The 9.2 Beta release of BEA Workshop for WebLogic Platform continues the groundbreaking innovation of the 8.1 release, providing powerful tools for developing WebLogic Platform applications.
Here are some of the most important new features in Workshop for WebLogic 9.2 Beta.
Built on Eclipse 3.1
Workshop for WebLogic 9.2 Beta is built on the widely used Eclipse Platform. Instead of the proprietary IDE framework used in previous releases, 9.2 uses the Web Tools Platform 1.0.
Apache Beehive
Version 9.2 Beta supports Apache Beehive, an open source framework for web applications. Support for Apache Beehive includes:
Beehive NetUI: A web application framework based on Apache Struts. Introduced in 8.1 as Page Flow technology, Beehive NetUI has evolved into an open source web application framework. Version 9.2 Beta includes advanced tooling features to help
developers build Beehive NetUI applications, including graphical tools for JSP and Page Flow controller authoring.
Beehive Controls: A lightweight component framework based upon annotated JavaBeans. Beehive controls provide an easy to use client model for accessing a variety of J2EE resource types. The built-in controls introduced in 8.1 (database, EJB, JMS and web service controls) are available as system controls in 9.2. You can also create your own custom controls using a new, transparent, POJO architecture.
Java Server Faces
Version 9.2 Beta includes first-class support for Java Server Faces technology, including:
Support for JSF pages in NetUI Beehive applications
Tools support for JSF backing files and event handlers
Integration of JSF with the Beehive NetUI life cycle
Standards-based Java Web Services
The same groundbreaking web service support in version 8.1 has been carried forward in version 9.2, now build on JSR-181. Web service support includes:
Asynchronous callbacks
State management with conversations
Ease of iterative development with the test browser are carried forward from version 8.1
Reliable messaging with JMS and WS-Reliability
Digital Signature and HTTPS support with WS-Security/WS-Policy
Java 5 Annotations
As with version 8.1, Workshop for WebLogic version 9.2 supports the use of annotations to simplify the development of complex components. While most of the functionality of the version 8.1 annotations carries forward into this version, the version 9.2 annotations are based on the JSR-175 standard, new in Java 5. Workshop for WebLogic continues to provide tool support to keep the use of annotations simple, including a property editor for intuitive annotation editing.
Upgrade Tools
Workshop for WebLogic makes it easy to upgrade your 8.1 applications. Upgrade support includes:
Pre-upgrade reporting that does not affect the original source code
Automatic handling of application and project structure upgrade
Automatic file extension renaming
Wizard and command-line versions of the upgrade tool are available
Blended Tools
Workshop for WebLogic supports blended application architecture combining the best of open source and BEA’s innovative technologies. Blended application offers:
Long-term, license-independent support for applications
Best of breed hybridization
Transparency and Predictability
BEA WebLogic Portal 9.2
BEA WebLogic Portal 9.2 provides enterprise portal infrastructure for streamlined portal development. This framework includes a rich, graphical, environment for developing portals as well as browser-based assembly tools for business experts. WebLogic Portal simplifies the production and management of custom-fit portals, allowing you to leverage a shared services environment to roll out changes with minimal complexity and effort.
