Oracle offers new version of JDeveloper

Oracle is giving software developers a sneak preview of a new version of its Java software development tool JDeveloper. Oracle 9i JDeveloper includes built-in XML tools for building Web-based software, and support for Java 2 Enterprise Edition, a version of the Java standard for writing business software. 9i JDeveloper also bundles "modeling" tools that allow developers to create graphic representations of software code; tools designed to make it easier and faster to connect software to databases; and testing tools that seek out ways programmers can improve their software code. JDeveloper, which was previously available only for the Windows operating system, is now available for Solaris and Linux, Oracle executives said. A beta, or test, version of 9i JDeveloper is available as a free download on Oracle's Web site. The final version of the product will ship with Oracle's other software development and data-analysis tools by year's end.