Microsoft takes wraps off Visual J++ 6.0

Los Angeles (03/11/98) — As expected, Microsoft Corp. put the moves on Java at Internet World today with the release of a beta of Visual J++ 6.0, its development tool that aims to more closely wed the programming language to the company’s Windows operating system.

In the face of criticism that it was trying to co-opt Java in hopes of heading off the language’s use as a competitor to Windows. Microsoft also released its Windows Foundation Classes (WFCs), client and server-side Java class libraries that will replace the current client-side Application Foundation Classes (AFCs) and the company’s planned, but unreleased Enterprise AFCs.

“What Microsoft has done is introduced the WFCs which is the Microsoft Foundation Classes for Java. This gives them blazingly fast GUIs,” said Anne Thomas, editor in chief for Distributed Computing Monitor at Patricia Seybold Group, a consulting firm in Boston. “There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. It will only encourage the use of Java as a programming language.” (Ms. Thomas provides clarification regarding her stance on the WFC in the JavaWorld Letters to the Editor.)

Microsoft’s ongoing legal fight with Java inventor Sun Microsystems Inc. has highlighted the company’s approach to the programming language, heightening developer interest in the upgrade to Visual J++.

The upgrade — numbered as Version 6.0 to bring it in line with Microsoft’s other development tools in the Visual Studio suite — includes a Visual Basic-like front-end with such ease-of-use features as IntelliSense code-completion, and includes tighter links to the Windows operating system.

While Visual J++ 6.0 will allow developers to generate cross-platform Java applications, clearly Windows is the focus.

“There is a set of people who are excited about running Java cross-platform, but this investment isn’t about that. If you’re not interested in running Java on Windows, then this probably isn’t the tool for you,” said Microsoft product manager Charles Fitzgerald. “However, it doesn’t preclude you from writing cross-platform Java.”

Other features include visual forms designer, the ability to embed notes into code and component base programming. With Version 6.0, developers can create COM objects as well as Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) objects or MSMQ objects.

Visual J++ 6.0 is slated to enter beta testing in April, and for general release this summer.

According to Microsoft, the WFCs will help developers create three-tier client-server applications, quickly build applications that have Visual Basic-like interfaces, and rapidly deploy applications across networks.

Microsoft also lined up support for Visual J++ 6.0.

Fujitsu Software, Seagate Crystal, and other third-party vendors said they will support and use Visual J++ 6.0, as well as Windows Foundation Classes for Java that also were announced by Microsoft.

“A lot of people have been kicking the tires of Java for a while, but have not been able to take it anywhere,” said Aris Buinevicius, co-founder of Morrisville, N.C.-based Stingray Software, which plans to use the WFCs in its Objective tool kit. “A lot of these developers have been waiting for the WFC functionality.”

Intel Corp. and a host of smaller software and technology vendors also are supporting J/Direct, Microsoft’s technology that allows developers to build native Windows-based applications using Java, Microsoft said in one of its series of related announcements today.

Also, Apple Computer Inc. will work with Microsoft to develop Java technologies for Apple’s Macintosh computers. The companies are collaborating on a single Java virtual machine for the Mac OS, which will incorporate Microsoft Java technologies, the companies.

“This collaboration will allow Apple to continue to provide a Java-compatible VM while incorporating additional Microsoft technologies to deliver the best possible Java experience for our customers,” Avie Tevanian, senior vice president of software engineering at Apple Computer, said in a statement.