Microsoft Corp yesterday delivered a shot across the bows of Corba object and Java application developers yesterday, describing how it expects Windows application services to be used as COM component object model tools by programmers. For good measure it’s added some new functions to COM as COM+ to make its component architecture more attractive, although it’s not clear how much is pure hype. It’s even dreamed up a new name for Windows application services – Windows DNA, or Distributed interNet Applications architecture – which describes how these services can be exposed as COM objects and integrated into applications for both web and client/server applications. They include components themselves, Dynamic HTML, web browser (Internet Explorer) and server (Internet Server), scripting, transactions, message queuing (Falcon) , security, directory (Active Directory), database, data access, systems management and user interface. It’s attached every conceivable buzz word to DNA it bar the J word – and ActiveX – although it concedes Java will be included in some of its programming products. Microsoft thinks DHTML scripting will enable developers to create applications for multiple platforms, including Unix, without Java or ActiveX code. COM+ is said to include a new data binding service tying object types to database fields, Interceptors will supposedly enable components to redirect their functionality to call other services at runtime rather than being bound to a single implementation of service. They’ll receive and process event information as well as enable other transactions, system monitoring, data access and other distributed services to be hooked in. At its user conference in San Diego, California this week, Microsoft will also give out early versions Windows NT 5.0 which will now ship in the second half of next year, though the workstation version won’t be ready until 1999. Internet Explorer 4.0 is due next week.
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