketed by GemStone and run within the GemStone/J application server, providing CORBA-standard object interoperability via the IIOP protocol, as well as many CORBA-standard services — all implemented in Java.
GemStone: https://www.gemstone.com
Visigenic: https://www.visigenic.com
Visual Edge unveils four new distributing computing products
Visual Edge Software Ltd. have four new software products based on its patent-pending Object Bridge technology. Three of the products are in the Network Ease family: Network Ease for Applets, which makes Internet distributed computing as easy as moving a file; Network Ease for OLE, which enables OLE developers to gain the benefits of 100% pure Java distributed computing; and Network Ease for Java, which lets Java server developers add distributed computing to their classes without any special coding. The fourth product, called Manage Ease for OLE, enables OLE developers to add application management to their Windows applications by writing a single line of code.
Network Ease for OLE, Network Ease for Java, and Manage Ease for OLE are slated for general availability in June 1997, and may be purchased directly from Visual Edge’s Web site. Network Ease for Applets is now available from Visual Edge through a limited technology release. General availability is slated for August 1997.
Quantity-one pricing for Manage Ease is set at 95 per developer seat. Quantity-one pricing for Network Ease for OLE, Network Ease for Java, and Network Ease for Applets is set at 49 per server. Volume discounts are available.
SCO delivers JDK 1.1 for Unix systems
SCO announced the availability of the Java Development Kit 1.1 (JDK) for all SCO operating system platforms. Available for the SCO OpenServer platform at the end of May, the JDK 1.1 will become a standard component for all commercial SCO platforms moving forward, free of charge. Developers using systems with free SCO UnixWare and free SCO OpenServer licenses can purchase the JDK 1.1 for a nominal charge.
The JDK 1.1 includes a full Java runtime environment, as well as compiler, debugger, Abstract Windowing Toolkit, Appletviewer, and JavaBeans component model.
The JDK 1.1 will be included in every copy of SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.4, shipping at the end of this month. The JDK 1.1 for the SCO UnixWare platform is scheduled to ship in July, and for Gemini 1 (the code-name for the consolidation and enhancement of the SCO OpenServer & SCO UnixWare platforms), the JDK 1.1 is scheduled for late in the second half of 1997. The JDK 1.1 is also available separately for a minimal fee.
