It appears IBM may be quietly preparing to unveil a Linux-targeted version of their Java Virtual Machine for embedded systems. Without fanfare, a beta “Linux X86” version has recently appeared in the IBM J9 VM developer's download zone. What's this all about?

VisualAge Micro Edition is an IBM clean room implementation of the Java J9 Virtual Machine for embedded systems, developed by IBM subsidiary Object Technology International Inc (OTI). IBM describes the product as “a set of virtual machines that efficiently execute Java bytecodes,” plus associated tools and runtime environments. Other features of the package include Java Native Interface (JNI) native method support, garbage collection routines, server support TCP/IP connected devices, optional dynamic class loading from class or jar files, optional rapid software loading from preprocessed code files, embedded GUI support (called “MicroView”), plus additional embedded system oriented class library support. Tools are included for code configuration, optimization, and reduction tasks, ROM/flash support, and an integrated development environment (IDE) with optional collaboration capabilities.

The “individual package” is available to developers for free download. It includes a fully functional version of integrated development tools, the J9 VM, and runtime environments for a specified target. To date, the only publicly announced package has been for several hardware targets under the QNX Neutrino RTOS.

The newly downloadable (but as yet unannounced) Linux-targeted version is described as “IBM VisualAge Micro Edition 1.1 — x86-Linux (Red Hat) Runtimes (Beta)” is located here.

IBM charges target runtime royalties for deployment of their J9 VM on manufactured products. A “collaborative package” version of developer package, that facilitates team-oriented development, is offered as a purchased product.

 
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