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by Kane Scarlett

News and New Product Briefs (2/15/98)

news
Feb 15, 199833 mins

JavaSoft releases Java enterprise directory hooks

JavaSoft has released the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI), a developer tool for building Java applications that can access multiple standard naming and directory services.

Found on site, JNDI (actually a working reference implementation) supplies a critical link to Java for legacy-system software. However, JavaSoft has indicated that it won’t be integrating JNDI into the next version of the JDK, version 1.2 due in June 1998. This delay, according to some in Sun’s Java alliance, could hamper developers’ efforts to develop server-side Java programs. But some third-party vendors have started integrating JNDI into products using the draft specifications that were released in 1997.

JNDI is the Java API that gives Java applications a single interface to enterprisewide multiple naming and directory services such as Novell Directory Services (NDS), Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), and the Network Information Service (NIS). JNDI gives the corporate user the ability to access, in example, a plethora of customer information residing in different databases.

Caravelle’s IPnetWatcher spawns a Java edition

Caravelle has spun off a Java edition of its IPnetWatcher software, a product that scans and reports on the status of IP networks.

With the Java Edition, you can use a Java-enabled browser to receive immediate status reports. The network monitoring tool automatically notifies you through e-mail, a pager, or at your desktop (when you log on) when it detects a network problem.

The software is customizable, so you can set the notification criteria and choose which device you want to monitor. It will even let you set up a testing schedule (and prompt you when testing time has arrived).

IPnetWatcher helps you test your HTTP Web server. You can also monitor other site bits, including FTP, DNS, NNTP, POP3, and SMTP services, and make sure each (downloads, e-mail, news servers, for example) is working correctly.

IPnetWatcher Java Edition costs 95 for three nodes; you can get an unlimited enterprise license for 0,000.

Netscape’s Kiva Enterprise Server for e-commerce

Netscape has released the Kiva Enterprise Server 2.0 (KES), server software for corporations that anticipate employing a lot of Web-based, high-transaction, electronic-commerce applications. This is the first release of the product since Netscape acquired it.

KES is comprised of the Enterprise Server, the Developer Studio (an IDE), and the Extension Toolkit.

The Developer Studio development environment easily integrates with such third-party development tools as Visual Café, Visual C++, Java Workshop, and PowerSite. It includes:

  • A project manager
  • HTML/Java editing tools and wizards
  • A graphical query designer
  • Flexible support for multiple client types (such as HTML, C++, Java)
  • CORBA support
  • Support for building native Java, C, and C++ clients

Applications developed with KES have native access support for such databases as DB2, Informix, Sybase, and Oracle, as well as ODBC access.

Enhancements to the Enterprise Server include better scalability and fault tolerance. Load balancing has been improved by distributing the function across all the servers in the environment, thus doing away with the possibility of a single point of failure. The Enterprise Server now also supports real-time exchange of session/state data (keeping transmission loss to a minimum) and its Administrator tool (for managing the distributed environment) has a better interface.

The Extension Toolkit (available at additional cost) is designed to facilitate links between KES and other large-enterprise applications, and should be a help when developers want to integrate services into the application environment.

The Developer Studio piece costs ,295 per developer. The Enterprise Server portion will run 5,000 per CPU for Windows NT and 5,000 per CPU for Solaris, HP-UX, and IRIX. The Extension Toolkit has not been priced yet.

  • Product information: https://www.kivasoft.com/Products/Xkes.html
  • Original article: /cgi-bin/displayIcommerce.pl?980126kiva.htm

Netscape halts development of Java VM software

Netscape has decided not to continue with development of Java VM software for its browser. Officials decided that the new Communicator API, compliant with any VM, replaced its need to work on its own VM software. And the effort to port, tune, and test slowed the development.

The company insists that it is not abandoning its commitment to Java. With at least 17 other OS vendors developing Java VMs for their operating systems, the company felt that it was redundant to work on its own VM when the Communicator API would support the VMs on the other operating systems.

Officials insist that the company is still developing Javagator, its all-Java browser, and its server-side Java products. (Server-side products have become Netscape’s paying concern since its recent announcement to give away its browser client products.)

Sun JDK product manager Frank Rimalovski agrees with Netscape’s move. “I view it as a positive thing in that it will allow Netscape to focus on browser and Web servers, the things they do well, and leverage the work of [developers]. It will also improve compatibility.” Gartner Group analyst David Smith echoes Rimalovski. “Java remains a very important part of Netscape’s strategy, but other vendors are doing their own VMs anyway, so it didn’t make sense for Netscape to be doing it as well.”

