Happy birthday to Java
In case you missed it, java.sun.com announced that May 23, 1999 was the fourth birthday of the official announcement of Java to the world — May 23, 1995.
Court rules on preliminary motions in Sun-Microsoft case
US District Court Judge Ronald Whyte issued tentative rulings on three of the original ten motions filed by Sun and Microsoft on January 22.
One of Whyte’s nonbinding rulings states that Microsoft’s use of Java in Windows 98, Internet Explorer 4.0, and VisualJ++ 6.0 infringes on Sun’s source code copyrights.
The other two rulings state that Microsoft does have the right to develop an independent, “clean room” implementation of Java, and it may distribute clean room versions that do not comply with Sun Java compatibility tests.
At the end of each ruling, the court asked questions to help lawyers for both sides prepare to address the relevant issues that need to be resolved before the judge renders the final decision. A hearing on the rulings has been set for June 24. Other rulings could come at any time.
These rulings do not affect the preliminary injunction Sun was granted on November 17, 1998, in which Judge Whyte ordered Microsoft to make changes to some of its products so they include a version of Java that will pass Sun’s compatibility test suite. Microsoft has appealed that ruling, and an appellate court is scheduled to hear the appeal on June 16.
XML.org emerges as home of the XML spec
OASIS, the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards, has sprouted XML.org, a Web site to act as a repository for Extensible Markup Language (XML) information. XML.org will be available for users and developers.
The site will offer a registry and repository to access and manage XML schemas, Document Type Definitions (DTD), and other XML-related information. The site will also implement an architecture that uses existing as well as emerging XML registry and repository standards.
Microsoft says XML key to next generation’s Web
At the recent TechEd conference, Microsoft Developer Group Vice President Paul Maritz said that today’s Web is the second generation, focusing on the server and providing applications and data to users. Maritz predicted that the next-generation Web will become an “application integration architecture” — a business-transaction gateway. And Maritz thinks that XML will be the key to make it work.
Maritz said, “XML will revolutionize the usage of the Web to make it a business driver.” Maritz predicts that XML will transport data just like HTML transports Web pages. And the Component Object Model will provide for object transportation.
Microsoft Developer Division Vice President Tod Nielsen agreed, commenting that XML would eventually be a native part of all the company’s products.
Symantec adopts EJB for its tools
Symantec announced that it will adopt the Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) 1.1 specification, recently released, for its VisualCafe for Java tools suite. The company will also partner with EJB server makers to offer deployment modules for individual runtime and Entity Beans implementations.
VisualCafe Product Manager Kent Mitchell said, “Instead of five or six steps to deploy Java applications, developers will just debug in Symantec, and it will automatically deploy to the specified runtimes.”
Symantec officials said that in July 1999, Symantec will deliver an EJB Universal Framework and discrete modules designed to craft integration paths between Symantec Enterprise Suite and third-party application servers. The first module will be a bridge between Symantec’s product and the BEA WebLogic Server. Each subsequent month, modules for other products will emerge. Symantec officials predict that IBM WebSphere, Sun NetDynamics, and Iona HomeBase modules will soon follow.
Sun, Netscape wed app servers
The Sun-Netscape Alliance announced plans to merge the Netscape Application Server and Sun NetDynamics application server software into a single, unified platform — the Alliance Application Server. That way, customers working on either platform now will be able to continue deploying applications on the new server. The merger will take place in two steps.
First, the Alliance will release NetDynamics 5.01 and Netscape Application Server 4.0 in July 1999. Each architecture will support a common programming model that’s based on Java 2, Enterprise Edition (including EJBs), Java Server Pages, and the Java Servlet API. Both of these server upgrades should deliver better performance and scalability, according to Steve Nathan, vice president of application server products for the Sun-Netscape Alliance.
The Alliance will also release an application server system that consists of NetDynamics and Netscape App Server products early in 2000, a system that will include both execution models, as well as shared components for management (including directory management) and enterprise integration. This system should also offer mature APIs for the Enterprise Edition of the Java 2 SDK, XML support, Java Messaging Services technology, and enhancements to database performance.
