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Oracle's Java tools get makeover

The database software company adds the latest Java and Web services standards to its development toolset.

Mike Ricciuti Staff writer, CNET News
Mike Ricciuti joined CNET in 1996. He is now CNET News' Boston-based executive editor and east coast bureau chief, serving as department editor for business technology and software covered by CNET News, Reviews, and Download.com. E-mail Mike.
Mike Ricciuti
2 min read
Oracle has revamped its development tools with support for the latest Java and Web services standards.

The database software company has released Oracle9i JDeveloper version 9.0.3, a revised toolset that now includes support for the latest Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) 1.3 specifications.

With the toolset, Oracle is hoping to attract companies to its database and application server software. Like many large software companies, Oracle sells low-cost programming tools at minimal profit hoping that businesses will use the tools to build software that runs on more expensive--and profitable--products, such as application server software or database management systems.

Oracle said Monday that the toolset now also works with open-source software, including Apache Ant, Jakarta Struts, JUnit and CVS. Those tools help developers build software.

The company said that JDeveloper 9.0.3 is more customizable than previous releases and that it lets developers configure the look and feel of the toolset.

Developers can use the toolset to create business applications using J2EE or PL/SQL, Oracle?s native database development language. The tools allow for the creation of applications using Java classes, database stored procedures or Enterprise JavaBeans. JDeveloper 9.0.3 also allows those applications to be released as Web services.

Web services comprise software built in such a way that companies with different computing systems can interact and conduct transactions. BEA Systems, Sun Microsystems, IBM and Oracle have adopted the J2EE standard as the way to build business software and Web services. Microsoft steers developers toward its own programming model, called .Net.

Oracle said the toolset also include testing tools for Web services development and release, such as a packet monitor to debug messages sent by applications using the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP).

Other Web services-related features include the ability to find Universal Description Discovery and Integration (UDDI) directories and interoperability with Microsoft?s .Net Web services technology.

Oracle said an evaluation copy of the toolset can be downloaded from its Web site. Oracle 9i JDeveloper 9.0.3 costs $995 per named user.