WebSphere Feature Packs

While not exactly breaking news I thought it worth mentioning that there are a few WebSphere Feature Packs and other packages in early availability.

Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for Web Services beta
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for SOA beta
Link - WAS 6.1 Feature Pack for EJB 3 alpha

Link - AJAX Starter Pack

I applaud the direction that IBM is taking here with the release of the feature packs. The ability to provide earlier access to emerging standards implementations in this format is good for IBM and good for the community of developers and administrators that work with WebSphere.

From IBM's perspective this allows them to keep their application server closer to current in terms of standards support which helps in terms of product positioning.

From the customers point of view the benefit is twofold. First, earlier access to implementations of leading edge technologies provides opportunity for increased efficiencies and forward compatability. Second customers have more options and control in terms of the services provided their application server.

Why WebSphere Matters

This to IBM Press Release highlights a mission critical solution being built for the Next Generation of US Naval Destroyers.

The IBM Java Technology Center and Linux Technology Center, Red Hat and the
open source Linux community collaborated with Raytheon to create a new real-time Java and real-time Linux environment

...

This implementation can be leveraged throughout the Navy. To ensure long
term viability and broad industry acceptance the initiative used widely accepted
standards as the basis for these product improvements. IBM WebSphere Real-Time Java product implementation is compliant with the Real-Time Specification for Java (RTSJ) and the real-time extensions to Linux are conformant with the
Portable Operating System Interface (POSIX) standard.

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/21033.wss

Didn't the parties involved in this decision read the papers?

After reading all about the flagship product launch from Redmond I assumed with all of those Vista licensing and packaging options there has to be one that could run a Naval destroyer?

The win here is for open standards and the long term benefits that can they can promise.