IBM acquires BuildForge

IBM has purchased one of its developer network members. BuildForge offers an audit software system that helps companies document the creation process of applications from development to deployment. The privately held Texas company was already a Ready for IBM Rational software business partner, developing their products based on the Rational development platform.

"The acquisition marks the latest event in IBM's quest to build an ecosystem of developers that support open standards and open-source technology," Leigh Ann Fowler of IBM's software group said in an e-mail. IBM has been pushing to create synchronized application service packages since last January. The addition of BuildForge strengthens the company's Rational software development category.