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BEA, Borland join on tool for Java Web platform

BEA Systems and Borland Software this week plan to announce Borland JBuilder, WebLogic Edition, which will pair Borland's Java development tool with BEA's WebLogic Web applications platform.

Developers will gain a Java tool specifically tied to BEA's WebLogic Server application server as well as to other WebLogic offerings, including Portal, which is BEA's portal platform; Integration, for application integration; and WorkShop, a tools product, officials of the two companies said. An initial version of JBuilder, WebLogic Edition is set to ship in approximately two weeks.

"We recognise the marketplace and that Borland is the leading Java development environment [and] BEA is the leading application server, so it was in our customers' best interests that we come together to offer this product," said Eric Frieberg, director of product marketing for WebLogic Server and WebLogic Workshop. While Workshop provides a framework for development of J2EE applications, JBuilder, a Java IDE, is more of an enterprise offering, enabling developers to utilise low-level APIs and object-oriented techniques, according to Frieberg.

"This agreement enables us to offer hands-down the best available platform in the industry [for developing applications on J2EE]," Frieberg said. "We went with the company that provided the most breadth to our customers."

A Borland official concurred that the pairing links industry leaders. "They are number one in Java deployment, we're number one in Java development," said Frank Slootman, senior vice president for software products for Borland.

An analyst said the pairing would better enable BEA to compete with IBM, which offers tools to function with its WebSphere application server platform. "This leaves BEA on an equal footing with IBM," said analyst Nina Lytton, president of Crossroads-Open Systems Advisors.

Both BEA and Borland will sell the JBuilder offering for WebLogic. The initial release will support Web services because the WebLogic runtime includes support for Web services standards, according to Borland. Future versions of JBuilder, WebLogic Edition will have tighter integration with Web services.

Borland JBuilder, WebLogic Edition will cost $US3,500 for a single developer's licence.