The Java Tools Community (JTC) is thought to be moving close to a formal announcement, following behind-the-scenes lobbying by companies including Sun Microsystems Inc.
Sun is working with BEA Systems Inc and Oracle Corp to link their Java IDE’s, presenting a united front against Microsoft Corp’s Visual Studio.NET.
The Java market has suffered in the past from fragmentation in the face of Microsoft. While different Java vendors have build their own IDEs and associated developer communities, Microsoft has instead presented a single IDE that it has driven through funding and marketing to secure Visual Studio’s place against Java.
However, JTC would also potentially stand in opposition to the IBM Corp-backed Eclipse organization, a project that is also building a tools framework for Java. Sun and BEA were last year approached to join Eclipse, but Sun turned down the offer. BEA, meanwhile, has remained silent on its intentions regarding Eclipse.
JTC has been shopped around to a number of companies, including Borland Software Corp in attempt to build backing, according to sources.
Companies reportedly involved or invited to participate include Compuware Corp, SAP AG, Sybase Corp, SAS Institute Inc and Telelogic Corp.
This article is based on material originally produced by ComputerWire.
