Software

Microsoft reverses its NT course

In a significant about-face, a top Microsoft official has said the software giant will offer a direct migration path from existing Windows NT 3.51 servers to NT 5.0 when the new version of the operating system hits the streets late this year. Until now, Microsoft had said NT 3.51 users would first have to upgrade all of their servers to NT 4.0 before moving on to NT 5.0. That development angered the NT 3.51 user community, which at the beginning of 1997 comprised more than 70 per cent of the NT installed base.

Oracle splits off report writer

Oracle will soon announce the release of its Oracle Reports 3.0 database query and reporting tool as a separate product independent of Developer/2000, with which it has been bundled. Oracle Reports 3.0 allows users to publish database reports to Web browsers, thin clients, or ActiveX controls, with the reports themselves executed on middle-tier.

Sun readies JavaBeans scripting

Sun Laboratories will launch Java Application Command Language (JACL), a scripting language that the company is pitching as a standard, cross-platform interface for linking JavaBeans components in March.

CA releases Y2K "Silver Bullet" fix

Computer Associates International recently announced a software fix for the 2000 issue that one client called "the closest thing we've seen to a silver bullet".