Sun updates Java IDE with more productivity tools

By China Martens, IDG News Service, 10/30/06

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Sun has released NetBeans 5.5, the latest version of the company's open source Java integrated development environment, aiming to beef up the software's productivity tools and improve its look and feel.

NetBeans 5.5 is available generally for download at Sun's Web site.

Sun estimates that there have been more than 11 million downloads of NetBeans since its debut as open source technology in June 2000. NetBeans competes against the open source Eclipse Foundation's Eclipse IDE in providing developers with the tools to build cross-platform desktop, enterprise, Web and mobile applications.

New features in NetBeans 5.5 include Java Persistence API and Java API for XML Web Services 2.0 productivity tools, and support for the open source version-control system Subversion. Also in the new release of NetBeans are enhancements to its GUI builder, work previously carried out under the code name of Project Matisse.

Sun also released five value-added packs for NetBeans 5.5, including a technology preview of NetBeans Visual Web Pack for developing applications using JavaServer Faces, as well as a beta version of NetBeans C/C++ Pack, which lets C or C++ developers use NetBeans alongside their own compiler and tools. The NetBeans Enterprise Pack brings together tools for creating and testing service-oriented-architecture applications.

The vendor additionally announced the expansion of its NetBeans strategic partner program to feature increased technical support and more opportunities for members to comarket their software with Sun. Formally established in November last year, the program is aimed at companies that build NetBeans add-ons and evangelize the IDE to their developers. Members include CollabNet, the JBoss division of Red Hat and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications.

NetBeans 5.5 runs on operating systems including Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. The software supports Sun's Java Platform Enterprise Edition (Java EE) 5, as well as Java Platform Standard Edition and Java Platform Micro Edition.

Sun is midway through a plan to make all its software freely available, including its core Java technology. Last week, Jonathan Schwartz, Sun's CEO and president, committed to open source Java in the next 30 to 60 days.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.

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