Second, the Alliance will introduce an application server system that merges the rapid development environment, business framework, and enterprise integration components of NetDynamics with the transaction-processing abilities and high availability architecture of the Netscape App Server. According to Alliance officials, the server will offer backward compatibility to both applications.
Nathan thinks that this is the perfect time for this offering, since “Everybody is needing to make the critical migration to Java 2.”
Progress Software moves aim at ASPs
Progress Software announced plans to use Java and XML standards to tie its Apptivity and Progress servers together, giving it an opportunity to position its products for a newly emerging market — application service providers (ASPs).
Progress plans to deliver Apptivity Server 4.0 (Vader) in the fourth quarter of 1999. Vader is an EJB-, XML-, and Java Messaging Service (JMS)-enabled server. JMS will be a part of Java 2 Enterprise Edition, also arriving in the fourth quarter; it offers a cross-platform message-queuing alternative to IBM’s MQSeries and Microsoft’s MSMQ middleware.
Progress intends to unveil Vader+ in 2000. Vader+ will be the peak of the company’s universal application architecture initiative, and will form an integrated platform and incorporate the current Apptivity and Progress servers. Vader+ will support Java, 4GL, C++, and COBOL applications.
Progress Vice President Jeff Weil also announced the Aspen Program, an initiative to help ISVs that want to quickly become ASPs.
Iona OrbixHome is a CORBA/EJB developers kit
Iona Technologies announced OrbixHome, a developers kit designed to generate, integrate, and manage CORBA and EJB components.
OrbixHome (the former Orbix BeansTalk) is a development environment for both CORBA components and EJBs, one that combines Iona’s CORBA 3-level object-request broker engine and services with Iona’s HomeBase EJB 1.1-level container, EJB application interfaces, and other deployment and management utilities.
OrbixHome is designed to pick up where Java tools (for debugging, developing, and compiling) leave off, handling packaging, deployment, and management. It supports Stateless Session Beans, Stateful Session Beans, Entity Beans, the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI), and RMI and XML-based deployment descriptors.
OrbixHome uses graphical tools for development and management; it includes the ability to extend EJB components to CORBA, as well as the ability to add such advanced services as transactions.
The software also provides a graphical environment that allows EJB components to be dragged and dropped from a component repository into large-scale deployments.
On first release, OrbixHome will support integration with Symantec’s VisualCafe for Java development tool. According to the company, support for other tools will follow. The first release will also require that developers deploy CORBA applications using Iona’s Orbix ORB; later versions will support other CORBA ORBs. Subsequent releases will support development and deployment of components in C++ and COBOL. Later versions should also handle multiple component models, even COM+.
OrbixHome should ship the third quarter of 1999, and will be showcased at the upcoming JavaOne conference in San Francisco. Pricing information will be available at the conference. At press time, there was no further information on the company’s site. OrbixHome will run on Solaris, Windows 9x/NT, HP-UX, AIX, and Digital Unix platforms. It will support Oracle and SQL Server.
NCI rises from the ashes
Network Computers Inc. (NCI) announced new investors, a new focus, and a new name: Liberate Technologies.
Liberate CEO Mitch Kertzman, said “We think this name more accurately represents the business that we are in and the spirit of the company,” and highlights the company’s shift in strategy from corporate solutions to consumer-oriented Internet solutions. In specifics, the company will focus on information appliances.
Liberate has received 0 million from 11 strategic investors, among them the Cox, MediaOne, and Comcast cable operations.
Kertzman noted that Java, PersonalJava, and Jini will be key to the company’s platforms.
London Fire and Civil Defense manages finances with Java
The London Fire and Civil Defense Authority, responsible for the London Fire Brigade, is changing its financial-management systems by installing Masterpiece/Net, Prestige Software’s Java-based financial-management software, in the 112 Greater London fire stations.
The system is implemented to disperse its accounting and purchasing tasks to the individual stations, accessible through a browser and linked over an intranet to a central site. Accounting Systems Manager Derek Rushforth said, “Increasing numbers of employees are now being enabled to work from remote locations. Elements of the finance function are being devolved to each one of its 112 Greater London area-wide locations. The finance operation in each station itself will require accessibility to the central site both to input and retrieve information.”
