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JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
At 1:58 PM on Jan 18, 2008, Geertjan wrote:
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JBuilder received the IDE InfoWorld Technology of Year Award 2008. What were the main reasons for this award? What features did InfoWorld highlight?
In a side-by-side comparison with other Java IDEs that included Sun NetBeans and IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere, InfoWorld evaluated each IDE on the basis of features, ease-of-use, integration, performance, and value. With an overall score of 8.6, InfoWorld gave top marks to JBuilder 2007.
It cited as the bottom line in its evaluation of JBuilder 2007, “JBuilder 2007 is a smooth, well-designed, capable IDE with many innovative features. It offers excellent metrics and code inspection plus stellar team integration tools. The Eclipse-based IDE runs on Windows, Red Hat Linux, or OS X, and it works seamlessly with numerous open-source tools, Java servers, and databases.”
JBuilder 2007 scored particularly high in the categories of UML diagrams, support for Java SE 6, code metrics, Java EE server support, and collaboration features:
Are these features new? What is their background?
While not all of the features are new in and of themselves, JBuilder 2007 is essentially an entirely new product, at least at the core level. With the JBuilder 2007 release we have completely re-written JBuilder to take advantage of the Eclipse framework and add value in the form of plug-ins and modules.
The "big three" IDEs, or at least, the ones one hears most about, are IntelliJ, Eclipse, and NetBeans IDE. In contrast, JBuilder seems to have been very quiet. What's the reason for that?
CodeGear adopted a business model and product strategy to deliver a world class, enterprise-ready Java development environment on top of an open source framework. We wanted to deliver an integrated development environment that was not biased to any one application server, platform, or middleware stack, or served as a “hook” for a particular middleware vendor, but was focused on making developers productive. To deliver on this new strategy, and retain our extremely loyal following of existing customers, we had to put our heads down and focus on the task at hand. We started from a clean sheet of paper, with the intention of delivering innovation to the Java developer community. We believe this award signals a growing developer and market endorsement and that we are clearly on the right track.
We expect you will hear a lot more about JBuilder in 2008. We are building on the product with a new feature-set that will enable developers to be even more productive, simplifying their work and allowing them to focus on the fun and creative rather than getting bogged down with the dull and monotonous.
What are two or three main reasons why one should consider JBuilder over another IDE?
We have best-in-class features for developers, including:
JBuilder isn't open source and it isn't free. Is this going to change in the near or distant future?
We’re very committed to the success of open source software, and to our customers’ success in using open source software. We are active in Eclipse.org, and have several engineers as committers on various projects. We have also just sponsored the development of a new Ruby debugger that we’re contributing back to open source. Last year we contributed our Mylar (nee Mylin) Xplanner connector; this was the #1 feature request for the Mylar team at the time.
We also offer Turbo JBuilder 2007, which is a free, turnkey, Eclipse-based Java IDE that provides a fundamental Eclipse development environment. It can easily be enhanced with tools such as our JGear plug-ins to add graphical RAD productivity, code performance profiling and debugging, and team collaboration features as well.
And customers can upgrade to JBuilder Professional and JBuilder Enterprise, which include features such as performance tuning and optimization based on Optimizeit, LiveSource UML Modeling, industry-leading EJB and Web Service tools, and an innovative collaboration framework called TeamInsight.
Where does JBuilder fit in with CodeGear's strategy?
JBuilder is core to the CodeGear strategy. We have Delphi and C++Builder for RAD native code development on the Windows platform. They are extremely popular with developers of packaged software because of the rapid development cycles, and the ability to deliver a high performance binary. We also have new products for PHP (Delphi for PHP) and Ruby on Rails (3rdRail) development.
JBuilder is our enterprise-class Java development environment, it has the features necessary to tackle complex legacy development jobs, and the agility to rapidly create new applications based on the latest frameworks and JSRs.
What are the future development plans for JBuilder?
While we’re extremely proud of the Java IDE of the Year Award and other industry endorsement we’ve gotten this year, we’re certainly not resting on our laurels. We plan to incorporate several new features into the next release of the product including a new Swing-based GUI designer.
We’re also working on a new feature for the next release which will introduce a new application-driven development paradigm. The concept, which we’ve internally called “Application Factories,” goes beyond components and wizards to help developers realize productivity gains, and provides an extremely innovative platform for reusing developer and domain knowledge. Developers field testing it and others who’ve seen a preview are really excited about what it can do for them.
Anything else you want to share with JavaLobby readers?
Visit the JBuilder page on codegear.com, here , for more information on JBuilder 2007 or to download your free trial copy.
Learn how JBuilder saves time and money over other Eclipse-based IDE’s in the Cost Xpert Group report available here .
Read how the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has used JBuilder 2007 to meet their application development needs here .
Come by SD West , March 3-7, in Santa Clara, CA and at EclipseCon March 17-20 also in Santa Clara, CA. See a demo of JBuilder, learn more about the “Application Factories”, and meet with our product experts.
13 replies so far (
Post your own)
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
fucking marketing!Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
Funny that the only screenshot of JBuilder here actually says Eclipse SDK.At least this is proof, that mosts leading (and winning) Java IDEs seem based on Eclipse right now.
I have personally predicted that Borland would move away from their own propriatory tools back in 2000(!)
While they refused to confirm this for years, I was right from the beginning.
We'll see, what Oracle makes of another powerful Eclipse IDE (BEA Workshop) and how their Workshop or JDeveloper (a product currently still based on JBuilder 2
I would not say it should take them 7-8 years like it did for Borland
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
Have you even used JDeveloper recentlyRe: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
> Funny that the only screenshot of JBuilder here> actually says Eclipse SDK.
