Open-source software gets J2EE nod

The ObjectWeb Consortium announced on Monday that its Java application server, Jonas, has passed the tests needed to get certification for the Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) standard. The move is intended to make the software, which is used to run Java programs, more appealing to corporate developers and customers, who typically favor standards-based software.

Jonas is a "plain vanilla" version of the J2EE specification and has no proprietary features, executives at the French open-source software group said on Monday. The software should be available for download for free in a matter of days, they said. Customers can purchase support and installation services for Jonas from commercial companies, including Linux distributor Red Hat. Jonas is the second open-source Java application server after JBoss to gain the J2EE certification. The Apache open-source foundation is also expected to complete its J2EE-compliant application server, called "Geronimo," in the first half of this year.