  • Original article: https://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/9881.html

Internet Explorer 4.0 bug

A bug with a two-pronged result was discovered in Internet Explorer 4.0 in November 1997.

The bug (occurring when users clicked on a URL link that started with the prefix res://) caused IE to crash and causes unwanted code to execute on users’ machines. A patch was issued to fix this. (res:// is used by Microsoft to display Web pages stored in binary format on a hard drive.)

In January 1998, a similar bug was discovered in IE 4.0 and 4.0.1 when users tried to open a URL that starts with mk:// — not so unusual since res and mk both share code segments. This bug can also crash IE or execute programs, and IE 3.02 users running Visual Studio may also be affected. Mac and Unix versions aren’t affected.

Blue Lobster’s Stingray SDK gets 100% Pure Java certification

The Stingray 3270 SDK 1.6 from Blue Lobster Software has received 100% Pure Java certification.

Stingray 3270 SDK allows users to create Java-based applets and applications that communicate with mainframe applications through 3270 terminal emulation. The Stingray SDK (comprised of the Java-based 3270 terminal emulator, JavaBeans terminal and keyboard components, and TN3270 protocol classes) records host sessions, converts them to Java code, and creates Java applications that directly access legacy data.

Blue Lobster president Tom Robinson said, “We have heard from our customers that true platform independence is a key factor in their consideration of legacy-to-Web solutions. 100% Pure Java certification ensures our customers that Stingray-developed applications have been thoroughly tested, and they will run across all major Java-enabled platforms. This is important for companies that want to preserve their investment in the existing technology infrastructure.”

Schlumberger’s Cyberflex Multi 8K Java card available

Schlumberger has released the Cyberflex Multi 8K Java card, which offers enhanced support for secure multiple applications, in the current version of the Cyberflex Development Kit.

Cyberflex Multi 8K is designed from the Cyberflex 2.0 Core technology specs the company introduced in 1997. The new card has tripled its Cardlet (applet) memory space to 8 kilobytes. And, new on-card code reduces the amount of code the applets need to run.

Survey says: Major players must cooperate

Miller Freeman Inc. (with International Data Corp. and survey company Market Perspectives) have announced the results of a survey they conducted at MFI’s Software Development ’97 conference in October 1997.

Software and Web developers all pointed to the importance of cooperation of the major industry leaders in Web-based development (75%). Other attendee responses include:

  • 75% plan to use Java in the coming year
  • 42% plan to use ActiveX
  • HTML, C++, C, Java, and Visual Basic are the top five languages used
  • 65% plan to develop distributed applications in Java

Market Perspectives manager Rick Blum added, “We also see that software developers are significantly more active than Web developers in purchasing object-oriented tools, while Web developers are more involved in design/multimedia product and tool purchases.”

Network Appliance uses Java VM to provide backup for data servers

Dedicated, high-speed data server maker Network Appliance announced that it will integrate Legato Systems’ NetWorker client and storage node software with its data server through a Java VM, to provide data backup and restore functions to secondary storage devices.

The Legato software is being developed in Java, with the first implementation as the NetWorker Client for NetApp, supported by NetApp servers.

IDC senior analyst Robert Gray said, “IT managers require three things: systems that stay up, network stability and data security. The ability to backup data is crucial to any disaster recovery plan. NetWorker Client for NetApp will allow IT managers to backup and restore data on NetApp data servers similarly to other application servers.”

The companies expect the software to be available in early 1999.

Metamorphic debuts COBOL-to-everything converters

Metamorphic Computing Corp. (MCC) announced the Metamorphic COBOL Converter, a recompiler software that lets programmers convert legacy apps to Java, VB, or C++ — quickly.

The Metamorphic COBOL Converter lets developers take existing ANSI 85 COBOL programs, run them through the converter (which gives them compile-ready code), and then convert them into Java 1.2, VB 5.0, or C++ apps (C++ apps must be supported by Microsoft’s MFC).

MCC does the translations itself (for a fee), with two options:

  • Straight conversion with no tuning for rapid turnaround
  • Conversion with tuning

A third option includes purchasing the converter from MCC.

Available now, contact the company for pricing.

  • http://www.metamorphic.com /html/cobol.html

Symbol to place Java in handheld devices

Symbol Technologies has recently licensed Java to integrate into a wide range of its handheld devices that are designed for vertical-market use.

