Java Product News (December 15, 2000)
INDEXHEAD: InstallShield simplifies multiplatform deployment strategies
InstallShield Software has created three new multiplatform edition offerings (previously known as InstallShield Java Edition) that supply software developers with the ability to deploy applications across multiple platforms, including Linux, Solaris, AIX, Windows, and OS/2. Developed in conjunction with IBM, the three multiplatform editions have been dubbed InstallShield Express, InstallShield Professional, and InstallShield Enterprise.
InstallShield Express offers a file tree interface and 52 premade elements that help developers get started. InstallShield Professional expands upon InstallShield Express with the addition of an open API and the ability to include customized panels, prewritten code, or custom actions into the installation process. InstallShield Enterprise offers these capabilities as well as support for CIM, OS/400, and remote installation. The applications include Platform Packs with which developers can hone their deployment strategies for each platform, native code, and specialized Java classes.
The multiplatform editions operate on platforms that support Java. The InstallShield Express version is priced at 99, while the InstallShield Professional edition costs ,199. The InstallShield Enterprise version is priced at ,999. Subscription plans are also available.
INDEXHEAD: Perforce 2000.1 enhances workflow effectiveness
Perforce Software has introduced Release 2000.1 of its software configuration management (SCM) system. With this application, software developers can coordinate complicated development projects over a LAN, a WAN, or the Internet. The new capabilities of Perforce 2000.1 focus on making the application compatible with more IDEs and improving workflow efficiency. Other features include:
- Wildcards that can be used when searching for jobs
- Autoresolve options that support the combination of conflicting lines of code from different development teams
- The retention modification times when checking out a file
- A P4Win help file with find commands that helps locate files stored in the file repository based on location or pattern
A single-user license of Perforce 2000.1 is priced at 00. Multiple licenses and volume discounts are available from Perforce.
INDEXHEAD: Curious Networks debuts online MAXML Website
Curious Networks has unveiled Workshop, an online application development Website that allows developers to experiment with and use the company’s Multichannel Access XML (MAXML) markup language. Workshop provides a multichannel online site where developers can create, review, and distribute applications for multiple devices. Developers have traditionally written code for a given access channel using the standard markup language for that device, but MAXML allows a single code set to be distributed across a variety of devices, including WAP phones, text pagers, and PDAs.
Workshop helps developers get started by providing MAXML tutorials, a MAXML guide, a syntax checker, sample MAXML applications, and a publishing environment. Message boards and newsgroups also help developers obtain feedback and enable them to share their MAXML applications with fellow developers.
INDEXHEAD: ThoughtShare offers free viewer for buzPAKs
ThoughtShare Communications has introduced bViewer Personal Edition, a Java-based viewer that supplies users with read-only access to buzPAKs. buzPAKs allow users who research on the Web to gather attachments, Webpages, and notes in a visual format. The bViewer Personal Edition, a free version of ThoughtShare’s bViewer application, will be available in early 2001 as part of the bZone management suite. The bViewer Personal Edition allows users to review up to 10 posted buzPAKs and supplemental notes without requiring any software installation or download. The application also supplies read-only access across a variety of platforms, including Mac, Unix, Windows, and Linux.
bViewer Personal Edition operates on any Web server that supports Java applets. It can be downloaded at no charge from the ThoughtShare Website.
INDEXHEAD: Prophet toolkit reports Website usage
Speed-trap.com has unveiled Prophet, a Java-based toolkit with which Website operators can track and review users’ Web habits. The application gathers realtime information on a user’s interaction with Websites and then performs an array of data analyses, including page audit trails, realtime replay of user sessions, and click-stream analysis. Prophet performs these tasks by downloading a Java applet onto a user’s PC as part of the Webpages that are being visited. The applet communicates with the Prophet server application, which monitors each Webpage’s usage. Prophet’s architecture protects the user’s privacy by not recording user details, such as login name, IP address, or password.
Prophet can be purchased in the following ways:
- Usage license basis (free software, with users paying per number of monitored sessions)
- Classic software license (based on concurrent user sessions being tracked)
- Project license (consultants use it on a project basis for particular periods of time)
INDEXHEAD: WaveLink adds Java library
WaveLink has expanded its development libraries with the addition of the WaveLinkJ Library, a Java library for wireless application development. WaveLink relies on a server-side application architecture for realtime wireless applications, which overcomes wireless-processor and device-memory limitations. With this Java library, developers can write wireless LAN applications capable of running on a variety of wireless devices, including DOS, Pocket PC, and Palm OS wireless devices. It supports graphical interface objects (pull-down menus and buttons, for example). Other WaveLink development libraries include a C library for Unix, a variety of PICK environments, and a COM-based library that supports Visual Basic, Visual C/C++, and PowerBuilder.
