IBM Corp has released a beta of an embedded systems version its VisualAge for Java development tool. It is designed to build embedded Java applications for small and embedded devices and enables developers to debug the applications remotely while they reside on the devices. It is slated to ship in the fourth quarter on Intel x86, MIPS, PowerPC and ARM7100 and on the QNX Inc Neutrino real-time operating systems. Big Blue reckons it is first to the table with a complete tool set for developing embedded Java applications.
The development environment will feature specialized class libraries and a Java virtual machine developed by IBM. The company says it will run it through Sun Microsystems Inc’s Java test suites, but Rod Smith, IBM’s Java chief technology officer says the suites are not ready yet. He calls the JVM, eJava- compliant, but says, our intention is to be compliant, conscious of the current confusion over Sun’s Java standardization plans. However, he says it is not IBM’s intention to be compliant with Hewlett-Packard Co’s rival embedded JVM.
IBM says the tool will enable developers to work on a virtual representation of the embedded device or system and execute applications prior to porting them to the physical device. They can then be debugged remotely. The runtime components can be as small as 27k, says IBM. The suite also includes a set of reusable components that enable the devices and systems to be plugged into legacy systems. IBM will include connectors to DB2, CICS, MQ and WebSphere and it is hoping to persuade ISVs to develop other components.
