FAQs
Java Tools Community - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the JTC?
A: The Java Tools Community (JTC) is an open, jointly led community where tool vendors,
customers and developers can come together to share information and provide input when
creating and extending Java standards around toolability and tool interoperability via the Java Community Process (JCP).
Q: Why was the JTC formed?
A: The JTC was formed to address the lack of focus on the toolability and tool interoperability of Java Specification Requests (JSRs) submitted to the JCP. JSRs have traditionally focused on extending run-time characteristics of Java technology while concentrating less on design-time issues.
Q: What is "toolability" and how does it differ from "tool interoperability"?
A: Toolability describes how much consideration a particular technology gives in the building of good tools used for its support. While most of the Java Community standards today are focused on the runtime architecture, there can, and should, be thought as to how to make the technology more accessible to developers and tool vendors. Toolability does not dictate how to build tools, but rather how to make the standard APIs friendlier for tools. The result of increased toolability is that developers will be able to more easily utilize these technologies and adoption is likely to take place more quickly. Tool Interoperability is used to describe commonality between APIs that allow for the adding of extensions. The common APIs allow tool extensions to interoperate and plug- in, for instance in areas such as data models and deployment APIs.
Q: Who benefits from the JTC?
A: The quick answer is "everyone". The tool vendors benefit from an organization where they can work together to advance the Java Community standards around toolability and interoperability. Tool consumers will benefit from unified representation around ideas, use cases, thoughts and comments made to those JCP members who help build the standards and to tool vendors who build tools around those standards. Overall, the Java IDE ecosystem will benefit from this Forum-style organization.
Q: Is the JTC an organization to promote JSR 198?
A: No and yes. The JTC is about both toolability and interoperability. JSR 198 is just one example of a JSR that helps interoperability among Java development tools. The JTC is about much more than one JSR. We hope to create and shape dozens of JSRs in the areas of toolability and interoperability, and not just focus on one of them.
Q: What is the relationship between the JTC and the JCP?
A: The JTC is a complementary organization to the JCP where members and participants can work together to advance the Java Community standards in the areas of toolability and
interoperability. The results of the JTC will be ne w Java Specification Requests (JSRs)
submitted to the JCP in the area of toolability and interoperability. JTC members will also participate in non-tool related JSR expert groups in an effort to promote better access to the different technologies through development tools. There is precedence for this type of relationship in the form of JAIN and OSS/J, and a hope that other special interest groups with specific vertical needs will use this model to better standardization efforts within the JCP.
Q: Is the JTC a standards body?
A: No. Consider it a "group of concerned citizens" committed to working together with the JCP, which is the recognized standards body.
Q: What are some examples of JSRs that might have benefited from the JTC having been
established?
A: It's hard to answer a "what if" question, but take JSR 53, for example which is the specification for Java Server Pages (JSPs). While JSPs have, for years, been a very popular quick-and-easy way for people to build dynamic web pages, it has been difficult for tools to provide something as simple as debugging JSPs. This is because there was no consideration in the first versions of the standard to map the JSP source to the compiled line numbers. Therefore, all vendors had to come up with homegrown, proprietary ways to work around the debugger issue.
Q: Will the JTC provide a common framework or set of tools?
A: No. The JTC will not own, hold or provide any software or intellectual property. Tool vendors will continue to build their different implementations of tools and frameworks while working together as a community to drive the JCP towards standardization of the interfaces related to tools.
Q: Does the JTC fragment the Java Landscape?
A: Just the opposite. The chief goal is not to create a new standard, technology or platform; it is to help get existing tools and technologies to work better together for the benefit of the industry.
Q: Who can join the JTC?
A: Anyone. There are three types of Participation. The first is Advisors. Anyone can be an Advisor and contribute thoughts, ideas and comments on Java tools. The second type is a Member. Members must also members of the JCP. Finally, there are Core Members. Core Members are participants who help steer the JTC and contribute to its organizational infrastructure.
Q: Who is involved in the JTC?
A: The JTC is made up of members from tool vendor companies as well as general consumers who are interested in promoting toolability and interoperability in the Java standards area. Vendors include BEA Systems, Compuware, Embarcadero Technologies, Iopsis Software, JetBrains, Oracle Corp., Quest, SAP, SAS and Sun Microsystems. Customers include US Sprint, Verizon and others. We expect that the membership of the JTC will quickly grow with other companies who are interested in building a strong community around development tools.
Q: Is Eclipse a member of the JTC?
A: At this time, Eclipse is not an independent entity and therefore cannot join any community organization. When Eclipse becomes an independent entity, it can then evaluate the option to join the JTC. Worth noting is that many of the same companies that are members of Eclipse are also members of the JTC. The JTC will welcome Eclipse as a member if it one day chooses to do so.
Q: Where can I find more information about the JTC?
A: You can find out all you need to know about the JTC at http://www.javatools.org/
(Page last updated 6 January 2004)
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