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Sun bridges the code-content gap

  • Des Lorimer
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Sun last week released Java Studio, the company's much anticipated programming tool designed for non-programmers. Describing the product as "another Java technology milestone", Sun said that the new tool is designed to bridge the gap between code-writing programmers and content creators. Java Studio offers a "live" authoring environment where users can build and test their Java code at the same time. The advantage of this approach, according to Sun, is that it means users do not have to publish or run their Java applications in order to test their designs. Java Studio uses Java Beans to simplify development of applications. The new development tool comes with a palette of 50 reusable Beans offering functions like database connectivity, graphing, multimedia, animation and Email support. According to Sun, Java Studio requires no coding or scripting and it shields users from programming concepts such as event modelling and compiling which are intricately tied to the JDK. In Java Studio, users are able to construct dynamic, network-aware Web pages and applications by clicking and dragging the mouse pointer to link Java Beans components together. Sun has extended its non-programming approach by allowing advanced users to write scripts and use scripting Beans written in Java. The new development tool also allows users to incorporate third-party Java Beans into their applications. Larry Weber, vice president and general manager of Sun's authoring and development tools group, claimed: "Java Studio is extremely easy to use and delivers power and flexibility to the growing number of inventive end users such as web masters, content creators and graphics artists to keep them competitive in the fast-paced Internet age." Java Studio costs $79 (#49) and is available from the Sun Web site at http://shop.sun.com.

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