Sun upgrades open source

Sun Microsystems has unveiled the second major version of its GlassFish open source application server, adding an enterprise-class feature like clustering and central administration to the Java EE 5-based software, says Computerworld.

GlassFish V2, which is available now, was built to provide companies with an open source option for high-end application servers, says John Clingan, Sun's application server group product manager.

"With GlassFish V2, we're offering advanced features required for production uses, such as clustering and advanced and centralised administration," he said. "From a single point of control, administrators can grow or shrink the size of a cluster. We have best-in-class performance."

CodeGear has begun shipping a new integrated development environment (IDE) for Ruby on Rails that aims to ease the development of Web applications based on the Ruby programming language, reports Computerworld.

Michael Swindell, VP of product and strategy at the Borland Software subsidiary, contended that the new 3rdRail tool set is the first development environment built from the ground up to build Rails applications.

"We're seeing some interest from teams that were previously using enterprise JavaBeans," he said. "The primary driver from the Java side is the complexity of Java applications and J2EE. It is very expensive and complex. We've been hearing demand from customers for an easier Java than Java."

The University of the Philippines Information Technology Training Centre (UPITTC) has received P4.5 million worth of scholarship grants from the Commission on Higher Education, to be used for Java training scholarships, according to The Inquirer.

Only 125 participants will be accommodated for the initial Java training. The participants should be new graduates or graduating students in computer-related or IT courses, as well as electronics and communications engineering, and mining and metallurgical engineering.

UPITTC programme director Jaime Caro said the programme is aimed at increasing the pool of Java programmers, which he said has been in great demand, even from local companies.