Most of us have seen a standalone Java application of one sort or another. But few of us have seen any commercial applications of serious merit yet... until now, that is. CADIS has just released Krakatoa, the object-oriented client/server search and retrieval development program. Krakatoa is delivered to the client via either a java applet that is downloaded, or a combination of javascript and HTML frames, and allows Web users to search through structured content by refining their search criteria with finer and finer details of interest. By clicking on their selection with the mouse, the count of qualifying items is instantly updated, allowing users to find the products or documents they are looking for. URL's, product information or sales contacts are requested at that point, again via the mouse, enabling users to find exactly the information they are looking for with a minimum amount of effort. Krakatoa was named after a volcano. We'll take a look and see if it lives up to its namesake.

Since the release of Sun's Java Development Kit last year, developers have been limited to using the command line interface to develop Java applets and applications. There have been a few Integrated Development Environments available from independent developers, but until now no major software company has released any. Symantec released Café at the beginning of March, pushed ahead of schedule by developers that wanted an IDE here and now. Café is now available for download from Symantec's Web site, and at the major software stores. I had the opportunity to check it out in all its glory for your approval.

When Java Development tools initially appeared on the market, Mac programmers were some of the last people to have tools available to them. While Sun chose to release the JDK for most popular platforms, it waited quite a while before releasing the MacJDK. A variety of third party developers began to release Java development tools, but they too have decided to wait before releasing tools for the Mac programmer. Fortunately, there are options open to the Mac programmer now, but these options are nowhere near as vast as those options open for users of Windows95 or UNIX platforms. General resources related to MacJava are also few and far between. Before I send you running from your Mac, it should be stated that the situation is no longer as bleak as it once was. There are currently development tools available from many companies, and more have been announced; there is also a large amount of published information available. You should keep in mind however, that while it is important to have platform specific resources, Java is extremely portable, and almost all information resources are helpful.