Microsoft Preps Java Conversion Tool; J#.Net To Ship In Second Half

Microsoft

On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled the second beta release of its Java-to-C# conversion tool, which will allow developers to automatically convert existing Java language source code into Microsoft's C# programming language. The conversion tool will be available during the third quarter of this year, the company said.

The tool is built on ArtinSoft's migration technology and automates the process of migrating language syntax and library calls from existing Java source code into C#, according to Microsoft.

Visual J#.Net--another planned Microsoft offering that enables Java developers to adopt .Net technologies--is on track to ship in the second half of 2002, a Microsoft spokeswoman said. Visual J#.Net, also in beta testing, is a development tool for Java-language developers that want to build applications and services on the Microsoft .Net Framework.

Industry observers say the conversion tool and J# will enable Java developers to defect to the Microsoft camp or, more important, to support both platforms.

"It eases their transition to .Net by taking Java code and translating it into C#," said Andrew Brust, president of Progressive Consulting, a New York-based consulting firm and application developer. "Between the JLCA and J#, Microsoft is doing an excellent job easing the transition for developers interested in moving from J2EE to .Net, or adding .Net to their list of target platforms."

Paul DeGroot, principal analyst at Directions on Microsoft, a Kirkland, Wash.-based newsletter, doesn't anticipate a major defection of Java programmers to Visual Studio.Net but said the tools are necessities that Microsoft can't ignore. "C# still runs on only one platform, at least on the server side, and the platform independence of Java continues to be a significant reason for using it," DeGroot said. "Microsoft needs to provide this as a migration path. It just needs to make sure that the door is there."