Microsoft has unveiled new offerings that help developers using the Eclipse platform take advantage of the new features in Windows 7 and Window Server 2008 R2, and reinforce Java and PHP interoperability with Windows Azure and Microsoft Silverlight.
Microsoft has worked with open source companies Tasktop Technologies for Windows 7 and Window Server 2008 R2, and with Soyatec for Windows Azure and Silverlight, to provide more choice for developers working in heterogeneous computing environments and use a mix of Microsoft and open source technologies.
Microsoft and Tasktop Technologies have initiated a joint project for developing updates to the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE) that will incorporate new features available in Windows 7 and Window Server 2008 R2. It is expected to enhance productivity and user experience of Windows 7 for developers using the Eclipse IDE and to desktop applications built on the Eclipse platform.
The company said that the new Eclipse user experience on Windows 7 will enable developers to take advantage of Windows 7-specific functionality, such as Jump Lists from the redesigned Windows 7 taskbar, which enable quick access to Eclipse-specific actions. The initial work will extend the Eclipse Standard Widget Toolkit to integrate Windows 7 features, such as taskbar display of progress and search widget integration.
Microsoft has also launched a new open source plug-in that gives developers flexibility when using the Eclipse development environment. It offers PHP developers a series of wizards and utilities allowing them to write, debug, configure and deploy PHP applications to Windows Azure. It bundles the existing Windows Azure software development kit (SDK) for PHP into the Eclipse PHP project and includes a Window Azure storage explorer that allows developers to browse data contained into the Windows Azure tables, blobs or queues.
The company has also unveiled a new Windows Azure SDK for Java, which provides tools and resources to help bridge Java developers to Windows Azure. The SDK lets Java developers utilise Windows Azure storage services for storing data, which provides developers simple developments methods when they write web applications.
Microsoft and Soyatec have released version 1.0 of the Eclipse Silverlight plug-in, an open source, cross-platform plug-in for the Eclipse development environment that enables Eclipse developers to build Silverlight rich internet applications.
The Eclipse Tools for Silverlight provides choice and enables interoperability by allowing Eclipse developers to develop code for the Silverlight platform using Eclipse development tool and collaborate with developers working with Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft Expression Studio tools, the company said.
