Testing and modeling platform previewed at Rational conference IBM used the rational Software Development User Conference in Grapevine, Texas, last week to preview upcoming developer tools, providing details about the next major release of the IBM Software Development Platform, dubbed Atlantic.Atlantic focuses on facilities for modeling and testing as well as for remote clients, said Mike Devlin, general manager of Rational software in the IBM software group. Included as part of Atlantic will be a new ClearCase client that enables isolated users to better participate in team-based application development, Devlin said. Currently, remote teams can participate in a development project, but a lone developer in a remote location has difficulty joining in, Devlin said. IBM with the Atlantic release also will expand the number of tools that will enable application development on Linux systems.IBM is boosting its emphasis on the open source Eclipse IDE. “You’ll see a theme of the Eclipse environment as the integration framework that’s really integrating across the whole technology base” for IBM and Rational tools and for other products as well, Devlin said. Announced as part of Atlantic was WebSphere Studio Device Developer 5.7, and three other tools: WebSphere API Toolkit, Workplace Builder, and Workplace Designer.WebSphere Studio Device Developer 5.7 aims to extend enterprise applications onto devices including cell phones, wireless systems, and PCs. Software DevelopmentDevelopment Tools