This latest set of updates are heavily focused on Java developers as well as those using the Mars release of the Eclipse Integrated Developer Platform (IDE).
The press release highlights three separate elements to this update:
- Liberty Buildpack updated the Liberty runtime to make available or preview the latest Java Enterprise Edition (EE) 7 Liberty features, and while IBM JRE 7.1 remains the default it is now possible to test and run applications in Bluemix with Java 8. Additionally, among other improvements, the jsp-2.3, el-3.0, and jdbc-4.1 Liberty features, previously in beta, are now available as production-ready.
- IBM Eclipse Tools for Bluemix is launched with a new version that now includes JavaScript Debug, support for Node.js applications, Java 8 Liberty for Java integration, Eclipse Mars support for the latest Eclipse Mars version as well as an improved trust self-signed certificates capability. Additionally, incremental publish support for JEE applications has been expanded to support web fragment projects.
- XPages on IBM Bluemix brings the power of Domino XPages to the cloud, allowing developers to create feature-rich, responsive, and secure applications that can be quickly brought to market on Bluemix.
All of these tools are available immediately inside Bluemix and can be accessed through the Bluemix console – https://console.ng.bluemix.net/
Conclusion
IBM is pushing hard to make its Bluemix PaaS the most versatile and fully featured around. It already supports a range of different platforms including IBM System z and LinuxONE mainframes, IBM Power Systems and Linux on x86.
Adding the Domino XPages development environment into Bluemix is interesting as it widens the appeal to a new group of developers. Just how many developers will take advantage of this is yet to be seen. IBM has no readily accessible numbers on how many still use XPages as opposed to its other development environments.
Not since the ill-fated Visual Age Studio has IBM sought to create a single mix point for its developer tools. This announcement shows that Bluemix is now the meeting point for everything developer inside IBM.