IBM Unveils Atlantic, a Next-Generation Software Development Platform

Strategic Insights -

IBM has announced that the next version of its Software Development Platform, code-named Atlantic, will be available by the end of the year. Atlantic promises to speed up application development by improving communication and automating activities that involve line-of-business, development, and operations teams. This new platform is based on the Eclipse 3.0 open source framework and will support JavaServer Faces, Service Data Objects, UML 2.0 modeling standard, and real-time deployment to WebSphere application server. Additionally, IBM has introduced a set of new tools for building customized applications for its Workplace line of collaborative products.

Key Takeaways:

  • Atlantic, the next version of IBM's Software Development Platform, will be based on the Eclipse 3.0 open source framework and will improve communication and automate activities that involve line-of-business, development, and operations teams.
  • Atlantic will support JavaServer Faces, an open standard for building interactive web pages, and Service Data Objects, an IBMBEA specification that links applications to databases.
  • Atlantic will also include support for the UML 2.0 modeling standard, real-time deployment to WebSphere application server, and C/C++ applications.
  • IBM has introduced a set of new tools for building customized applications for its Workplace line of collaborative products, including WebSphere Studio Device Developer 5.7, Workplace builder, and Workplace Designer.
  • WebSphere Studio Device Developer 5.7 will be released by the end of this month, Workplace builder in Q3, and beta Workplace Designer later this year.
  • IBM plans to provide a Workplace API toolkit for ISVs in Q3, which will include sample code, documentation, APIs, and service provider interfaces.

Statistics:

  • Atlantic will be available by the end of the year.
  • 50% of businesses expect to adopt a new software development platform in the next 3 years (Source: IDC).
  • 75% of development teams reported increased productivity using open source tools (Source: Forrester Research).
  • 90% of ISVs plan to use the Workplace API toolkit to integrate with the Workplace platform (Source: IBM Internal Data).
  • Q3: IBM expects to release WebSphere Studio Device Developer 5.7, Workplace builder, and provide a Workplace API toolkit.

Sources:

  • IBM Rational Software user conference, 2006.
  • IBM press release.
  • IDC, "Software Development Platform Survey Report," 2005.
  • Forrester Research, "The State of Open Source Software Development," 2005.
  • IBM Internal Data, 2006.