As Web sites evolve from static billboards to dynamic business entities, over one million developers, many of whom identify themselves as "scripters," are playing an increasingly important role in Web site building. Scripting languages, because they are more accessible than traditional programming languages, are turning out to be better suited to the skill sets of today's site builders, many of whom are drawn from creative backgrounds. Scripters are now looking for automation aids to reduce the tedium associated with manual coding.
In a major thrust at this market, Inc. last week announced NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0, an enhanced version of the leading script editor Acadia Infuse. In a separate release the company announced that it had agreed to buy the software business of Acadia Software Inc. to broaden its line of site-building tools. (See Cacheworthy, 17.Feb.97 for details.)
According to NetObjects, several user-requested enhancements were made to to Acadia Infuse before launching the product as ScriptBuilder 2.0. A pre-release trial version of the software is available now from the NetObjects Web site. Product is scheduled to ship within 60 days.
Script for success
NetObjects, in which IBM Corp. holds a majority stake, said ScriptBuilder is the first product to be delivered by NetObjects' Application Development Tools division, a newly formed business unit. The new unit, headed by executive vice president Morris Taradalsky, is chartered with focusing on the needs of application and enterprise developers.
"NetObjects has a first-mover advantage in the Web site building segment and is constantly raising the bar on delivering next-generation products," said Jamie Kiggen, financial analyst at Cowen & Company, a Boston-based financial analyst firm. "As the company leverages its unique relationship to IBM and healthy revenue stream to acquire complementary players such as Acadia, we expect to see it grow into a major software company."
ScriptBuilder offers scripters and advanced HTML authors a powerful script editor that combines rich development tools with a visual environment to enable rapid creation of both client and server-side scripts. Using NetObjects ScriptBuilder, Web developers can write scripts to add sophisticated animation effects and interactivity, advanced transaction capabilities, and other sophisticated application functionality to their Web sites.
Reportedly, the product will fully support the divergent Netscape and Microsoft Web scripting environments, providing support for HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, JScript, VBScript, Netscape's Livewire extensions and Microsoft's Active Server Pages extensions. Narrower scripting tools, such as Netscape's Visual JavaScript Pro, would presumably be marginalized by such a multi-language tool.
All in the family
NetObjects ScriptBuilder complements NetObjects' existing products, NetObjects Fusion and NetObjects TeamFusion, and extends NetObjects' Web authoring product offerings for professional site-builders. NetObjects ScriptBuilder can also be used in conjunction with HTML tools like Allaire HomeSite, Microsoft FrontPage etc. The product is best suited for Web developers and advanced HTML authors who want to create dynamic Web sites that include application functionality.
"The acquisition of Acadia Infuse adds yet another best of breed product to NetObjects' arsenal of leading Web site-building software," said executive VP Taradalsky. "The combination of NetObjects ScriptBuilder, [Fusion 3.0 and TeamFusion] proves that advanced site-builders can rely on NetObjects to provide a robust product family that will enable them to easily build and manage complex Web sites and applications."
NetObjects ScriptBuilder is the only product specifically designed to facilitate client and server-side scripting for the Web. The product bridges the gap between high-end and proprietary server-side development tools like Microsoft's Visual Interdev, and HTML products like Allaire HomeSite and Microsoft FrontPage 98, that provide limited or no support for client and server-side scripting.
"NetObjects ScriptBuilder is a world-class product that is very impressive in several ways- it is fast, complete, reliable, and exceptionally useful for HTML, JavaScript, and LiveWire development," said Keith Harvey, advanced technology consultant at Omni Healthcare. "Using ScriptBuilder enables me to create advanced, dynamic Web sites in an efficient and productive manner."
Features and Benefits
Support for all Web Scripting Technologies - NetObjects ScriptBuilder allows authors to do both client and server-side scripting, for Netscape and Microsoft's divergent scripting environments.
Visual IDE (Integrated Development Environment) - NetObjects ScriptBuilder provides a familiar development environment, instantly complementing authors' existing development tools.
Script Editor - ScriptBuilder provides a best of breed editor for scripting that enables user-definable color syntaxing and extensive search and replace.
Script Inspector -The Script Inspector gives users vital information about which browsers and browser versions are required for their script to run in order to ensure that their Web sites are accessible to the broadest audience.
Script Library - NetObjects ScriptBuilder's Script Library provides a convenient way for advanced users to manage and reuse frequently-used scripts. Script Library also provides beginners with an efficient way to start scripting and to employ professionally coded, reusable scripts.
Info Tree - NetObjects ScriptBuilder's Info tree provides a single reference point for language elements.
Document Map - NetObjects ScriptBuilder's Map view finds embedded functions and scriptable objects visually, allowing users to navigate long and complex Web pages quickly.
Internal Preview - The Internal Preview feature speeds the testing and debugging of a page and user-defined color syntax highlighting makes code easier to read and debug.
In addition, by automating tasks such as auto-indent and auto scripting, ScriptBuilder enhances productivity by reducing errors.
Pricing and Availability
NetObjects ScriptBuilder will be available for an estimated street price of $99 through a wide network of distributors and resellers. Current Acadia Infuse customers who purchased the product directly from Acadia are eligible for a free upgrade to NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0. Customers who received a free copy of Acadia Infuse when they purchased NetObjects Fusion for Windows can upgrade for $49.
About NetObjects
NetObjects, Inc. is a privately-held company funded by IBM, Perseus LLC, AT&T Ventures, Norwest Venture Capital, Venrock Associates, Rae Technology LLC and private investors. The NetObjects product family consists of NetObjects Fusion 3.0 for experienced site builders, NetObjects TeamFusion for site building teams and NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 for scripting.
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