Sun tools aimed at Microsoft coders

Sun Microsystems will describe on Wednesday new software designed to make its Java programming tools more popular with smaller businesses.

With "Rave," Sun is trying to match the speed with which programmers can use Microsoft tools such as Visual Studio.Net to create comparatively simple programs for servers, said Rich Green, Sun's vice president of developer platforms. The first version of the software should go on sale in the first half of 2004, he said.

Java has been good for high-powered server applications, but the company realizes it has to catch up to Microsoft when it comes to simpler programs created in smaller companies or at the periphery of larger companies. These "two-tier" server programs are often used to create a Web page on the fly based on information drawn from a separate database server.

As expected, Green will demonstrate the new tool Wednesday at the JavaOne trade show in San Francisco. At the show, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based server seller also plans to tout its

new Java brand and marketing campaign as well as technology improvements for mobile computing devices such as cell phones.

News source: News.com