Inprise Opens Interbase Source Code

The next version, Interbase 6, will also support Linux and Solaris operating systems. Currently the software supports only Windows and Netware operating systems.

"Inprise will be taking a leadership role in the open-source movement by releasing InterBase 6 under an open-source license," said Dale Fuller, interim CEO and president of Inprise.

The source code for InterBase 6 is scheduled to be published during the first half of the year, the company said, although it will continue to sell and support Interbase 5.6 through regular distribution channels.

Inprise, like many other software vendors, has been working on a Linux strategy.

Last month the Scotts Valley, Calif.-based tools and middleware company unveiled a Linux version of the Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE) in conjunction with Sun Microsystems Inc., which is slated to begin shipping commercially in the first quarter.

At that time, Inprise also released a Linux version of its Java Development tool, JBuilder 3.

The company has said it is working to support Linux with its C and C++ developer tools, CBuilder and Delphi, in a project code-named Kylix.

"These tools will be on Linux as fast as we can get them there," said Jeff Barca Hall, chief technical officer at Inprise.