News
IBM adds WebLogic link
- By Michael W. Bucken
- April 16, 2003
IBM used the developerWorks conference stage last week to further its efforts to topple BEA Software's application server base with the unveiling of a WebSphere development tool for building, testing and deploying J2EE applications for WebLogic.
Scott Hebner, director of WebSphere infrastructure software at IBM (http://www.ibm.com), told eADT that the addition of the plug-in to the WebSphere Studio development toolset provides WebLogic developers with an option to BEA's (http://www.bea.com) new Workshop package and Borland Software Corp.'s (http://www.borland.com) JBuilder.
Hebner contended that the plug-in was developed in response to customer demand and said IBM expects that its availability can ease transitions from WebLogic to WebSphere. Observers called the move another clash in IBM's campaign to wrest control of the J2EE application server business from pesky BEA.
In another dig at BEA, Hebner declared that the time for best-of-breed application servers like WebLogic has passed. "Integration has trumped best of breed," Hebner said. "Five years ago, customers would buy best-of-breed products and integrate them themselves. Now the focus is on total cost of ownership and they are looking for [vendors] to do the integration."
The plug-in can be downloaded without charge from IBM's developerWorks Web site (http://www.ibm.com/developerworks).
About the Author
Mike Bucken is former Editor-in-Chief of Application Development Trends magazine.