The new tools are the first components of Latte, Borland's previously announced native Java visual development environment.

"There is an immediate need and exploding demand for tools that make Internet- and World Wide Web-based application development easier," said Paul Gross, senior vice president of research and development for Borland. "We have a unique opportunity to leverage the core technology that has made Borland a leader in Windows development tools to transform the Internet and the Web into the ideal environment for distributed, client/server applications. Today, we are taking our first steps toward realizing that greater goal."

Current Phase
The current phase of Borland's strategy calls for Internet-enabled versions of Borland C++, Delphi, Visual dBASE and Paradox that will provide customers with functionality to develop new Web-based applications and to extend existing applications with Web interfaces. In future phases, Borland sees significant, long-term growth opportunities in the client/server marketplace by developing tools for building three-tier, distributed applications using the Web and the Intranet (the non-public, secure sector of the Internet used by corporations for internal networks) as the operating platform.

As part of today's briefing, Borland announced and demonstrated for the first time, products and technologies which represent the first phase of these plans.

Borland C++ 5.0
Borland reported that Borland C++ 5.0 -- scheduled to ship later this quarter -- will include new Java development tools including a just-in-time compiler, a graphical program debugger and an integrated version of Sun Microsystems' Java Development Kit. The Sun JDK is fully integrated into Borland's critically acclaimed integrated development environment (IDE). Borland adds significant value to the kit by letting programmers manage projects, edit code using a Java-syntax color-highlight editor, and then compile, test and debug using a graphical debugger -- all from within the Borland C++ 5.0 IDE.

"Since Java is similar to the C++ programming language, we are including the first Java development tools in our new Borland C++ products," said Gross. "This is the first step in delivering Internet products to our customer base in line with our plans to extend Internet support to all of our products."

Borland C++ 5.0 will also include the only graphical debugger (written in the Java language) for Java applications. Software programmers can easily detect then fix bugs in their Java code by clicking on an error message in the IDE and going directly to the line of Java code that caused the error. Borland C++ 5.0's seamless integration with the Java compiler allows developers to compile applications and display errors in the debugger's edit window. Further, the debugger can be used to fix applet code locally or remotely across networks on any machine that hosts the Java virtual machine offering true, platform-independent debugging.

Beginning Friday, Feb. 9, developers can DOWNLOAD a pre-release version of the Borland GUI Debugger for Java, from Borland's web site at / through March 31.

In addition, Borland demonstrated the AppAccelerator, a new just-in-time compiler, which provides developers with performance gains when they run Java code on their Windows 95/NT accelerator-equipped development and target machines. With AppAccelerator, programmers using Windows 95/NT for Java development can achieve a 5-to-10X performance increase in Java applications and applets. Even greater increases in speed can be expected when executing computationally intensive code.

"Having just-in-time compilers for Java is essential for delivering high performance cross-platform execution," said Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Netscape. "We're excited about and supportive of Borland bringing this technology to market so quickly."

The AppAccelerator is scheduled to ship in the Borland C++ Development Suite later this quarter. Further, Borland is licensing the AppAccelerator to Web browser vendors and others to help speed up Java applications on a variety of hardware platforms.

Using the IDE, programmers can develop, under Windows, compact platform-independent Java applets and applications that can run on many popular operating systems, including Windows 95/NT, Sun Solaris, Macintosh and others. Java developers can also manage projects that can combine and interface with native C and C++ on Windows.

dBASE Support
The company also previewed Visual dBASE Internet which enables developers to quickly create interactive data-based applications for the World Wide Web. These object tools present information from local and server-hosted databases in HTML (hyper-text markup language) format for viewing by Web browsers on multiple platforms. The Visual dBASE Internet Tools are scheduled for Spring availability.

Future Phases: Latte, InterBase InterClient and the "Nexus"
Latte is the code name for Borland's recently announced visual development environment for building Java applications. Latte is expected to accelerate the growth of the Internet and Web as a platform for corporate computing solutions. A phased delivery of Latte is planned, beginning with the add-on components for Borland C++ announced today, and eventually resulting in Delphi-like visual tools for Java which will make building distributed computing applications even easier.

Latte will be a fully featured integrated visual development toolset for Java programmers which will also be the industry's most complete toolset for local Intranets. In addition to compilers and tools, the development suite will offer class libraries, RAD functionality, native database connectivity, data aware controls and X-platform RDBMS connections. Formal delivery dates for Latte were not announced.

In the next phase, Borland will introduce the InterBase InterClient which is connectivity software for InterBase, written in Java for networked Interbase databases. It will contain both client and server components and will also eliminate the complexity of remote database access for Java developers. InterBase InterClient takes advantage of the low maintenance, the small footprint, and the superior performance of InterBase. Corporate IS will be impacted immediately by the benefits of "thin" clients, higher throughput speeds, reduced network traffic and enhanced modular application design.

In the last phase of this strategy, Borland will migrate Intranet developers to a true three-tier environment that takes advantage of cross-platform and emerging protocol standards with a Borland application server for remote Java and database access. This product is code named "Nexus." Features will include simple clients, low-maintenance client configuration, centralized business rules and validation and ease of database connectivity. Anticipated delivery dates were not made public although beta versions are expected in the second half of 1996, Borland officials said.

In addition to building client/server and Internet tools around Java, the company also announced its plans to support Microsoft's Internet initiatives. These initiatives include the forthcoming Sweeper SDK which will be supported in Borland's existing Windows development tools, such as Borland C++ and Delphi. Combined, these announcements position Borland as the only tools company to aggressively support client/server and Internet development on the leading technology platforms: Windows and Java.

Borland: Making Development Easier
Borland International Inc. (NASDAQ:BORL) is a leading provider of products and services targeted to software developers. Borland is distinguished for its high-quality software development tools, which include Delphi, Delphi Client/Server, Borland C++, Visual dBASE, Paradox and InterBase. Borland's award-winning products are supported through comprehensive programs for small- and large-sized software developers, corporate developers, value added resellers and systems integrators. Founded in 1983, Borland is headquartered in Scotts Valley, California.