Symbol marketing VP Ron Goldman said the company decided to license Java when several of its retail customers adopted the language. He added, “We have completed a technology licensing agreement with JavaSoft that allows us access to either Personal Java 1.0 or Embedded Java.”

The company will start developing a Java VM for its own handheld devices. Look for delivery dates of specific products within the next two months. (Currently, Symbol is also developing versions of 3Com’s PalmPilot that feature wireless communications and barcode scanners.)

Activerse debuts DingBot SDK

Activerse announces the DingBot SDK, a software developers kit that allows developers to create customized bots according to the specifications of the individual user or enterprise, then integrate the bots with the company’s Java-based Ding!/Ding!Switchboard messaging software system.

DingBots can be created to retrieve targeted information, manage intra-group communication, and control online devices. The custom bots can be accessed through Ding!’s peer list. The bots also work with the same security constraints as Ding! users. The bots can be deployed anywhere on the ‘Net.

The DingBot SDK uses JavaBeans to create classes of bots that can then be adapted by specifying properties. DingBots use WhoDP, a URL-based naming protocol that conforms to the RVP instant-messaging standard.

The DingBot SDK beta will be available for download late Q1 ’98.

@Work Tech’s WorkOut system for massive document distribution

@Work Technologies debuts the Java-based WorkOut document distribution system, designed for companies that have to distribute large amounts of documents over the Internet or intranets.

WorkOut is designed to distribute large volumes of computer-generated documents, such as bills, statements, and reports, over the Internet and intranets. Java allows WorkOut to interpret, parse, index, archive, and render complex production print-stream files, such as IBM’s Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) format. These print streams are typically created by large-scale production systems, such as account receivable and general ledger.

WorkOut features include:

  • A Java viewer that supports searching, viewing, markup, annotations, and data extracts
  • Java “servlets” that dynamically convert production data into HTML and XML documents
  • Support for the Open Financial Exchange Bill Presentment (OFX-PRES) standard
  • Event-driven e-mail notification of users
  • Visually definable document layouts that ease indexing and data extraction
  • A JavaBeans toolkit

WorkOut is based on the CORBA standard. It is supported on Windows NT 4.0 and Solaris 2.51 or higher platforms. The product will be available in Q2 ’98.

KonaSoft offers Strong Toolkit Java cryptography toolkit

Oslo-based KonaSoft announces Strong Toolkit 1.0, a Java-based encryption engine.

Strong Toolkit features an algorithm-neutral API for symmetric block ciphers. The following algorithms are available in Strong Toolkit:

  • Secret-key algorithms:
    • DES
    • TripleDES (DES-EDE)
    • GOST
    • Blowfish
    • CAST5
  • Public-key algorithms:
    • Diffie-Hellman key agreement algorithm
    • ElGamal public-key cryptosystem

The next version is expected to add implementations of RSA and IDEA cryptosystems to its algorithm fold.

Strong Toolkit is implement in pure Java and works on any JDK 1.1-supported platform. Contact the company for pricing.

Vocaro delivers eight JavaBeans components

Vocaro Technologies announces the availability of eight all-Java software components that conform to the JavaBeans model.

The components include:

  • Date Select — A single-month Gregorian calendar that allows you to select any day between 0 AD and 9999 AD, with built-in multilingual support

  • Four-Way Button — A compact push button that can generate up, down, left, and right button events

  • Multiline Label — A static text label capable of multiple lines and left, center, and right alignment. Words of any language are wrapped properly

  • Message Box — A dialog box for displaying messages and for getting passwords or text strings from users. Multilingual support is provided for English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian. Custom languages can be installed easily

  • Tip Box — A dialog box for displaying user tips. Custom languages are supported

  • Finger — An implementation of the Finger protocol, for retrieving user/host information

  • Event Log — A JavaBeans debugging tool for displaying event objects in a list box or the standard output stream

  • Method Call — A JavaBeans debugging tool for calling the methods of other JavaBeans components

These components support Java 1.1 and are compatible with all major Web browsers.

According to Vocaro president Trevor Harmon, “These eight components are just the beginning. We have nearly a dozen JavaBeans in development right now, and we’ll be releasing two more — an e-mail component and a calculator component. We’re also in contract negotiations with other software companies to produce 100 percent pure Java versions of their products.”

  • DateSelect, Multiline Label, Four-Way Button: https://vocaro.com/products/app.controls/main.html
  • Message Box, Tip Box: https://vocaro.com/products/app.helpers/main.html
  • Finger: https://vocaro.com/products/net/main.html
  • Event Log, Method Call: https://vocaro.com/products/debug.beans/main.html

IBM plans to integrate Internet technologies into AS/400 systems

IBM officials announced enhancements to its AS/400e system operating system, enhancements designed to bring the most powerful e-commerce technologies to its platform.

