Sun Brews Java Tools Updates

The Java Studio Enterprise 7 platform, available now, offers a collaboration feature called Code-Aware that allows distributed teams of developers in different buildings and different continents work together on projects, according to Sun.

The version 7.0 platform also offers support for the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and an Application profiler feature that enables developers to analyze an application's performance before it is deployed.

Though Sun remains the steward of the Java platform and language, its developer tools have never been favorites among Java developers. Borland's JBuilder IDE and platform-specific tools from leading J2EE platform vendors IBM, BEA Systems and Oracle have traditionally been more prevalent among developers building Java applications.

Developers can purchase a promotional bundle of the Enterprise 7 platform combined with Java Studio Creator software until June 30, 2005, for $995, according to Santa Clara, Calif.-based Sun. Java Studio Creator is Sun's rapid application Java development tool.

Meanwhile, at the JavaPolis 2004 conference in Belgium Tuesday Sun unveiled an update of its open-source NetBeans development platform, which offers new support for Java 2, Standard Edition (J2SE 5.0), previously code-named Tiger.

The NetBeans 4.0 IDE, which will be available starting Wednesday, also features a performance profiler in addition to simpler code maintenance and enhanced mobile support for Java 2, Micro Edition (J2ME), according to Sun.

The next release, NetBeans 4.1, will feature enhanced support for Enterprise Javabeans (EJBs) and Web services, according to Sun, making it easier for developers to build J2EE 1.4-based applications.