Inprise Working On Tools For Linux

The project, code-named Kylix, encompasses Inprise's Delphi, CBuilder and JBuilder development tools for C, C++ and Java programming languages.

On Monday, the company released a downloadable preview of JBuilder's Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler for the Linux operating system, which can increase performance of Java 2 applications on Linux.

Some Linux developers said RAD tools are important to programming in any environment.

"RAD tools like these are important to many and a sure sign that Linux's popularity is increasing in the corporations of the world," said Joe Pranevich, a senior production support analyst at Lycos Inc. who works with Linux in his off time. "It may encourage more people to discover how Linux can be a useful tool for them."

Inprise, Scotts Valley, began working on Kylix in the spring and said much of the design was influenced by results from its Linux Developer Survey of over 24,000 developers in July.

"With the strong heritage of Delphi and C++Builder behind Kylix, speed-to-market for developing applications and porting across Windows and Linux will be significantly increased," said Dale Fuller, interim president and chief executive of Inprise.

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