Software Review
VisualAge for Java 3.0, Enterprise Edition
IBM

Superior code management-the top level of Java programming is what sets IBM VisualAge for Java 3.0 Enterprise Edition apart from the competition. This includes a code repository and team programming, workbench administration with all the tools needed to organize the Java classes; packages, beans, and versions. The stuff not only of enterprise programming but of good Java development practice as a whole.

Let's start with the fact that VisualAge is a repository driven system. A repository for programming is essentially a database that stores code and supplemental material. Instead of using files, the code you work on is deposited into and pulled from the repository. This has advantages for object oriented programming, where classes and their inheritances are easier to track in a database. It is even more valuable for version control and team programming, which is where IBM really puts the repository to use in Team Server.

Because of its many components and in particular the repository, VisualAge is relatively complex and time consuming to set up. Reading manuals and planning are a necessity-don't plunge ahead with this install. VisualAge also likes a comparatively full plate of resources, 650-800 MB of disk space and a minimum of 64 MB RAM (164 MB on a server is recommended), and definitely the more MHz the merrier. The manuals talk in terms of an EMSRV (repository) administrator. This is not so formal as a database administrator, but configuring and maintaining the repository is a task for somebody with network skills and knowledge of a company's programming activity.

Where many other development programs graft on a version control system (usually third-party), IBM has integrated Team Server from the ground up using the repository. The Repository Explorer views and manages the contents of the repository from a programmer's point of view, and as you move more deeply into the Java there is a suite of browsers for projects, packages, classes, interfaces, and methods. Checking code in and out is always accompanied by consistency and relationship tests. This system excels in providing a way to manage the class hierarchy and application framework.

As an integrated development environment (IDE), VisualAge is similar to the competition (e.g. Inprise/Borland jBuilder and Symantec Visual Café). VisualAge uses the multiple window approach, as contrasted to a single programming surface with fixed MDI panes. This gives a programmer maximum freedom to create the workspace. Although it can also quickly lead to visual clutter. For the novice or memory impaired programmer there are a number of SmartGuides (called wizards elsewhere) to help with the general approach to a number of common Java projects (e.g. applets, servlets). Code Assist is available to help fill in the blanks for methods, parameters, and other code constructions. There are lots of nice little touches for programmers such as the Scrapbook where you can place code snippets and execute them on the fly for instant testing of logic. (A feature found long ago in other systems, e.g. Microsoft Visual FoxPro, but nice to see in a compiled Java environment.) VisualAge coding is less automated and intuitive than some other products, but should appeal to Java jockeys.

Java support in VisualAge is solid, if conservative. Where Borland jBuilder is heavily integrated with Java2, VisualAge provides a separate Java2 version on an "Early Adopters" disk. On the other hand, IBM was an early supporter of Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) and still provides the best environment for their construction. This version of VisualAge extends that environment by including a version of IBM WebSphere application server. This creates an on-the-fly testing environment that works well for complex distributed applications.

A persistent complaint about Java has been the lack of first-class debugging tools. We can stop complaining; VisualAge and Visual Café (among others) have produced excellent debuggers. VisualAge in particular is strong in support of distributed debugging that allows you to monitor and debug objects that were not created in VisualAge (a likely occurrence in a distributed environment).

Applications with database access are adequately handled with JDBC in VisualAge. This is not a major point of focus (as it is with jBuilder) however. New features include the ability to create stored procedures in Java for certain SQL database systems and support for SQLJ. A you might expect the Enterprise Edition is loaded with support for big-iron database systems. It comes with Data Access Builders for RMI, C++, SAP R/3, IDL, CICS and generalized JDBC Enterprise Access Builder.

The Enterprise Edition also adds more beef to the server side of Java development. There is a fairly complete environment for creating servlets and this version offers support for Java Server Pages (JSP) using a specialized JSP Development Environment with a JSP Execution Monitor. In addition, Enterprise Toolkits optimize and compile Java for a particular platform (e.g. IBM OS/360, AS/400, Workstations-Windows NT, AIX, OS/2). As you would expect, VisualAge also has good support for Lotus Domino. In areas where Java is most likely to impact the enterprise-on the server, in distributed applications-IBM does a thorough job. If there is a weakness in the package, it is limited support for XML (it does provide an XMI bridge for Rational Rose models) and lukewarm support of CORBA (especially compared to Inprise, which just happens to own and bundle a CORBA broker product).

One of the strengths of VisualAge is IBM's aggressive effort to deploy Java across its product lines and become a champion in the Java development community. Seldom is a product so well attended by a wealth of free, supplementary material. The Enterprise Edition ships with a Tutorial CD on Java Beans programming and a Partners CD (with third-party software). There is also VisualAge Developer Domain (VADD) at www.ibm.com/vadd, one of the better-stocked Java sites.

Overall, other vendors will have a hard time beating IBM. IBM is a leader in the use of the Java language. VisualAge's code repository and team development, state of the art IDE, support for Java2 and Linux, massive support effort (free stuff), business and e-commerce development frameworks, integrated application server, and support for a wide range of IBM systems and software make it a top notch product. IBM's expertise in corporate computing has produced one of, if not the premiere enterprise development environments for Java.

IBM Corporation
Route 100
Somers, NY 10589

Platforms: Linux (technical preview), Solaris, AIX,
 OS/390, Windows NT, Windows 95/98, OS/2 Warp
Requirements: 650 MB disk space, 64 MB RAM is minimum,
 but 164 MB is recommended for EJB development. 

Estimated Street Prices: 
Enterprise Edition, $2,999
Professional Edition,  $149
Entry Edition, Free download

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