The new tool has also stirred debate in the Java community. Some competing software makers have charged that WebLogic Workshop could break the "write once, run anywhere" promise of the Java language, in which every Java program can potentially run on any operating system or piece of hardware that supports Java. But it is an accusation that BEA executives -- and analysts -- dispute. For BEA to build an easy-to-use tool, the company had to include new commands that are not yet part of the Java language standard. The tool also includes technology that allows programs to automatically run on BEA's application server. Rivals say that "lock in" strategy ties customers to BEA technology. Java proponents fear that the new tool will result in Java software that does not comply with the current standard, meaning it won't be compatible with other servers. "Customers don't want to be locked into one operating system or platform, so building applications that deploy on only one application server is not going to be well-received," said Scott Cosby, who runs IBM's Web services marketing. BEA, however, plans to submit the new technology to the standards process and to allow its rivals to use the same commands in their tools. "I know what our competitors are saying, and that's bogus," said BEA chief executive Alfred Chuang. "Every line of code we generate with Cajun is standard. There is no lock-in. It's totally open. If the user adheres to the Java standard 100 percent, the code is portable. It should run" on competing application servers. Java software makers walk a fine line between innovating and potentially breaking the "write once, run anywhere" promise of Java. Analysts say software makers have historically submitted new Java technology to the Java Community Process standards body; when technology becomes part of the standard, every company can have access to the technology. BEA does it, and so does IBM, for example. Analysts believe the software code generated by BEA's tool should be able to run on other application servers, with some tinkering. "You could still probably deploy the software somewhere else, but it wouldn't be as automatic," Gilpin said. "You'd have to dink around with the files in the directories and such." Illuminata's Governor agreed. "Sun would be screaming bloody murder if it thought BEA was trying to co-opt and fragment Java," he said. "As I understand it, Cajun will generate J2EE code that could run on IBM WebSphere or Oracle 9i Application Server, without a massive porting overhead." As part of BEA's strategy, the company has increased integration between its e-business software, such as the application server; integration server, which connects a company's different business software together; and portal server, which allows companies to create portal Web sites for employees and customers. While BEA customers can still buy the products separately, the company is giving a pricing deal to those who want to buy them all at once, Dietzen said. BEA has also built new security features, including a graphical tool that allows companies to set security policies for each employee or customer; such a feature allows companies to dictate how much information an employee or customer can have access to, Dietzen said. News.com's Larry Dignan contributed to this report.
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