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On the heels of news that Java is surpassing C and C++ for use in many open source projects, Sun Microsystems Inc. Tuesday announced a broad-based program to distribute its NetBeans open source Java development platform to developers throughout the world.
Sun has announced the NetBeans WorldTour, a series of 10 developer events throughout the world where the company will distribute the NetBeans IDE (integrated development environment).
Indeed, Sun has created the NetBeans WorldTour CD program, which provides a free NetBeans CD with free shipping and handling to any developer around the world who registers with the Sun Developer Network, the company said.
The NetBeans WorldTour CD currently includes the NetBeans IDE 4.1, the Sun Java System Application Server 8.1 Platform Edition, the NetBeans Mobility Pack 4.1 and the NetBeans Profiler. It is available from www.netbeans.org/about/cd-form.html and will be updated as major enhancements and new releases become available.
“We started the free NetBeans WorldTour CD program because we wanted to share the excitement—regardless of bandwidth or location—and we are delighted at the explosive growth and success it has achieved,” said Jeff Jackson, senior vice president, Java Enterprise Developer Products and Platforms Group, at Sun Microsystems, in a statement. “We have already shipped over 11,500 CDs to over 100 different countries.”
However, although NetBeans usage continues to grow, its adoption has been far outpaced by that of the Eclipse open-source development platform. On Monday Cape Clear Software announced that it had become another in a host of companies to standardize its toolset around the Eclipse platform.