Traditional tools are powerful, and have world-class support.

However, some team members on projects just don't need quite so much functionality. Perhaps the no-charge Eclipse tool offers sufficient functionality, but you need a higher level of support -- the kind of support you're accustomed to when you purchase a commercial tool.

On the other hand, depending on your development needs you may need a tool that’s tailored to your specific requirements. For example:

• You may be building out a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), and need to visualize graphically complex code, or discover and reuse existing code and services.
• You may be working with heterogeneous environments, integrating Java™, Microsoft® .NET, and mainframe applications.
• You might be working with J2EE™ applications, or WebSphere® Application Server or WebSphere Portal, and require comprehensive development, testing and deployment tools for those environments.
• You may be concerned with architecting a robust solution to complex problems before you begin coding.

In all these cases, a solution that fits your needs is now available from IBM Rational.

IBM Rational® Elite Support for Eclipse
This newly released offering provides world-class technical support that you need to confidently develop in the Eclipse environment. It includes support for the Eclipse Platform, including the Java Development Toolkit (JDT) and its Plug-in Development Environment (PDE) as well as the following projects and frameworks associated with the Eclipse Platform: Test and Performance Tools Platform (TPTP); Graphical Editing Framework (GEF); Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF).

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IBM Rational Software Modeler V7
This newly released version of the Eclipse-based UML modeling environment enables architects, systems analysts, designers and others to specify and communicate development project information from several perspectives and to various stakeholders. Rational Software Modeler:

• Provides rich support for modeling with the UML 2.1.
• Enables flexible model management for parallel development and architectural re-factoring, for example: split, combine, or compare merge models/model fragments.
• Allows you to apply included design patterns -- and/or author your own -- to ensure that conventions and best practices are followed.
• Integrates with other facets of the lifecycle -- including requirements, change management and process guidance -- and includes Rational ClearCase® LT.

You can learn more about Rational Software Modeler, or try it at no charge.
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IBM Rational® Application Developer for WebSphere Software V7
This newly released version includes:

• Full-featured Java and Web IDE
• Flexibility through componentized installation
• IBM JRE 1.5.x
• IBM Installation Manager for installing and updating Eclipse environment and compatible plug-ins
• Easier J2EE development
• Visual editors for Java, EJB, and data development
• Visual Portal development tools
• Struts-based Web development
• Data access and development with AST, CICS IMS, J2C
• WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere Portal test servers, server integration, and automated deployment support
• Static and runtime analysis
• Rational team tools integrations

You can learn more about Rational Application Developer, or try it at no charge.
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IBM Rational Software Architect V7
This newly released version of the Eclipse-based development environment includes all the capabilities of IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software and IBM Rational Software Modeler with additional capabilities focusing on architectural code analysis, C++, and model-driven development with the UML for creating resilient applications and services. Rational Software Architect:

• Eases the design-to-code experience for Java, J2EE, Web services, SOA, and C/C++ applications.
• Includes all of the features of IBM Rational Application Developer and IBM Rational Software Modeler, for integrated design and development experience.
• Exploits the latest in modeling language technology, enabling flexible modeling across a variety of different domains including UML™ 2, UML-like notation for Java, and more.
• Enables flexible model management for parallel development and architectural re-factoring, such as split, combine, compare and merge models and model fragments.
• Eases the transition between the architecture and code with model-to-model and model-to-code transformations, including reverse transformations.

You can learn more about Rational Software Architect, or try it at no charge.
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IBM Rational Modeling Extension for .NET V7
This newly released extension for Rational products unifies heterogeneous implementations with UML model-driven .NET and Java applications and services. Rational Modeling Extension:

• Enables UML-based model-driven development of applications to be implemented fully or partially on the Microsoft .NET platform.
• Integrates with and complements Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 technology, enabling the implementation of resilient .NET applications.
• Supports conceptual modeling of architectures and applications using UML 2.
• Offers high extensibility because of its foundation on the open Eclipse 3.2 platform.
• Improves productivity with UML-to-C# transformations and C#-to-UML transformations.
• Complements other IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform offerings to provide a complete, full-lifecycle governance solution for project portfolios that target a mix of .NET, Java, and other implementation platforms.
• Installs into an IBM Rational architecture management tool such as IBM Rational Software Modeler or IBM Rational Software Architect.

You can learn more about Rational Modeling Extension for .NET, or try it at no charge.
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