Sun Delivers Java WorkShop, First Web-Based Java Development Environment

Sun Delivers Java WorkShop, First Web-Based Java Development Environment

Supports Solaris and Microsoft Windows, Free Trial on Web

New York, NY - March 26, 1996 -For companies developing intra/Internet applications, Sun Microsystems, Inc. today introduced Java ™ WorkShop ™ 1.0, the premier, multi-platform development tool for the Internet. Java WorkShop, written entirely in the Java language, is the first complete Java development environment in the marketplace today. Trial beta version of Java WorkShop can be downloaded today (http://www.sun.com/workshop/java/) from Sun's homepage and product can be ordered immediately.

Additionally, Sun today introduced a superset product, SunSoft Internet WorkShop ™, a complete development environment for building both universal client and network server applications for mission-critical enterprise-wide deployment. SunSoft Internet WorkShop includes the company's Java WorkShop, SunSoft Visual WorkShop ™ for C++ and NEO ™ development tools.

"The release of SunSoft's Java WorkShop instantly renders all other application development tools technically obsolete," according to Evan Quinn, Research Manager, International Data Corporation.

"Sun created Java to be the most flexible programming language for the networked age and it's natural that we provide the best Java-based development tools," said Larry Weber, vice president and general manager, Developer Products, SunSoft, Inc., a business unit of Sun Microsystems. "Java WorkShop provides all the necessary tools to easily develop interactive applets using the Java language and meets the needs and skill sets of today's new developer community -- a combination of authors, developers, and publishers."

Java WorkShop: Bringing the Web to Life

Available on SunSoft's Solaris™ operating environment and the Microsoft Windows platforms, Java WorkShop allows developers to design, test, deploy, and maintain Java applications - from dynamic, animated home pages to sophisticated, interactive business applications - with speed and simplicity. Powerful features include:

Intuitive Web browser-based interface which is easy to use and expands the developer's environment to encompass the Web.
Integrated editor, compiler, and debugger which speeds Java development.
Innovative Web component repository promotes reuse to improve quality and reduce time to market.
Multiplatform to enable development on user's choice of platform and deployment everywhere.

SunSoft Internet WorkShop: Comprehensive Development Environment

Providing a comprehensive development environment for both the client and server, the SunSoft Internet WorkShop includes Java WorkShop for universal client development, and SunSoft Visual WorkShop and NEO development tools for scalable server development. NEO is the company's distributed object application environment. With SunSoft Internet WorkShop, for example, users can develop zero-administration applications for any client and create scalable, manageable n-tier server applications. In addition, SunSoft Internet WorkShop can link to a company's existing information assets.

SunSoft Internet WorkShop takes legacy corporate applications and turns them into web-ready services. Future Directions

Today Sun also outlined its near-term direction to expand the capabilities of the Java WorkShop development environment. According to Weber, the next release will include a visual Java GUI builder; an integrated What You See Is What You Get [WYSIWYG] HTML editor that will ease publication of applets; support for the Apple Macintosh platform; and a Java to C++ gateway that will provide Java developers with easy access to existing code written in C++.

"We are working with key partners to enhance the next release of Java WorkShop," said Weber. "The Java to C++ gateway is the joint effort between Sun and ILOG; similarly, Sun's relationship with Active Software will result in the inclusion of the Visual Java technology the next release."

Pricing and Availability

Java WorkShop can be ordered immediately and has a list price of US$295 per user. Java WorkShop is supported on Solaris 2.4 or greater (SPARC ™ or Intel), and Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.5.1 platforms. SunSoft Internet WorkShop will be available in the third quarter 1996.

Java WorkShop trial beta version can be downloaded today at http://www.sun.com/workshop/java/; a 30-day trial period of the final shipping product will be downloadable mid-April 1996. Product delivery - on CD-ROM -is scheduled for May 1996. For more information call US 1-800-786-7638 or international 1-512-434-1511.

With annual revenues of more than $6 billion, Sun Microsystems, Inc. provides products and services that enable customers to build and maintain open network computing environments including private corporate intranets and the public Internet. Widely recognized as a proponent of open standards, the company is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of products, technologies and services for commercial and technical computing. Sun's SPARCTM workstations, multiprocessing servers, SPARC microprocessors, Solaris operating software and ISO-certified service organization each rank No. 1 in the UNIX industry. JavaTM, Sun's platform-independent programming language, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of programming for complex networks. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, Java, Java WorkShop, SunSoft Internet WorkShop, SunSoft Visual WorkShop, and NEO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd.

Press announcements and other information about Sun Microsystems are available on the Internet via the World Wide Web using a tool such as Netscape or NCSA Mosaic. Type http://www.sun.com at the URL prompt

SunSoft Adopts GUI Builder for Java from Active Software for SunSoft Java WorkShop

Shared Technology Agreement Will Provide Visual GUI Builder for SunSoft Java WorkShop Product; Sets Standard for Visual Java Development

Menlo Park, Calif. - March 26, 1996 - SunSoft, Inc., the Internet software company, today announced a technology alliance with Active Software, a privately-held Mountain View, California company that provides software for distributed Internet and Intranet applications. As part of this agreement, Active Software's Graphical User Interface ("GUI") builder for Java ™ will be incorporated into SunSoft's Java WorkShop ™, an integrated Web-centric development tool for new media and client/server developers. This GUI builder technology will form the basis of SunSoft's Visual Java ™ product.

The GUI builder will accelerate the development of sophisticated user interfaces. Written completely in the Java language, the GUI builder supports all Abstract Windowing Toolkit ("AWT") widgets. It is a significant addition to SunSoft's Java WorkShop.

"Our GUI builder is the forerunner of Internet products to be announced by Active Software. Its inclusion in SunSoft's Java WorkShop will make this GUI builder the de facto standard for building Java applications," said Jim Green, chairman, Active Software. "We're poised to revolutionize Internet application integration before year-end."

"Strategic relationships are important to the enhancement of development products and Active Software's technology is an excellent complement to Java WorkShop," said Larry Weber, vice president and general manager, Developer Products, SunSoft, Inc. "We're excited about the relationship with Active Software and the potential for additional collaboration opportunities."

SunSoft's Visual Java product will support a palette of GUI components, allowing designers to utilize prebuilt widgets and include them in their Java applets. The palette is extensible, allowing developers to add custom-built or third-party AWT widgets.

Active Software is a privately-held Mountain View, California company that provides software for distributed Internet and Intranet applications. It was founded in 1995. For more information, contact Active Software on the Internet at http://www.activesw.com/

SunSoft, Inc. is the leading provider of Internet management, access, application development and platform software. SunSoft's products are designed for information technology professionals, systems integrators, value added resellers, and computer manufacturers. Such products are used to deliver Internet, network, and desktop computing systems that improve a company's internal and customer communication. The products are licensed and distributed through computer manufacturers and resellers worldwide. SunSoft is a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, Inc. For more information, contact SunSoft on the Internet at http://www.sun.com/software/.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, SunSoft, the SunSoft logo, Java, Visual Java and Java Workshop are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.