The latest OS/400 4.2 (available February 27, 1998) includes Java, Lotus Domino, and IBM’s e-business application Net.Commerce (a browser-based administration server). It also will support Windows NT on a new IBM Integrated PC Server running on AS/400.

New enhancements as follows:

  • Integration of Java technology

  • A Java compiler and interpreter is integrated below the technology-independent machine interface (TIMI) of OS/400, so Java code will run without the need to recompile on the AS/400. The AS/400 JVM is integrated into the object-oriented architecture of the system

  • The AS/400 Developer Kit for Java is a set of basic Java development tools, help files, and documentation based on JDK 1.1.4

  • A set of Java classes that represents AS/400 data, providing familiar AS/400 client server program interfaces for Java programs

  • The VisualAge for Java IDE gives AS/400 programmers a graphical Java programming environment that can use the AS/400-specific functions supplied in AS/400 Toolbox for Java

In addition, Firewall for AS/400 has been improved to allow more control over Web environments. It now has a site-blocking API to allow or disallow access to specific sites. And, secure HTTP proxy server support has been added.

OS/400 4.2 will be available on all 64-bit RISC-based IBM AS/400 business computers.

ICE offers two free Java applications

International Communications Enterprise is offering two free Java applications — a calendar and a chat package.

JavaCalendar is Web-based Java calendar software that works with Java-enabled browsers. It allows sites to organize and maintain online events, product releases, news, appointments, advertisements, and online schedules. JavaCalendar is an online calendar, organizer, clip board, and newsstand. With JavaCalendar, Webmasters can moderate event registration and user management.

JavaChat Free Package provides free chat; moderated chat; multiple chat rooms per site; and multiple topics per chat room. It also administers moderator accounts and chat room/topic activities.

CORBA and Java courses from I-Kinetics

I-Kinetics is offering a three-day hands-on course called “Building Enterprise Business Objects with CORBA and Java” in three locations and on three dates this spring.

The course is designed to demonstrate how to build reliable, high-performance, scalable CORBA/Java three-tier enterprise business objects using existing databases. All examples focus on the latest Internet business apps or commercial services with high-volume, high-performance, high-capacity requirements.

The course includes six hands-on labs that use the latest Java tools, such as Powersoft’s PowerJ. Attendees will learn to design and architect a scalable Java/CORBA three-tier business object with such capabilities as multithreading. Users will also learn to integrate existing databases and apple CORBA enterprise functions to current projects.

Senior consultants from I-Kinetics will be on hand to review your projects and provide optional training (including training for MVS (OS/390) applications that consist of DB2, CICS, IMS, ADABAS, and others).

The course costs ,500, and the dates and locations are as follows:

  • February 24 to 27, Burlington, MA;
  • March 24 to 26, Burlington MA;
  • March 31 to April 2, Seattle, WA.

New March and April dates and locations are currently being added. Also, check with I-Kinetics for discounts.

SFS Software upgrades with SiteSearch 2.0 and javaZIP 2.0

SFS Software has released new versions of Java-based software packages SiteSearch 2.0, a search engine and Web navigator, and javaZIP 2.0, file-compression software.

SiteSearch 2.0 has two new sections, SiteMap and Topics. The SiteMap lets site visitors explore the site’s logical structure via its own TreeView> component. The TopicMap uses the same TreeView, but reflects individual Web site directory structures.

Support for HTTP has been added, too, allowing users to create a search and navigation index from any Web site. With it, you can index a Web site and retrieve files from the site (giving you the option to poke through the site offline). This version also supports the complete ISO Latin-1 character set and has new customization features, all without CGI and databases.

SiteSearch 2.0 has been tested on Windows95/NT, Linux, Solaris, and OS/2 systems. For the single commercial user it costs 99; for non-commercial use, 9; a CD-ROM distribution license runs 49.

javaZIP 2.0, a Java ZIP compression utility, sports a redesigned interface that makes importing and exporting files to and from existing archives much easier. And access to all drives and directories can now be reached in one session. SFS offers a fully functional unlimited trial version.

HP will optimize Java for 64-bit Merced chip

Hewlett-Packard is working with Java developers to optimize applications to speed them up for its 64-bit Intel Architecture Merced processor-based system, the IA-64.