The client version of Prestige’s Masterpiece/Net runs on a Windows NT platform, with Internet Explorer as the common interface to allow users to access the server component of Masterpiece/Net, which runs on a central AS/400 server. The remote locations and central finance office are linked by an Ethernet WAN.
Developer Release 4 of Java Card API
The Java Developer Connection announced the availability of the Java Card API Reference Implementation Developer’s Release 4.
This release includes an environment in which applets written for the Java Card platform can be tested. Early access to this reference implementation should allow developers to build applets that use the features of version 2.1.
Users will have to register to access this site.
Say hello to JMF 2.0 EA API
The Java Developer Connection announced the early access release of the Java Media Framework (JMF) 2.0, and API that lets developers incorporate disparate media types into Java applets and applications. It also supports capture, transmission, playback, and transcode of many types of audio and video.
It comes in three versions:
- A cross-platform implementation written solely in Java for use on Java-compatible clients
- A version with the Solaris Performance Pack that optimizes its performance on Solaris
- A version with the Windows Performance Pack that optimizes its performance on Windows
Users will have to register to access this site.
Java Shared Data Toolkit 1.5 is here
The java.sun.com site announced the free availability of the Java Shared Data Toolkit version 1.5, a development library that lets developers add collaboration features to Java applets and applications.
The Java Shared Data Toolkit software can be used to build network-centric applications, such as shared whiteboards, chat rooms, remote presentations, and shared simulations. It includes sample programs (a chat environment, a shared whiteboard, a networked game, a stock quote viewer, and a sound server) and supports multi-threading.
Three recent technology releases from Sun
Sun released three new bits of Java technology — JavaBeans Activation Framework (JAF) 1.0.1, Java Transaction API (JTA) 1.0.1, and JDBC 2.0 Standard Extension Source and Binary.
The JAF 1.0.1 extension, released on May 24, lets Java developers take advantage of standard services to determine the type of an arbitrary piece of data, encapsulate access to it, discover the operations available on it, and to instantiate the appropriate JavaBean to perform operations. JAF is implemented as a standard extension, and Sun provides a royalty-free reference implementation in binary form. Access requires registration in Java Developer Connection.
The JTA 1.0.1 specification, released on May 18, specifies standard Java interfaces between a transaction manager and the parties involved in a distributed transaction system — the resource manager, the application server, and the transactional applications.
The JDBC 2.0 Standard Extension Source and Binary API, released May 17, is a standard data-access interface that provides programmers with universal access to a wide range of relational databases. It is a standard component of Java 2.
Two new Bean suites from alphaWorks
IBM alphaWorks has released two new JavaBean suites.
The ListToList set implements multi-list operations by visual means. With the ListToListAWT, ListToListSwing, VectorToEnumeration, and ArrayToEnumeration beans, users can add list-to-list operations to applications without writing code. These beans contain two lists (left/right) with functions to let users copy or move selected objects from one list to another, delete selected objects from a list, or clear a list. There is an AWT and a Swing version, and beans for converting list contents from one format to another. It supports JDK 1.1.
The Time Bean suite contains analog, digital, and LCD clocks with alarm and timer features. The beans in the set are TimeModel (nonvisual), AnalogView, DigitalView, and LCDView. They provide clock, alarm, and timer functions. The suite supports JDK 1.1.
New version of LotusXSL released
IBM’s alphaWorks announced LotusXSL 0.17.1, an experimental implementation of the Construction Rules section of the XSL W3C Working Draft. The update includes bug fixes, performance improvements, better HTML output, and the ability to control how CDATA sections are handled.
XSL (Extensible Style Language) is a mechanism for formatting and transforming XML at the browser or on the server. Developers can use it to take the abstract data semantics of an XML instance and transform it into a presentation language, like HTML.
LotusXSL implements an XSL processor in Java. The processor can be used from the command line or from a wrapper applet, and it can be used as a sub-module of other programs and accessed via the API. It can interface to APIs that conform to the October 1 Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification.