>
That's because JBuilder IS Eclipse with some plugins...
Which is exactly the reason why a LOT of customers have abandoned the product, which probably prompted Borland/Codegear to finally do some marketing and buy themselves an award in an attempt to regain some marketshare.
> At least this is proof, that mosts leading (and
> winning) Java IDEs seem based on Eclipse right now.
> I have personally predicted that Borland would move
> away from their own propriatory tools back in
> 2000(!)
> While they refused to confirm this for years, I was
> right from the beginning.
>
And it cost them dearly. Their own platform was far superior to Eclipse in almost everything, the only reason to move to an Eclipse based platform was that that would reduce development cost by offloading it on volunteers.
> We'll see, what Oracle makes of another powerful
> Eclipse IDE (BEA Workshop) and how their Workshop or
> JDeveloper (a product currently still based on
> JBuilder 2
> such competitions in the next few months?
> I would not say it should take them 7-8 years like it
> did for Borland ;-)
JDeveloper has been completely rewritten several years ago.
It bears the same resemblence to JB2 that does JB2005, iow almost none.
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
> fucking marketing!Fu**ing bad manners!
Do you know for a fact that there will not be an IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans and Eclispe interview coming soon?
Besides, it is written by a Javalobby editor.
MiG Java Calendar Component, MiG Layout for Swing/SWT (Vote -> JDK)
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
> Funny that the only screenshot of JBuilder here> actually says Eclipse SDK.
Good catch...
Though, we all agree that JBuilder = Eclipse + some plugins, why not atleast the name "JBuilder" in the title bar?
And this interview is nothing but a silly marketing strategy.
We are hearing lots of news about Eclipse, NetBeans and Intellij IDEA because each of them is innovative in their own way. It's not their marketing team make the news all the time but many independent users as well.
So let JBuilder and the users who are using it speak about it in 2008.
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
Be nice, people. And this isn't a marketing strategy. This is me interviewing someone from JBuilder, to find out where it's going and what it's plans are, and so on. It's interesting to hear, for example, about things like "Application Factories".Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
> Be nice, people. And this isn't a marketing strategy.> This is me interviewing someone from JBuilder, to
> find out where it's going and what it's plans are,
> and so on.
'Interviewing' company representatives is marketing when the story contains zero/nada/null/etc.. in terms of critique.
Stories like these need more meat on the bones. You know (and everybody else knows) that there're enough awards for each company to choose from. So instead of letting the interviewee repeat his marketing mantra, why not put a bit more effort on finding some interesting details behind the scenes?
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
Dunno about you, but this question is actually pretty critical: "The "big three" IDEs, or at least, the ones one hears most about, are IntelliJ, Eclipse, and NetBeans IDE. In contrast, JBuilder seems to have been very quiet. What's the reason for that?"That question could be phrased in a different way, in a way that would be quite hostile. But just because it isn't hostile, doesn't mean that it isn't critical...
PS: And this question is critical as well, actually: "JBuilder isn't open source and it isn't free. Is this going to change in the near or distant future?"
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
> > Funny that the only screenshot of JBuilder here> > actually says Eclipse SDK.
> That's because JBuilder IS Eclipse with some
> plugins...
Well, Rational Application Developer 7.0 says "Java - Rational Application Developer" in the title. I am totally ignorant about development of Eclipse-based IDEs, but I'd expect basic branding changes like this to be easy.
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
Once upon a time there was in Spain a TV journalist - in charge of all news programmes of the public TV no less- that interviewed the then-president Aznar. One of the questions he asked was worded something like:"During your presidency, Spain has seen splendid economic growth and enjoyed wide international recognition. What do you think about this?"
With journalists like him, I guess there's no need for propaganda any more.
This Codegear "interview" is of those ones that seems to be done "in reverse": Tell me the marketing BS you want to dump, and I'll fill the questions.
A real interview would be much more aggressive and to the point, without letting the subject ramble about "world-class enterprise-ready foo-bar buzzword buzzword IDE". Actually, I believe any answer targeted at a technical audience (as the readers of javalobby are) containing this sort of marketing rubbish is a display of disrespect. I'm not interested in how many zero information epithets can someone put in front of a noun, and I'm definitely not a Dilbert's boss type. This sort of answers leave me completely unimpressed.
An example:
"...which delivers memory and CPU profiling and debugging to help ensure error free code." Sure... now I know why OptimizeIt is so wonderful - it delivers debugging, which helps ensure error free code. Who on Earth would have thought that? :-/
While the interviewer cannot control what the subject says, it's his responsibility to ask the appropriate follow ups and not let this sort of marketspeak stand.
If there are creativity problems in thinking about *useful* questions, then you can adopt the approach that many other use : let the readers provide the questions, then pick the most interesting/difficult ones.
I disagree with the wording of the first person who replied to the interview ("fu**ing marketing), but I agree that the following are all true for this interview:
a) marketing
b) contains zero interesting information that is not already present in marketing brochures publicly available.
c) completely complacent, with zero critical or difficult questions.
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
> It's interesting to hear, for example,> about things like "Application Factories".
... which of course, are things that go "beyond components and wizards to help developers realize productivity gains, and provides an extremely innovative platform for reusing developer and domain knowledge" .
Thanks to this statement, we now know perfectly well what Application Factories are. :-/
Re: JBuilder: InfoWorld's Java IDE of the Year
Fair enough. I could have been more critical and I could have followed up some of the responses with questions for specifics. Despite that, believe me when I say that I have no personal interest whatsoever in making JBuilder look good.