Sun Microsystems Previews Free Cross-Platform Java Development Tool; New Forte for Java, Community Edition, Beta Available for Immediate Download - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Dec 13, 1999

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Tuesday announced the Forte for Java, Community Edition, v. 1.0 beta, a cross-platform integrated development environment (IDE) that allows developers to more quickly and cost effectively create Java technology-based applications. Forte for Java, Community Edition, is available for free download for the Solaris Operating Environment, Linux, Windows 98 and Windows NT platforms.

"Sun is putting the building blocks in place for a powerful Java IDE tool suite," said Anne Thomas, senior analyst, Patricia Seybold Group. "The Forte for Java, Community Edition, is based upon leading technology from NetBeans, which is well respected in the Java and Linux development communities."

The Forte for Java, Community Edition, based on the NetBeans' Developer IDE, is the entry level version of Sun's Forte for Java product suite which includes Community, Internet and Enterprise Editions. Forte for Java, Community Edition, is a complete, extensible tool that provides user interface, edit, compile and debug functionality and a complete, open application programming interface (API) that allows developers to create customized plug-in modules.

"Sun is becoming the portal of choice for developers who want to get productive quickly, with more than 50,000 downloads of the Netbeans' IDE since October," said Jon Williams, director of marketing, Internet Application and Performance Tools, Sun Microsystems. "Forte for Java, Community Edition, builds on NetBeans' products by improving performance, enhancing usability and providing customers with an upgrade path as their needs evolve."

The Forte for Java, Community Edition, includes a Java and HTML editor, multi-threaded debugger, object browser and an HTTP server. The software will be demonstrated in Booth no. 911 at the Java Business Conference, December 7-9, in New York. For more information on Forte for Java, Community Edition, please visit http://www.netbeans.com/ffj/community/.> Availability Free versions of Forte for Java, Community Edition, v. 1.0 beta for the Solaris Operating Environment, Linux and Windows 98 and Windows NT platforms are available for immediate download at http://www.netbeans.com/product_dl.html.> The Forte for Java product line provides a scalable Java integrated development environment (IDE) for building distributed .COM applications, from the simplest to the most complex. Users can begin at any of three entry points, and move up to a more powerful version of the IDE as their needs evolve. Forte for Java, Community Edition, provides business developers and individuals with a free, extensible productivity tool. Forte for Java, Internet Edition is for professional developers creating web-enabled applications in full support of the Java 2, Enterprise Edition platform. Forte for Java, Enterprise Edition is for corporate developers and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) building and deploying robust, distributed Java based applications on multiple web and application servers. FMI: http://www.forte.com/product/ffj/. FMI: http://www.sun.com.