Informix Enables Fast Java and XML

Informix Corporation, a technology leader in software infrastructure for the i.Economy, announced major enhancements to its Java and XML development tools strategy, which make it much easier for developers to build and deploy multitier, standards based, enterprise applications with Informix databases.

The company introduced the Informix Object Translator, a data integration tool for transparently mapping objects from Java and Visual Basic programs to Informix Foundation.2000 database server, as well as a partnership with Sun on the Forte for Java Community Edition IDE. Informix will add value on top of this IDE for Java developers building applications for Foundation.2000 and Cloudscape database servers, as part of an overall focus on enabling fast and easy Java development.

"We are committed to making it easier for our customers to utilize Foundation.2000 and Cloudscape database servers for high performance Java solutions across the enterprise," says Jeff Fassett, director of product management for Web technologies at Informix. "These announcements bring serious development tools to the table for unleashing the Java capabilities in J/Foundation, our standard Java environment embedded within Foundation.2000, and Cloudscape, our 100% pure Java database." Fassett added that Informix is also working with leading tools vendors on certification and integration of their standard tools with the Informix Internet product line.

Informix Object Translator

Informix Object Translator is a development and runtime tool for multi-tier Web applications serving dynamic content. The front end GUI enables users to visually map Java objects to relational tables without writing code. The runtime component, written entirely in Java, enables these objects to run in a middle tier application server. Informix Object Translator enables developers to build high performance, data-driven Java and Visual Basic applications very quickly. Version 1.0 is being released with Foundation.2000 (v.9.21), the company's high performance, fully extensible data and content management platform for the Internet.

Informix Object Translator version 1.1, due to ship this month, adds support for the saving of XML objects from a Java application to relational tables, as well as the creation of XML objects from existing relational tables. This bidirectional mapping capability makes it easy to represent relational tables as XML objects in data exchange applications, and to store XML objects in the database in content management solutions. These XML capabilities, complemented by Ardent DataStage XML Pack, deliver the core technology and support for building high-end XML data solutions. "We are seeing huge interest in these joint Java/XML capabilities for the development of new data-driven Web applications," said Fassett.

"The new XML functionality that Object Translator 1.1 provides has made it much easier for us to start using Java and XML to build our new applications," says Steve Skinner of CPI Corporation. "It has reduced the amount of Java code we have had to write to be able to read/write XML from/to our Informix databases." Forte for Java Integration Informix is making an important step in the Java IDE market by forging a partnership with Sun's Forte tools unit, and announcing plans to extend the Forte for Java platform. These efforts will result in a tightly integrated development tools suite with Foundation.2000 and Cloudscape database servers, making it easy for developers to write standard Java applications on these platforms.

The initial focus is on the Forte for Java, Community Edition, a standard IDE platform with an open API for plugging in additional functionality. Informix will be adding integration with J/Foundation, the embedded Java environment within Foundation.2000, as well as middle tier application servers and Servlet engines, providing a complete toolset for enterprise Java development across multiple tiers.

"Sun Microsystems is thrilled that Informix is taking a leadership role in providing support for our open source Forte for Java portal," says David Taber, Director of Business Development, Forte Tools, Sun Microsystems. "With Forte for Java Community Edition, we are speeding the rate of development tool innovation in the market and are excited to have Informix providing additional value on top of our core tools environment." Java and XML Java and XML have emerged as the language and data format of the Internet, and Informix is providing the necessary tools and infrastructure to take advantage of these technologies. With the extensive Java and XML support found in Informix Foundation.2000, and the Cloudscape 100 percent Java database, Informix delivers on the need to quickly develop and deploy data-driven Web applications.

With the announcements of the Informix Object Translator and the partnership with Sun's Forte tools unit, developers now have a solid framework on which to base their next generation application development.

About Informix

Informix Software is a technology leader in software infrastructure solutions for the Internet-providing a fast, simple and complete way to bring businesses to the Web. Based in Menlo Park, Calif., Informix is the first and only company to integrate e-commerce and business intelligence on a true Internet infrastructure. The company's highly scalable Web engines, together with its personalized content management, real-time analytics and media asset management capabilities, offer customers a unique competitive advantage. For more information, contact the nearest sales office or visit the Web site at www.informix.com.