ICE Browser 5 gets HTML4 pilot
ICEsoft announced that it will soon release an new HTML-rendering module (also called a “pilot”) for its Java component-based ICE Browser 5, a pilot that supports HTML 4.0. Currently, ICE Browser 5.0 runs an HTML3.2 pilot
The HTML pilot is still essential to the ICE Browser, since HTML rendering is still key to browser software. The HTML4 pilot, based on a completely different HTML-rendering engine than the 3.2 pilot (and better optimized for speed), will support HTML 4.0, CSS2, XML/CSS rendering, and DOM.
The HTML4 pilot will feature:
- Layout based on CSS2 specifications, as well as HTML 4.0 and XML+CSS layout that comes with tuned parsing, incremental reflow, tables, and integration with DOM
- High-performance rendering enhancements, including double-buffering, support for both AWT and JFC/Swing components, high-end graphic capabilities, and dynamic content handling
- Full CSS 2-style implementation
- Support for ECMAScript, with a Generic Scripter interface for other scripting languages
- Full W3C Level 1 DOM support available in ECMAScript and Java for dynamic changing documents
- Strict HTML parsing, with some “sloppy HTML” handling for backwards compatibility with other browsers
- Limited DTD support and extensible tag handling
- ICE Browser 5 is a JavaBean that can be embedded in applications
- Dynamic tag handling
There is a demo version available.
J Consortium site goes live
The J Consortium, a group resulting from the efforts of the Real-Time Java Working Group, now has a live Web site.
The site covers the mission statement of the Consortium, a FAQ about the organization, the by-laws, related press releases, a membership application, and an events calendar.
The J Consortium works to advance the creation of specifications and related activities for real-time and embedded extensions for the Java virtual machine, programming language, and class libraries.
GENETIX: The next generation of JVM?
Genetix Software is showcasing the GENETIX Virtual Machine system, a VM and gene algorithm database resembling the Universal Machine proposed by mathematician Alan M. Turing in his famous paper, “On Computable Numbers.”
Turing proposed a machine that served as a general-purpose computing engine able to switch obliviously from computing one function to another, with a full set of functions readily available during any computation. Functions could also be used recursively. This is in contrast to the common current computing model based on the work of mathematician John von Neumann, in which applications are developed and act as free-standing objects that mostly exist independently of other applications.
GENETIX is based on the concept that a relatively select few computer functions are repeatedly used throughout all software applications, so a biological/genetic philosophy is applied that states that a defined set of software modules (called genes in this case), in almost infinite combinations, can be used and reused to develop any type of software application. This would eliminate the need for millions of lines of unique code for each application.
The GENETIX system architecture consists of:
- A VM that interprets and executes the software genes on a specific hardware platform
- A set or pool of reusable software genes (strings of commands that can invoke other genes, including themselves) that provide functionality ranging from something as simple as pixel painting to rudimentary database operations
The GENETIX system sports a small footprint. In a prototype, the basic processor used 2KB of memory and 600 genes that took up 26KB, making it ideal for embedded systems devices and smart cards. The genes are platform-independent, so applications developed in GENETIX port quickly to other platforms.
Java lets CA health department localize outbreaks
California’s Department of Health Services’ Microbial Diseases Laboratory (MDL) in Berkeley has implemented a server-side Java application that lets workers enter more detailed geographic information and generate reports to analyze trends when tracking disease.
The Web server application was created by IBM’s Visual Generator tool and has already allowed health department workers to recognize infectious disease outbreaks weeks earlier than the was possible under the traditional method. Previously, health department workers had to contact a Sacramento-based COBOL programmer to extract the data from a mainframe.
The first step of the project was a programmer spending six months moving data from an old Software AG Adabas database to IBM’s DB2 database. Then staffers used more than 30 Java servlets to convert data into HTML for presentation; this keeps the client small and practically eliminates client support needs. The business logic and database remains on the host system. The maintenance and deployment of the application is handled by IBM’s WebSphere.
The state spent 00,000 for the system; IBM provided 38,000 in services for the project.
The agency intends to extend the application to the Internet in Fall 1999. This will allow county health laboratories to give the MDL notice of incoming samples and enter tagging information to speed processing and prevent errors. The MDL will be able to post the results to the Web.
