M7 Takes JSP Tracking To A Higher Level

IDEs such as Borland's JBuilder and IntelliJ's IDEA are incapable of tracking variables across different frameworks without these crucial tools. This rigidity in source tracking presents a constant threat to developers, since any slight change made to an application without proper tracking will cause the application to crash.

M7's new NitroX JSP development tool tackles this problem with a patent-pending feature called AppXRay, which maintains a database of dependencies for all elements of a Web application. The tool keeps track of any interconnected fields and variables within source files using tags to identify them. As soon as a change is made in a source file, AppXRay notifies the developers of the change. This feature prevents applications from crashing and saves developers countless hours of debugging.

AppXRay also recognizes the function of a tag and its behavior across source files. Using this tool, administrators can inspect and set variables to make JSP debugging consistent with Java source debugging. NitroX can simultaneously render JSP while allowing developers to drag and drop tags. This feature allows developers to make and view changes in realtime. As the developer moves tags and makes various changes, source code is automatically updated without disrupting positioning or affecting dependencies. NitroX is sold as a barebones JSP editor with the option for solution providers or custom application developers to add Struts or JavaServer Pages Faces (JSF) as incremental extensions. The Struts editor supports Jakarta's open-source Struts framework, and the JSF editor supports controller enhancements provided by Sun Microsystems' JSF framework. With the Struts framework, NitroX is priced at $499. NitroX includes smart editors for JSP, Java, HTML and JavaScript syntax. As a developer moves between tag types, the editor automatically switches syntax modes and provides the appropriate parameters for that type of code.

The tool offers multiple JSP edit modes. In design mode, the editor acts as a word processor and allows tag inserts from its supported frameworks. By adding a Struts tag, for instance, developers can use both interactive features and text in the same page. Custom tag libraries can also be added to the design process. NitroX provides multiple ways to introduce variables into pages, since the software is compatible with JSP tags, Java scriptlets and framework tags from the optional extensions.

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NitroX's source editor incorporates code completion, syntax highlighting and automatic code validation for all its supported languages. Adding a tag synchronizes the visual representation automatically, allowing a developer to immediately see the consequences of a code change.

Developers working on a Struts form, for instance, can view values in an action tag from a configuration file. From this file, the editor points out other possible code enhancements that can be made to that action tag. The source editor tracks these configuration files so a Java Bean, a Struts framework or another source-code tool is controlled by the developer without the need to memorize various attributes. The editor tracks and implements the necessary code changes, and also adjusts positioning to clarify the code.

Not only can NitroX track variables on a page, it can also define and track those variables even if they affect a page indirectly. In a typical page, variables are connected by session or application code variables that are usually called but not defined within a page. Regardless of how code is linked to a page, NitroX can point to the exact line where called variables are defined.

M7 has a minimal channel program but is working to add more benefits for solution providers interested in representing its software or for those using its tools for outsourced application development projects. At this time, the company offers very basic sales, marketing and technical support, price discounts and early access to software releases. M7 is currently working to set its average margin and is also developing a dedicated Web site for software integrators.

M7 appears committed to open standards, and its software does not force developers to create proprietary JSP code for a specific application, unlike other development suites such as IBM's WebSphere Studio Application Developer and BEA's Workshop. These suites rely on special native extensions to enhance application functionality.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS
>NitroX for Struts
COMPANY: M7 Corp.
Cupertino, Calif.
(408) 850-0700
www.m7.com
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
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Note: Vendors can earn up to five stars for technical merit and five for their channel program. If the average of these two scores is four stars or greater, the product earns CRN Test Center Recommended status.