Sun shipped Version 5.5 of its NetBeans development environment in early November, giving the IDE -- which is certainly the most important competitor to Eclipse -- some significant and unique enterprise capabilities beyond those of the 5.0 release. This version is the first Java IDE to so fully support Java EE 5, the replacement specification for J2EE. In addition to built-in API support, code completion, and tu Java’s new, simplified persistence layer gets new wizards for full CRUD code generation, as well as the ability to generate Java entity classes directly from existing database schemas. There’s similar support for Web services: Wizards and specific IDE capabilities that enable extensive use of annotations deliver what Java enterprise developers have long been waiting for — a simpler development model with native tools to support it.Along with Version 5.5, Sun simultaneously released a set of add-on packs that extend NetBeans in new directions. The Enterprise pack, for example, has XML schema tools, a WSDL editor, and an advanced BPEL 2.0 editor (see screenshot) that facilitates Web services orchestration. Another pack extends NetBeans’ reach in the mobile market by providing support for SVG graphics on handheld devices and for an increased number of mobile device platforms.Finally, Sun also released a C/C++ pack update. It replaces Sun’s earlier cpp and cpplite products and brings C/C++ development to Windows, Linux, and Solaris. Although this pack is technically a preview (it’s at Beta 3), I found it a substantial, portable platform for developing, debugging, and building C and C++ applications. NetBeans 5.5 Available: Now Pricing: Free Verdict: NetBeans has the most complete support for Java EE 5 of the open-source Java IDEs. It’s an impressive collection of tools; developers contemplating enterprise Java applications should evaluate NetBeans before any other products. It is likely all they will need. Technology Industry