Also, Java applets' runtime performance makes end users drum their fingers, and the compile time for applets can be longer than the time it took me to write this paragraph. Because necessity is the mother of all invention, Java's popularity drove a number of tool vendors back to their development shops to create the perfect Java development environment. The goal is to make Java development effortless. The resulting tools aim to overcome the limitations of Java, including runtime and compiler performance, and finally bring RAD to the 3GL world of Java development. This month I take you on a short tour through each of these new tools.
Studio lets developers create applets visually, including views and forms.
As with other RAD tools, Studio provides a palette of prebuilt GUI controls that developers can paste into applets. When a Java developer drags a control onto a form, Studio automatically displays a property sheet. Once you're happy with the look and feel of your applet, Studio generates the Java language source code automatically. Project Express lets you create new projects automatically. Hierarchy Editor gives developers the capability to design applets at 35,000 feet, manipulating the class hierarchy or the structure of the applet.