ActiveState is beta-testing a new version of its IDE (integrated development environment) for dynamic web applications. Komodo 4.0, due in early 2007, features a bevy of “Web 2.0” features, such as support for client-side AJAX (asynchronous Javascript and XML) languages, including JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and… XML.

During the past year, AJAX has gained popularity in part due to its ability to push content from the web server to the client, without the client having to request an update. It's also increasingly of interest as a data transfer mechanism in embedded systems and devices. For example, Real-Time Logic added AJAX support to its Barracuda embedded web server, in an effort to reduce the need for constant server polling in remote sensing and other embedded applications.

Additionally, the trend away from client-server applications and toward browser interfaces has led many device makers to use AJAX and other web 2.0 technologies, in an effort to put more utility into their interfaces. Access and Opera also tout AJAX support in their embedded browsers.

Komodo 4.0's debugging interface
(Click to enlarge)
The Komodo IDE aims to facilitate dynamic web application coding, debugging, and project management. It runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, and Solaris development hosts, and supports a who's who of popular dynamic web languages, including Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, and Tcl.

Komodo also supports “framework stacks” such as Ruby on Rails and CakePHP, ActiveState says, along with client libraries such as Yahoo! UI Library and Dojo. Additional new features in Komodo 4.0 include a DOM Viewer, HTTP Inspector, UDL (User Defined Language) templates, secure remote file support, revamped project support, and greater extensibility.

Issac Goldstand, of Mirimar Networks, stated, “With the addition of integrated JavaScript debugging, HTML/XML/CSS auto-completion, an integrated HTTP protocol inspector, an integrated DOM inspector, and a handful of other nifty tools, it's quite possibly the coolest thing to happen to scripting languages since, well, ever.”

Availability

Komodo 4.0 is set to ship in early 2007. The beta version was launched at a Zend/PHP conference this week in San Jose.

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