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Open source C/C++ development tools; Compuware OptimalJ supports J2EE; Windows Server 2003

• By Stephen Swoyer
• 04/03/2003

Eclipse.org Delivers Open C/C++ IDE

Thanks to the efforts of the open source software (OSS) Eclipse.org project, developers building software for Linux and other OSS software initiatives now have access to a rich C/C++ development environment of their own. Eclipse is an open platform for tools integration that is supported by a number of independent software vendors (ISVs).

Eclipse.org last week announced version 1.0 of C/C++ Development Tools (CDT), which it bills as a major step forward in the creation of an OSS cross-platform IDE for C and C++ development.

CDT project leader Sebastien Marineau—a senior software architect at QNX Software Systems—says CDT 1.0 enhances Eclipse’s Java development story with strong C and C++ capabilities. "With the release of the CDT, it’s clear that support for C/C++ in Eclipse is just as strong as for Java, which is critical for Eclipse adoption into C and C++ dominated development projects such as embedded applications,” said Marineau in a prepared statement.

The CDT project, launched less than a year ago, was advanced by a donation of source code from QNX Software Systems. Other companies—including IBM subsidiary Rational Software, Red Hat Inc., MontaVista, TimeSys, Tensilica, Macraigor, SAS, Programming Research, and Wasabi—have since joined the project and contributed additional development resources.

CDT 1.0 is compatible with the latest release of Eclipse and includes two key components, CDT Core and CDT Debugger. CDT Core is a C/C++ development environment that consolidates a project builder, code editor, and wizards that help automate mundane programming tasks. CDT Debugger is a C/C++ debugger that integrates with the GNU gdb debugger and provides standard features such as run control, thread support, breakpoints, watchpoints, and disassembly mode. In addition, CDT debugger supports multiple concurrent debug sessions.

Compuware Introduces New J2EE, MDA Development Environment

Compuware Corp. last week delivered version 2.2 of Compuware OptimalJ, a development environment that supports the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) standards and the Object Management Group’s (OMG) Model Driven Architecture (MDA).

Compuware says that enhancements to OptimalJ 2.2 enable organizations to simplify the integration of a range of technologies such as the OMG’s CORBA model, Java, CICS COBOL applications and—of course—Web Services.

Because it implements MDA, OptimalJ 2.2 can recognize patterns to automatically translate business models into working applications. Developers and Web designers, on the other hand, can use OptimalJ to quickly create Web services by elevating Session Beans to a Web service, as a result of which OptimalJ automatically generates a Web Service Description Language (WSDL file that other applications can use to invoke it.

For organizations that have already deployed Web services, OptimalJ can import a WSDL file and automatically generate the Session Bean code needed to invoke a Web service

In addition to the open source NetBeans integrated development environment (IDE), OptimalJ 2.2 also supports Borland’s JBuilder. Moreover, says Compuware, OptimalJ supports all leading application servers, databases and modeling tools

OptimalJ leverages a pluggable pattern architecture, which in certain situations—such as migrating to new versions of the Enterprise Java Beans (EJB) specification—can reduce the cost of upgrading to new technologies. As a result, Compuware claims, organizations can upgrade an application from EJB 1.1 to EJB 2.0 merely by installing a new EJB 2.0 pattern in OptimalJ.

OptimalJ 2.2 is available now in both Professional and Architecture editions. Professional Edition starts at $5,000 per named developer and supports the modeling, development, integration, and deployment of J2EE applications. Architecture Edition starts at $8,000 per named architect and includes all of the features of Professional Edition, in addition to support for the creation, extension, application and exchanging of software design patterns using the OptimalJ pattern editor. Compuware says that Architect Edition enables architects to implement their own standards and guidelines.

Windows Server 2003 Released to Manufacturing by Scott Bekker (Courtesy of ENTMag.com)

Microsoft last week released Windows Server 2003 to manufacturing, clearing the way for OEMs to begin building systems with the new operating system and for Microsoft to begin boxing and distributing the OS for the April 24 launch.

"Today, Windows Server 2003 was released to manufacturing, and it is done," said Bill Veghte, corporate vice president of the Windows Server group.

Release to Manufacturing, or RTM, is the official development milestone when the code is finished and any further changes must come in hotfixes and service packs. At the RTM stage, the OS is distributed to OEMs and sent to Microsoft's manufacturing sites for mass production.

The milestone marks the end of an oft-delayed, three-year development process that involved 5,000 Microsoft developers and thousands of customers. Recent Microsoft RTMs, for Windows XP and Windows 2000, have come two months before the product launch date, instead of the one-month timeframe here. Microsoft had previously been targeting a late February RTM, which then fell further and further into March. However, company officials have maintained that the OS would be ready for launch on April 24. And those previous RTM examples involved client operating systems, which present greater logistical challenges due to their higher volumes.

Still, without saying so directly, Microsoft appears to be preparing the industry not to expect Windows Server 2003 on retailers' shelves right on April 24.

Read the complete story here: http://www.entmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=5755