To meet this goal, besides establishing a porting and testing facility, HP is providing planning, tech support, and devtools to participating developers (including those from Ariba Technologies and Web Logic) to help port their apps to IA-64 systems.

The IA-64 processor (called EPIC for Explicit Parallel Instruction Computing) will combine CISC and RISC instruction sets onto one chip. The expected availability date for the processor is sometime in 1999. HP is promising more information at the March ’98 JavaOne developers conference in San Francisco.

  • Original article: /cgi-bin/displayStory.pl?98024.wchpjava.htm

Java Distributed Computing book from O’Reilly

The latest release from O’Reilly and Associates, Java Distributed Computing, builds a bridge to crafting distributed Java apps for intermediate to advanced developers. (1st Ed., January 1998, 384 pages, ISBN: 1-56592-206-9, 2.95.)

Author Jim Farley’s book lays down a construction plan on how to design and write distributed Java applications, covering:

  • RMI (remote method invocation) and CORBA (Common Object Request Brokerage Architecture)
  • Designing protocols to build message-passing systems
  • Java’s security facilities
  • How to write multithreaded servers
  • Networking basics
  • Distributed database systems
  • Limited bandwidth apps
  • Collaborative systems

Segue develops testing for all-Java and hybrid systems

Segue Software has added extended Java testing support to its SilkTest and QA Partner products, Java load testing capabilities to PerformerPlus and Surf! products, and SilkBeans, a new remote Java testing product.

SilkTest’s and QA Partner’s new Java support adds capabilities to test Java components three ways:

  • In a browser as Java applets
  • As Java code embedded in a client/server application outside the browser
  • In distributed computing environments that involve multiple Java VMs

These products already include a recovery system, which allows customers to run reusable test scripts 24 hours a day, unattended.

PerformerPlus’ and Surf!’s new capabilities allow users to integrate performance and load testing for all Java-enabled applications no matter where they reside.

SilkBeans allows developers to write a single test for a Java component and execute that test on any JVM.

These products (except SilkBeans) are available now, starting at ,495. SilkBeans should ship in Q2 ’98, and will be distributed free.

ISP platform from BSDI gets Java application environment

Berkeley Software Design Inc. (BSDI) has licensed the Java Application Environment (JAE) from Sun to add to new releases of BSDI Internet Server and e/BSD, an embedded systems technology for network appliance developers.

BSDI VP Randy Brem commented, “With this license, BSDI will include Java on the best-supported and most robust Internet Server in the industry. Thousands of ISP customers and embedded-device development partners who rely on BSDI have been clamoring for Java.”

By licensing JAE, BSDI has access to JavaSoft’s entire application execution environment, which includes the Java VM and all required class libraries. The agreement also stipulates that BSDI will provide its users and development partners a high degree of technical support, and will register their products in the Java Solutions Guide and support the Java Select Program.

The first BSDI Internet Server with JAE will be in Summer 1998. Developers should also get the first Java-enabled e/BSD at the same time.

Arnona releases public beta of a Java viewer for AutoCad DWF drawings

Arnona Internet Software offers a public beta of CadViewer, a Java product that lets non-Windows users view and redline AutoCad drawings (DWF format) over the Internet.

With CadViewer, DWF drawings can be shared by any Java-enabled browser (Navigator 3.0 and IE 3.0 and up). With the redlining function, any authorized user can markup changes on a DWF file (whether the user is on a Mac or PC, Unix workstation, network computer, or, soon to come, small network appliance), then save the changes back to server on which the drawing resides.

Arnona CEO and president Ariel Bardin noted that “The DWF file format that AutoCad uses to share drawings over the Web was a great step forward, but [it] left non-Windows [customers] with no viewing solution. We believe that we have found a solution to this problem. Initial users of the CadViewer have been excited at the prospect of sharing AutoCad drawings over the Web without worrying about the platform used for viewing.” And, she added, presenters love the fact that they don’t have to install software or plug-ins on customers’ systems.

The beta is available online.

Patriot Scientific builds .35 micron Java chip

Patriot Scientific Corp. is developing a .35 micron version of its 32-bit, ShBoom-based PSC1000 Java processor. The company is designing the smaller scale chip (to .35 microns from .5 microns) to try and keep ahead of other next-generation Java chips. And the smaller, faster embedded chip should be perfect for Internet applications and small devices.

