The Java DB from the Apache Derby Project, and GroupLayout from the NetBeans GUI Builder, will be part of the Java SE 6 Development Kit.
Visual development of Swing applications comes to the JDK, Sun Microsystems revealed along with other news about Java SE 6. Downloads of the second beta release of the Java SE 6 may be found online.
Form construction can be accomplished more rapidly through the use of the GroupLayout from Project Matisse in NetBeans. Sun said this would make “the design of a Java technology GUI as simple as using a WYSIWYG drawing program,” without needing to know the underlying Swing technology.
The Java DB, Sun’s supported distribution of Apache Derby, will be part of the weekly Mustang builds of Java SE 6. The 2MB Java-based database is fully transactional. Sun noted it can be embedded directly into a Java application, or used in client/server mode.
Java will receive more exposure on hardware as a pair of Chinese technology powers have agreed to distribute the Java Runtime Environment on their OEM hardware. Founder Technology Group and Lenovo both inked licensing agreements that should have the JRE on their desktop and laptop machines by the third quarter of 2006.
Other PC OEMs that wish to license the JRE may do so online. Sun has established an online application for those manufacturers to apply for JRE licensing.
A final release of Java SE 6 is on track for the fall of 2006.
—
Add to 
Bookmark Murdok: 
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