INDEXHEAD: Motorola teams with Metrowerks and Lutris for J2ME-enabled handsets
Motorola, anticipating the release of its J2ME-enabled handsets in 2001, has announced partnerships with Lutris Technologies and Metrowerks. The Lutris agreement allows iDEN multiple communication handsets to obtain data from enterprise systems via the Enhydra server. Motorola will add the Enhydra application server software to its iDEN SDK, and Lutris plans to incorporate the iDEN SDK into the Lutris Enhydra 3.5 release expected in December 2000. Both companies are also preparing cooperative marketing and sales efforts for early 2001. The Motorola deal with Metrowerks incorporates the Metrowerks’ CodeWarrior IDE into Motorola’s free SDK. The CodeWarrior IDE provides tools for developing applications and content for wireless devices based on Sun’s J2ME platform.
INDEXHEAD: Sitraka Software helps StudioJ users migrate to JClass
Sitraka Software has established a partnership with Rogue Wave Software that facilitates the migration of StudioJ GUI elements to Sitraka’s JClass GUI elements. Rogue Wave Software has retired its StudioJ GUI elements, and the agreement with Sitraka allows StudioJ users to obtain support for their Java needs. Sitraka has developed a guide to help StudioJ users migrate from ChartJ applications to Sitraka’s JClass Chart, which should help developers incorporate the JClass element into applications.
INDEXHEAD: Codemesh enhances JunC++ion Release 1
Codemesh has released an updated JunC++ion Release 1 that adds documentation and corrects software issues. JunC++ion allows Java and C++ code to work in conjunction with each other for a variety of purposes, including integrating C++ and Java servers, expanding EJB environments to C++, making COM more Java accessible, and Web-enabling C++ programs. JunC++ion allows programmers to write code in the language that best resolves the problem, and then integrates the mixed language solution. C++ developers can use JunC++ion to obtain access to Java classes that offer the capabilities needed in a C++ application, while software library suppliers can use JunC++ion to create APIs for both C++ and Java based on the C++ or Java library.
JunC++ion Release 1 is available for the Windows 2000, Windows NT, and Windows 98 environments.
INDEXHEAD: Java Servlets Office Suite 1.75 supports WAP and WML
Coldjava has introduced Java Servlets Office Suite (JSOS) 1.75, a collection of out-of-box Java servlets that can be used to create J2EE-based Websites. JSOS 1.75 also offers WAP and WML support, which allow the suite to be used for wireless application development. Web administrators can implement JSOS as they would CGI scripts and, in this way, add dynamic abilities to sites. JSOS also offers administrators and developers chat, file manager, message board, calendar, and collaboration tools. These servlets can be customized and adapted for incorporation into internal design framesets.
INDEXHEAD: XMLFund and ActiveState initiate XSLT editor project
XMLFund has established a partnership with ActiveState to create an Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (XSLT) editor and debugging IDE that will be compatible with Microsoft’s Visual Studio .Net and ActiveState’s Komodo IDE. XSLT is part of the XML group of standards; it is a new Internet standard for marking up data to encourage data exchange between organizations. XSLT can be used to transform XML documents, to pull data from an XML document, to generate HTML documents, and to translate between vocabularies in B2B applications. The editor is expected to simplify the editing and debugging process of XSL transformations.
XMLFund will supply ActiveState with technical and financial support, and ActiveState will develop and provide continued support for the XSLT IDE.
INDEXHEAD: Aplix blends AppStream for Java Technologies into JBlend OS
AppStream and Aplix have announced a partnership in which AppStream’s AppStream for Java Technologies will be incorporated into Aplix’s JBlend operating system. The combined technologies are expected to speed the execution of Java applications on mobile phones, embedded systems, and home electronics. AppStream for Java Technologies organizes Java applications into streamlets, which are then transmitted to a device in the most efficient manner. This method improves the start-up time for a user’s Java application. By incorporating AppStream into the JBlend operating system, users can expect to perform online banking, e-commerce, and online trading on their mobile phone.
