The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) has announced that the Apache Pivot Java-based rich Internet application [RIA] project has reached Top-Level Project (TLP) status.
The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) has announced that the Apache
Pivot Java-based rich Internet application [RIA] project has reached
Top-Level Project (TLP) status.
When an Apache project graduates to TLP status that means the effort
has reached a level of maturity and stability under the ASF's
meritocratic process and principles. In addition to the TLP news on
January 19, ASF also announced the release of Apache Pivot 1.4, the
fourth update since joining the Apache Incubator in January 2009.
Apache Pivot is a platform for building rich Internet applications
(RIAs) in Java. It combines the enhanced productivity and usability
features of a modern RIA toolkit with the ubiquity and standards
compliance of the Java platform. Pivot provides a foundation for
sophisticated and engaging applications to be built and deployed over
the Web. Because Pivot applications are written in Java, they can take
full advantage of the features and industry support of the Java
platform.
"Users have much higher expectations for Web applications now than
they did 10 years ago," said Greg Brown, chair of the Apache Pivot
Project Management Committee (PMC) and principal consultant at Cantina
Consulting. "This is why we're seeing tools like Flex and Silverlight
beginning to gain traction; however, both of these require developers
who are otherwise happy using Java to switch technologies. Pivot is an
attempt to create a modern, rich client development platform in Java."
Pivot provides a comprehensive set of standard user interface
elements ranging from simple buttons to editable tree and table
controls, ASF officials said. It also includes a number of features
that simplify development of modern GUI applications, including an X M
L markup language for declaring the structure of a user interface, data
binding, animated effects and transitions, and Web services integration.
"I've tried the demos and I was stunned," said Pivot user Trelieux
Einagen, in a statement. "The framework uses easy to understand markup
for the applet front end while at the same time taking advantage of the
power of Java for business logic and server side processing...I think
the Java community in general is fortunate enough to have those guys at
Pivot stand up and build something that can actually compete right now
with the likes of Flash/Flex and Microsoft Silverlight/WPF without
losing your sanity."
Another Pivot user, Scott Lanham, said, "The current default theme
has a nice clean look and feel... I am impressed with the good
selection of widgets. They appear to cover just about every need of an
application... Well done with Pivot!"
And N. Forbes, a Java developer and Pivot user, said in a statement,
"Thank you guys with coming up with Pivot. Java really, really needs a
smooth, coherent RIA next-generation framework to 'seriously' compete
with the likes of Flex and Silverlight/WPF... I saw someone comment on
the Pivot Framework that it leverages existing Java skills to make the
transition to the framework as seamless as possible. I looked at the
source code and screamed out in joy: you guys may actually end up
bailing out the Java RIA from pure academic obscurity and back into the
more popular sphere of mind."
Apache Pivot 1.4 is released under the Apache Software License v2.0 and can be downloaded at http://pivot.apache.org/.
Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.
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