Patriot officials expect an increase to 150MHz in the PSC1000-.35. They are also considering throwing in a cache to add to the speed of the chip. Patriot engineering VP Joey Maitra claims that the chip’s architecture makes it easier to upgrade. “Because of PSC1000’s fundamentally different and simpler design and unique stack architecture, we have the capacity to double performance every six months. Many of our competitors have already squeezed the maximum performance possible and are therefore limited to doubling performance every 18 months.”

The PSC1000 also supports the C and FORTH languages, and is available at less than 0 per unit for high-volume purchases. It comes in a 5-volt and 3.3-volt version.

Java certification center opens in Japan

System Solution opened a licensing center in Japan in early February. The Center, in alliance with KeyLabs, will provide 100% Pure Java certification to Japanese versions of Java apps.

System Solution is a joint venture of several software firms, an industry group, and the Tochigi Prefectural Government. It was created as a result of the decision that the local market needed an institution to evaluate and grant licenses to qualified software programmers; particularly as competition heats up to develop Java-based software in Japan.

System Solution charges 200,000 yen to evaluate a software title; it plans to certify one hundred titles in its first year.

Sun chooses Valtech as the Java center for object reality consulting services in the U.K.

Sun and Valtech Ltd. have established the Authorized Java Center for Object Reality Consulting Services in London. The Java Center will provide clients with consulting and training to design and integrate Java/CORBA technologies into existing architectures.

Valtech will offer a five-step program to help businesses migrate to Java enterprise computing. The program includes:

  • Technical seminars, demonstrations, and case studies so businesses can investigate the “whys” of moving to a Java environment
  • Consulting services to help draw up an incremental migration plan for clients
  • Consulting (and a three-day course on Java Enterprise Architectures) to teach customers how to select the right technology for their applications
  • Design and application-development services to aid customers in building business apps
  • Future planning for the organization management, including how to re-skill employees

Java Lobby approaches Microsoft

Java Lobby president Rick Ross issued an open letter to members during the first week of February, urging the lobby’s 12,000 members to let Microsoft know they want it to support Netscape’s upcoming Open Java API in Internet Explorer 4.0.

In the letter, Ross insisted that Open Java API (OJAPI) support would “guarantee Java compatibility between the major Web browsers” and that he would reconsider his “objections to Internet Explorer” should MS comply. He added, “If Microsoft begins to work cooperatively with us, then we must regard their cooperation favorably and give them due credit. Microsoft may desire to have a healthy relationship with the Java developer community after all, and it serves no one’s interests for us to alienate or exclude them.” (OJAPI, which would let customers use any Java VM, is scheduled for Communicator 5, in alpha testing now.)

Microsoft group program manager Charles Fitzgerald brushed past the letter by saying, “The interfaces to allow any application to call the operating system’s virtual machine have been available since 1996 on most major operating systems. People should do their homework before calling on vendors to reinvent the wheel. We’d be delighted to see Netscape exploit the Microsoft virtual machine — it’s the fastest implementation of Java, offers the richest set of browser-related features, and it is already on every Windows system.” He added that he has received no e-mail messages from lobby members.

Somewhat quiet in recent weeks, the Sun/Microsoft dispute has taken another turn. Microsoft filed a brief on February 6 that argues that an earlier licensing contract with Sun prevents Sun from trying to take the Java logo off Microsoft products. (The Sun motion to temporarily halt Microsoft from displaying the Java logo is still pending.)

The filing is under seal and unavailable to the press. Sun is scheduled to respond the week of February 9, and the hearing is scheduled for February 27 in San Jose.

Sybase Java DB connectivity software get enhanced Java security

Sybase announced jConnect for Java Database Connectivity 3.0, a version of its Java database connectivity software that includes enhanced security for Java applets.

jConnect for JDBC 3.0, a JDBC driver for access to database information from Java applications, supports secure access by Java applets or applications to data in Web-based or traditional client-server environments. Added security is provided by supporting the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol for data encryption and applet authentication. And performance has been increased by 50 percent.

On JDBC 3.0, jConnect supports platforms running a Java VM 1.1 or higher and Java-enabled browsers and servers. The Enterprise version comes in at ,995 per server.

NetDynamics 4.0 will support COM and MS-Java

NetDynamics officials announced that the upcoming NetDynamics 4.0, the company’s enterprise development system, will support Microsoft’s Java VM, as well as Windows NT Server and the component object model (COM). Microsoft officials hope this will help to give the company a foothold in the enterprise market, following its recent strategy of advancing NT into the enterprise by striking deals with Digital, Unisys, HP, and Amdahl.

