EJB Spec Added to J2EE 1.3 Beta, IBM Promises Support
Moving a step closer to the 1.3 version of its popular Java 2 Enterprise Edition, Sun Microsystems has announced beta two of the J2EE platform. The offering includes support for a new Enterprise JavaBeans specification.
EJB 2.0, as the latest iteration of Sun’s server-side component model has been donned, is being touted as a simplification to the development process that makes it easier for developers to leverage the scalability, multi-transactional capabilities and security features of the EJB architecture.
Specifically, the EJB 2.0 specification includes support for more tools, databases, applications servers, networks, storage devices and vendors. It can integrate with Java’s application programming interface for messaging, Java Messaging Service. And it offers increased network interoperability support for EJB components through Internet Inter-ORB Protocol, an object-oriented protocol that allows distributed programs written in different programming languages to interoperate.
"With its new EJB architecture, the new J2EE platform greatly simplifies connectivity between applications and databases. Combined with its enhanced XML, messaging, and integration support-- the J2EE platform allows developers to build portable, database-independent applications," said Rich Green, vice president and general manager of Java software development for Sun Microsystems in a statement. "This means programmers can spend less time coding, and deliver quality products faster."
In an effort to make good on Java’s mantra of “Write Once, Run Anywhere,” J2EE 1.3 platform is designed to offer greater support for XML, as well as compatibility with other Web services standards, including simple object access protocol; universal description, discovery and integration; and Web services description language. The new version of J2EE also promises improved performance, flexibility, portability, integrative abilities and interoperability among J2EE servers.
To finalize the new EJB 2.0 specification, Sun worked with twenty-three companies, including such industry notables as BEA Systems, Borland Software, Hewlett-Packard Company, Oracle and IBM.
IBM, which has been among the strongest supporters of the Java platform over the years, has committed to delivering J2EE 1.3 technologies to market by the end of this year. Java specifications, along with other Web services standards like XML, SOAP, UDDI and WSDL, represent the cornerstone of IBM's WebSphere platform. And, according to Big Blue, they will remain so into the future.