Free WebObjects

Last time I checked, Xcode was free and bundled with each Mac sold. Previously WebObjects cost $700, and was a bargain at that price.

Update: OK, let's go a little deeper into what happened and what it means.

• Timeline: WebObjects 5.3 was released at WWDC 2005.

• Added in 5.3: The big news is the enhanced WOBuilder (now using WebKit for HTML preview), the new Xcode 2.1 EOModeler plugin (not a full featured replacement for EOModeler... yet) and revised Web Services (now using Axis 1.1 on the backend). There's a bunch of other stuff as well, but that's what sticks out in my mind.

• Removed in 5.3: Platform support for platforms other than Mac OS X. Probably the biggest pull was the Windows versions of ProjectBuilderWO, EOModeler and WOBuilder. Note that while the Yellow Box-based development tools were all yanked, the platform-agnostic pure-Java jars are still in the box.

• Windows Development: If you need Windows development, WebObjects 5.2 is still available for purchase at the previous $699 price.

• "Product" vs. "Platform": WebObjects 5.3 is free. Using Apple's terminology, it has ceased to be a separate "product". Instead, it is now part of the Mac OS X platform. Buy into Mac OS X, and WO comes along for the ride. If you're already on Mac OS X, that means WebObjects is effectively free. If you weren't, just buy a Mac mini for $499 and pretend WO's price has been dropped by $200 and they're now throwing in a server (grin).

• It's Alive: Some folks are spooked that the price drop means WO is being abandoned. Far from it. The proof is that Apple put resources into creating the Xcode 2.1 EOModeler plugin and revised WOBuilder. If Apple was abandoning WO, it would have simply let the tools rot.

• Deployment: WebObjects 5.3 comes with a wide-open license key. In addition, the license agreement does not forbid installation+deployment on non-Mac platforms. Finally, the deployment runtime remains pure Java.

Practically, this means you can continue to deploy on Windows, or Solaris, or Linux or your cell phone or anything that offers a modern Java virtual machine. However, such deployment is not officially supported. That said, Linux deployment was never officially supported, and I successfully deployed on it a number of times.

• The Catch: Here's the thorny part. WebObjects now officially only runs on Mac OS X. I would not be surprised if an 5.3 update revised the license agreement to disallow non-Mac OS X platform deployment. Furthermore, I would not be surprised if, say, 5.4 contained Mac OS X-specific technology in the deployment runtime.

I have no idea if Apple is going to kill the unofficial cross-platform deployment option. I'm sure it's tempting.

I don't have a problem with the development tools being Mac-only. I also wouldn't have a problem with WO deployment working "better" on Mac OS X. Apple: take advantage of the platform. After all, it's yours.

That said, I would have a big problem with the unofficial cross-platform deployment option being taken away.

Right now, I'm able to introduce Apple technology into Apple-hostile organizations via WebObjects. Organizations whose IT is positively allergic to purchasing Apple hardware don't have a problem with tossing me a spare Dell or a leased ISP colo machine where I can deploy my pure Java application. Once the app is successfully deployed for a while, I let them know that the Microsoft tax is now optional for the app, and boy aren't those Xserves slim and sexy.

Granted, it's not a guaranteed sale. But without the unofficial cross-platform deployment option, it's a guaranteed lock-out. Apple doesn't even get a foot in the door.

Personally, I wrote WebObjects product marketing at webobjects@apple.com telling them that unofficial cross-platform deployment option is key for keeping my clients on WebObjects and putting new clients on the platform. If you feel the same way, I encourage you to write in as well.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005
12:00 AM