Sun ships NetBeans, Java Studio tools

Sun Microsystems, seeking to increase the number of developers using Sun software, released on Tuesday two Java development tools: NetBeans 4.0 and Java Studio Enterprise 7.

NetBeans 4.0 adds support for the Java 2 Standard Edition 5.0 desktop application software and is based on the Apache Ant open-source software for assembling programming files during development. The NetBeans update also allows developers to build applications for mobile phones and handheld computers. Java Studio Enterprise 7, which is based on the NetBeans software, adds a modeling tool based, in turn, on the Unified Modeling Language 2.0 standard and collaborative features that allow developers to send messages and share code via Sun's instant messaging software. Until June next year, Sun is making Java Studio Enterprise 7 available for $995 for developers switching from a competitive product. The regular price will be $1,895. Customers that have a $100 per employee yearly license for the Java Enterprise System--the software to run Java programs--can get Java Studio Enterprise 7 for an additional $5 per employee.