Obviously without considering the incompatibilities between Microsoft’s Java VM and the standard version of Java, NetDynamics CEO and president Zack Rinat commented, “We realized that customers wanted even broader and more extensible solutions to run ‘Net-native business applications without being restricted by the industry’s standards wars. This agreement will help us further meet our corporate customers’ demands for more transparent, end-to-end enterprise solutions.”

NetDynamics 4.0 should ship in Q3 ’98.

IBM OS/390 JDK 1.1.1 gets better JIT compiler

The newest OS/390 JDK 1.1.1 code port, released on February 3, includes an improved just-in-time (JIT) compiler and performance improvements to the main code.

Java for OS/390 runs under OS/390’s Unix Services (known as OS/390 OpenEdition). With OS/390, users with get more than 1,100 Unix interfaces or services.

Developers will need to re-register to get this GA-level OS/390 code.

AS/400 and Java roundup

IBM announced the AS/400 Developer Kit for Java, a no-cost tool designed to help developers produce Java applets and full-scale applications for AS/400. The kit includes a set of development tools, help files, and documentation for Java programmers.

The company also introduced the AS/400 Toolbox for Java, software that enables Java applets and applications to easily access AS/400 data. The toolbox is a collection of classes that represent AS/400 data, providing familiar AS/400 client/server program interfaces for Java programs.

IBM is including the AS/400 Developer Kit for Java and the AS/400 Java Toolbox for Java with every OS/400 4.2 operating system. Both of these products are delivered with AS/400e series servers.

Developers can read a whitepaper, “An Overview of Java for the AS/400 System,” that discusses what Java is and why it is a key piece of the application development strategy for the AS/400 system.

Symantec’s Visual Café for Java 2.5 upgrade

Symantec announced Visual Café for Java 2.5, an upgrade to the VCJ 2.0 development environment. Features in version 2.5 include:

  • The dbANYWHERE Middleware Server with a per-seat development and deployment license that delivers unlimited connectivity to Oracle, Sybase, and Informix databases, and ODBC connections to more than 40 databases

  • The Customizable User Interface, a collection of enhancements to Visual Café’s user interface. These enhancements include window docking, the View menu, new window commands, workbook tabs, and the Multiple Document Interface (which creates a workspace frame within Visual Café to allow users to dock 10 specific windows along any one of the frames edges)

  • An enhanced JDBC Beans Creation Wizard

  • A new, even faster compiler, the JIT 3.0

  • The ability to turn automatic code generation on and off

  • The ability to run the debugger from Communicator 4.0 and Internet Explorer 4.0

  • A JavaBeans Wizard that makes it easy to create custom JavaBeans

Through February 28, 1998, if you purchase VCJ 2.0 (Database Development Ed.) for Win95/NT (at 00) anywhere, you can upgrade to version 2.5 for free. After that, it will cost 00. Also, Symantec is offering an additional 0 rebate.

IBM VisualAge for Java adds new JavaBeans components

The new release of IBM’s VisualAge for Java development platform includes new JavaBean widgets, developed by IBM business partners.

The JavaBean widgets were developed by members of the VisualAge Object Connection program, a program to aid ISVs in building components and applications that work with VisualAge app-development tools. The new beans include:

  • JClass BWT — Provides more than 20 GUI components for Java development, featuring mixed font, multi-color text, image, and URL support. Developed by KL Group

  • BeanStreet Textfields — Lets developers easily add masked and/or context-sensitive text fields to applications or applets without writing code. Developed by ABCS

  • jKit/Grid and jKit/Go — Provide Java classes for grids, tables, and a framework for building direct manipulation graphics interface. Developed by ObjectShare

The beans can also be downloaded.

Caterpillar integrates CST Jacada into dealer network

CST has inked a deal with Caterpillar Inc. to integrate Java products with Caterpillar’s host-based Dealer Business System (DBS) applications.

In the deal, Caterpillar licensed the CST Jacada product line to automate the generation and maintenance of Java clients for some parts of Caterpillar’s existing AS/400-based DBS applications. Jacada will also help integrate the DBS applications with new Java applications being created for Caterpillar’s computerized dealer information network.

Caterpillar officials decided to develop a new DBS to enhance its functionality, integration, and graphical access. CST marketing VP David Holmes said, “Using Jacada, Caterpillar can more easily create and maintain a network computing solution for [its] mission-critical dealer applications integrating the Java-based graphical clients of [its] AS/400 applications with [its] new Java initiatives.”

