Microsoft's Java SDK for Team Foundation Server Now Available -- ADTmag

Microsoft's Java SDK for Team Foundation Server Now Available

By Becky Nagel
May 17, 2011

Microsoft on Monday launched a new Team Foundation Server (TFS) software development kit (SDK) for Java, available for download here.

"Now you will be able to extend TFS using Java just as easily as you can with .NET," Microsoft Technical Fellow Brian Harry wrote in a blog post announcing the new SDK. "This is going to enable teams using Team Explorer Everywhere to fully customize their development environment -- in Eclipse or outside."

According to Harry, the Visual Studio ALM team wanted TFS to be an "open platform" toolsince it was originally conceived in 2003. Harry said the company "opened" the source code control, reporting and data collection tool to cross-development in 2009.

Some of the features in the Java SDK include:

Redistributable components
APIs with native code libraries
Code samples for things such as custom controls, check-ins and console applications

As far as licensing is concerned, "We've tried hard to make sure the license is as helpful as possible," Harry wrote. "You can use the SDK in your own applications redistributing the files listed for no charge... There is no requirement that people must have Team Explorer Everywhere installed or even have a license for it -- however, you still need to make sure that anyone who is talking to TFS is licensed to use it (usually through a Client Access License)."

Harry also noted that there are a "few" as-of-yet unnamed ISVs the team has been working with on the SDK, and that those ISVs will also support the new SDK in their products: "Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for news of these new partners," he wrote.

Harry encouraged those with questions about the API to participate in Microsoft's MSDN TFS Eclipse and Cross Platform forum here.

About the Author

Becky Nagel is vice president of AI for 1105 Media, where she specializes in training internal and external customers on maximizing their business potential via a wide variety of generative AI technologies as well as developing cutting-edge AI content and events. She's the author of "ChatGPT Prompt 101 Guide for Business Uses," regularly leads research studies on generative AI business usage, and serves as the director of AI Boardroom, a new resource for C-level executives looking to excel in the AI era. Prior to her current position she was a technical leader for 1105 Media's Web, advertising and production teams as well as editorial director for a suite of enterprise technology publications, including serving as founding editor of PureAI.com. She has 20 years of enterprise technology journalism experience, and regularly speaks and writes about generative AI, AI, edge computing and other cutting-edge technologies. She can be reached at [email protected].