BEA unveiled the beta version of Workshop for WebLogic 9.2, a key component of its blended portfolio. According to BEA, “the blended approach is designed to allow developers to mix and match the best of open source and commercial solutions while maintaining a seamless platform to help teams to develop, deploy and administer Java applications and services.”

Workshop for WebLogic 9.2 Beta is built on the Eclipse Platform. Instead of the proprietary IDE framework used in previous releases, 9.2 uses the Web Tools Platform 1.0.

Version 9.2 Beta supports Apache Beehive, an open source framework for web applications. Support for Apache Beehive includes Beehive NetUI, a web application framework based on Apache Struts, and Beehive Controls, a lightweight component framework based upon annotated JavaBeans.

The beta also has support for Java Server Faces technology, including support for JSF pages in NetUI Beehive applications, tools support for JSF backing files and event handlers, integration of JSF with the Beehive NetUI life cycle.

Other notable features include standards-based Java Web Services, Java 5 annotations, upgrade tools, blended tools and BEA Weblogic Portal 9.2. BEA WebLogic Portal 9.2 provides enterprise portal infrastructure for streamlined portal development. This framework includes a rich, graphical, environment for developing portals as well as browser-based assembly tools for business experts. The company claims that the WebLogic Portal simplifies the production and management of custom-fit portals, allowing the leveraging of shared services environments to roll out changes with minimal complexity and effort.