W3apps releases Java OODB named Jeevan

W3apps announced Jeevan, a platform-independent, extensible, and easy-to-use object-oriented Java database.

With the all-Java Jeevan, developers can create a database to store and retrieve Java objects with little programming. Jeevan can be scaled for embedded systems, all the way up to large distributed systems. It features a powerful object-search facility, and maintenance releases are free and unlimited.

Developers can get a runtime version of Jeevan (which requires Java 1.1.4 or later) that demonstrates the product’s features from the company’s Web site.

JavaSoft licenses NetResults-CD from Innotech

JavaSoft announced that it has licensed Innotech’s NetResults-CD, the company’s Java, CD-ROM, search and index tool, for JavaSoft products.

With NetResults-CD, users can access a CD-ROM using any Java-enabled browser. The software lets users create index and search interfaces on the CD. It allows simultaneous searching of the CD and the publisher’s Web site, creating a data-exchange pathway between the two. It also features an automatic boot and install capability.

JavaSoft product marketing director David Spenhoff said, “Innotech’s NetResults-CD solution is a wonderful application of 100% Pure Java Technology — enabling products to deliver cross-platform, full-text searching from any browser whether the client is online or offline.”

KL Group’s JProbe Profiler finds performance problems

KL Group announced JProbe Profiler, a graphical hierarchical profiler that lets Java developers conduct complex code analysis on Java applets and applications.

JProbe, based on a standard Java VM licensed from JavaSoft, can accurately measure anything to do with Java program execution from within the JVM, making it easy analyze an application’s performance and identify bottlenecks. JProbe can then be used to verify the correction the developer makes to the app/applet. And JProbe can profile apps and applets even if they aren’t 100 percent Java, allowing developers to profile such apps as a full-blown CORBA-enabled application with database connectivity.

In real time, JProbe can discover such performance pitfalls as:

  • Inefficient algorithms
  • I/O blockage
  • Excessive method calling
  • Excessive object creation
  • Excessive thread creation
  • Inefficient memory usage
  • Unwanted memory references (called memory leak in C++)

Additionally, JProbe can:

  • Graphically view memory usage for any Java program while it’s running
  • Graphically view instance counts of each object for any Java program while it’s running
  • Use the Advanced Source Code display to determine how much time is used and how many objects are created, by each line of source code
  • Profile both Java applications or Java applets

The software also features an advanced call graph interface.

JProbe, which runs only on a Pentium/NT-based system, will be available in March 1998 for a cost of 99.

Ahpah debuts SourceAgain Java decompiler

Ahpah Software debuted SourceAgain Professional, a Java decompiler that includes debugging information in the decompiled files.

Using flow-analysis techniques, SourceAgain Pro lets developers working with third-party Java class libraries detect, analyze, and repair code errors, then recompile Java class bytecode back into Java source code. And with Ahpah technology, SourceAgain Pro lets developers add debugging information to recompiled code.

The software runs on PCs or Unix workstations, and can work with existing IDEs. It costs 9 and is expected to ship by the end of March 1998.

Novita and Intercom team to release Japanese Java apps

Novita Communications (U.S.) and Intercom Inc. (Japan) have decided to team up to develop and release Japanese-language versions of Java-based applications designed for distributed networks.

Novita is in charge of developing the software tools, such as Internet browsers, e-mail servers, file-transfer systems, and photo-editing apps. The first tool the companies have planned is Java-based e-mail software that combines animation, picture, voice, and text in a single e-mail missive. The date for this release is April 1998 and the cost is expected to be about 9,000 yen (3).

Intercom is in charge of distributing the products in the Japanese market. It will be providing Japanese appliance firms with the upcoming software on an OEM basis.

The companies plan to target sales at manufacturers of Internet TVs, set-top boxes, car navigation systems, and videophones.

Data General adds Java to Aviion Numa servers

Data General Corporation announced a strategic agreement with Sun to support Java on DG/UX, Data General’s Unix operating system.

Data General Unix unit VP Linda Mentzer said, “The support of Java technology is one of the key investments we are making in the DG/UX operating system which powers our highly successful Aviion Numa servers. Java is one of today’s most important software development technologies. The promise of ‘write once, run anywhere’ is extremely appealing to our customers because of the potential savings in time, money, and people resources.”

Data General plans to make JDK 1.1 support (which will include the Java Application Environment, Java VM, classes, compiler, debugger, etc.) available for DG/UX 4.20 within 30 days. It will be free for DG’s DG/UX customers over the Web.

  • https://www.dg.com/numaliine/
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