March 23, 1998 Borland International, Inc. today announced JBuilder 2, a major new version of its award- winning family of visual development tools for building platform-independent corporate and enterprise applications with the Java programming language. The high-end, flagship version of the product, JBuilder 2 Client/Server Suite, includes support and tight integration for multiple Java Development Kits (JDKs), application deployment, Enterprise JavaBeans, Java Servlets, JFC/Swing components, CORBA and high-productivity coding Wizards.

Borland JBuilder is a family of highly-productive, visual development tools for creating high-performance, platform-independent applications using the Java programming language. JBuilder's scalable, component-based environment is designed for all levels of ``Information Network'' development projects ranging from applets and applications that require networked database connectivity to client/server and distributed, enterprise-class systems.

The JBuilder product family features fast and easy JavaBean component creation, a scalable database architecture, robust visual ``Two-Way'' development tools, and the ability to produce ``100% Pure Java'' platform- independent applications, applets, servlets, and JavaBeans. The product's open environment supports JDK 1.1.x, JDK 1.2, JFC/Swing components, JavaBeans, Enterprise JavaBeans, CORBA, RMI, JDBC and all major corporate database servers.

JBuilder 2 will be available in three versions -- JBuilder 2 Client/Server Suite, JBuilder 2 Professional, and JBuilder 2 Standard. All of the new features described below are included in JBuilder 2 Client/Server Suite.

JBuilder 2 -- For more productive pure-Java business and database application development:

• JDK Switching allows developers to compile and run their applications against any Java Development Kit virtual machine (VM) -- from JDK 1.02 through JDK 1.2, and beyond. Because new features and performance improvements are being delivered frequently by JavaSoft, JBuilder 2 developers will always be able to stay up-to-date with the latest Java enhancements.
• JFC/Swing Component Integration promotes the creation of professional- looking, full-featured, 100% Pure Java user interfaces. In addition, JBuilder 2 includes a set of enhanced JFC components that are fully JDBC data-aware, and leverages the JBuilder DataExpress architecture.
• CodeInsight is a set of high-productivity coding Wizards to assist developers while programming -- allowing them to build more robust applications faster. CodeInsight provides the proper syntax when creating and editing code parameters, variables, properties, methods, events, and highlights invalid data types. CodeInsight is also a useful tool for developers in learning the Java language.
• The Borland Deployment Server for Java allows corporations to safely and reliably deploy their Java applications. Going far beyond simple and restrictive applet distribution, these intranet applications can be centrally- administered, maintained and managed. With the Borland Deployment Server, any full-featured Java application can be accessed from remote clients, which are automatically updated with the latest version of the application and the required Java VM.

JBuilder 2 -- For more scalable, pure-Java distributed application development:

• JBuilder 2 features tighter CORBA integration with VisiBroker 3.2. JBuilder is the only leading Java tool that includes industrial-strength CORBA middleware. For corporations developing enterprise-scale distributed solutions, JBuilder provides a pure-Java development environment seamlessly integrated with the industry's leading object request broker, Borland's VisiBroker. Building, compiling and testing CORBA-based applications is made much easier with JBuilder 2 and VisiBroker. The new JBuilder also offers a high level of integration and support for RMI application development.
• The Enterprise JavaBean Wizard automates the creation of Session and Entity Enterprise JavaBeans, as well as standard Home and Remote interfaces. This allows JBuilder 2 developers to encapsulate their business logic into reusable components -- simplifying the development of large-scale business applications using Java.
• With the Java Servlet Wizard, JBuilder 2 developers can create dynamic, server-side Java applications that integrate with Web servers. ``100% Pure Java'' servlets offer a substantial performance improvement over CGI, and can be used for dynamic Web pages, network communications and multi-tier applications.
• JBuilder 2's pure Java DataStore offers high-performance data caching and persistent storage of data sets, objects and files. The DataStore is ideally suited for disconnected/mobile computing, data synchronisation and small footprint database application.

JBuilder 2 -- For faster and easier pure-JavaBean component development:

• BeanDesigners extend the power of JBuilder's BeansExpress facility for building and customising industry-standard JavaBean components. The new designers enable developers to visually display, add, and edit JavaBean properties, events and methods.
• BeanInsight provides a clear and easy-to-use analysis tool for diagnosing JavaBeans, including information on valid properties, property editors and customisers.
• JBuilder 2 also includes over 200 JavaBeans with source code, the industry's largest library of professional pre-built and third-party components.

Borland JBuilder website - www.borland.com/jbuilder