Java 3D licensed for SGI IRIX
Sun announced that SGI has licensed the Java 3D API to integrate 3D graphics capabilities into applications developed by IRIX users.
The network-centric Java 3D API will run on SGI’s IRIX entry-level desktop and high-end graphics workstations.
The Java 3D API is already available for Solaris and Windows 9x/NT, and will soon run on Linux.
K.wiz data miner gets certified 100 percent Java
K.wiz Solutions (a subsidiary of Gentia Software) announced that the K.wiz data mining software has received 100 percent Java certification.
K.wiz, a workbench and development tool, provides predictive analytic functions through data mining and machine-learning algorithms. It is based on Java 2, and is designed to solve a wide range of applications using a visual editor.
K.wiz runs on Windows and many Unix platforms. It provides a range of algorithms (such as Decision Trees and Neural Networks), and developers can plug in custom ones, if necessary.
It incorporates a relational cache called K.wiz/ADB that exploits indexing techniques to accelerate data access by up to 100 times.
CRYPTOCard debuts the ST-1 4.0 software security token
CRYPTOCard announced ST-1 4.0, the newest version of its 100 percent Java software token, designed to offer secure access to corporate networks by delivering to users a unique, one-time password for each logon attempt.
The tokens generate and display a one-time password through an event-synchronous method of authentication called QuickLog, based on the standard Data Encryption Standard algorithm (DES). The QuickLog method provides users with a unique new password for each logon attempt.
The ST-1 4.0 employs Java to meet the authentication requirements of multiple platforms. The ST-1 4.0 was developed using Java 2, which gave the developers the ability to add a more sophisticated, useable interface to the token. It can be displayed as an emulation of the company’s RB-1 hardware token or in a graphical mode that prompts users to respond.
ST-1 tokens offer:
- Changeable PINs
- Time independence
- Server synchronization without reprogramming
- Support for multiple languages and users
The tokens can be used on any platform that supports the Java Runtime Environment 1.1.7 or higher, including Windows 9x/NT, MacOS 8, OS-2 Warp, Solaris, Linux, and other Unix flavors.
The tokens are managed with the company’s CRYPTOAdmin software. It runs on Solaris, Windows 9x/NT, and Linux platforms.
Price for the ST-1 4.0 is 9 per token. A free demo is available.
Tulsa chooses Bentley for Java-based public works
Bentley Systems announced that Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a one-year evaluation, has chosen Bentley’s geo-engineering software, EEM, for the city’s 150-person public works engineering division that serves water, sewer, storm water, traffic, transportation, and permits and licensing.
The engineering division needed the ability to integrate various types of data from different systems in various city agencies and department, and then disseminate that data back to those groups.
According to Rick Lisenbee, engineering graphics and information systems coordinator for the public works engineering division, the city chose EEM because it had the ability to store all map data in Oracle with its ModelServer Continuum technology. It also supports Java. Lisenbee said, “With MicroStation/J and JMDL, we can create Java applets for easy data access and input for those outside of the engineering department. This is key.”
Tulsa will deploy the Bentley software in three phases — translation, integration, and dissemination. Current data will be translated to MicroStation as they upgrade to MicroStation/J and to the MicroStation GeoGraphics engineering configuration.
Then, the engineering data will be integrated with orthophotography, existing base maps, and ESRI GIS data from the regional planning agency and the county assessor’s office.
Bentley Integrator A+CADD of Dallas will provide software support.
MetaExplorer 1.2 views warehouse data via browsers
SAS Institute announced MetaSpace Explorer 1.2, a Java applet that lets users Web browse information contained in a data warehouse.
The MetaSpace Explorer applet provides remote access to an organization’s business information. And it comes free with the SAS Warehouse Administrator 1.3.
This version features:
- Support for Spawner running on port 2323 (the new standard for all internal Java demos)
- A new file structure that integrates into the WebDemo file structure
- Support for searching in Business Notes
- Support for data group hierarchies (nested groups)
- Full-fledged internationalization
MetaSpace Explorer users can view data in a variety of ways, and browse the warehouse with objects organized by subject, type, or owner. It helps users locate objects on the correct SAS server, search for objects that meet specified criteria, and display all the metadata associated with the object.
