What's new in RAD 8.5?
RAD 8.5 introduces several new features and enhancements that improve the productivity and quality of your development projects. Some of the highlights are:
Support for WebSphere Application Server 8.5: You can create, test, debug, and deploy applications for WebSphere Application Server 8.5, which offers improved performance, scalability, security, and reliability. You can also use the WebSphere Application Server Migration Toolkit to migrate your existing applications from previous versions of WebSphere Application Server or other application servers to WebSphere Application Server 8.5.
Support for Java SE 7: You can use the latest Java language features and APIs in your applications, such as try-with-resources, diamond operator, multicatch, switch on strings, and more. You can also configure your projects to use different Java compiler levels and runtime environments.
Support for Java EE 6: You can create and deploy applications that use the Java EE 6 specifications, such as Servlet 3.0, JSP 2.2, JSF 2.0, EJB 3.1, JPA 2.0, CDI 1.0, Bean Validation 1.0, JAX-RS 1.1, JAX-WS 2.2, JAXB 2.2, and more. You can also use the Java EE Batch Tools to create and manage batch applications that run on WebSphere Application Server.
Support for HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript: You can create rich web applications that use the latest web standards and technologies, such as HTML5 elements and attributes, CSS3 properties and selectors, JavaScript libraries and frameworks (such as jQuery, Dojo, AngularJS), and more. You can also use the Web Page Editor to design and edit your web pages visually or in source mode.
Support for mobile development: You can create mobile web applications that run on various devices and platforms using the Mobile Tools for WebSphere feature. You can also use the Mobile Browser Simulator to test your mobile web applications on different browsers and devices without leaving the IDE.
Support for portal development: You can create portal applications that run on WebSphere Portal Server using the Portal Tools feature. You can also use the Portal Page Editor to design and edit your portal pages visually or in source mode.
Support for SOA development: You can create SOA applications that use various technologies and standards, such as web services (SOAP or RESTful), XML (Schema, XPath, XSLT), JSON, WSDL, WS-Policy, WS-Security, WS-Addressing, WS-ReliableMessaging, WS-AtomicTransaction, SCA (Service Component Architecture), BPEL (Business Process Execution Language), BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation), SDO (Service Data Objects), SMO (Service Message Objects), JMS (Java Message Service), MQ (WebSphere MQ), ESB (Enterprise Service Bus), Mediation Flow Editor, DataPower SOA Appliance Integration Tools, Rational Service Tester for SOA Quality, Rational Performance Tester Extension for SOA Quality, Rational Test Workbench, Rational Test Virtualization Server, Rational Test Control Panel, Rational Integration Tester, Rational Performance Tester Agent, Rational Performance Tester Agentless Recorder, Rational Performance Tester Agentless Monitor, Rational Performance Tester Agentless Data Collector, Rational Performance Tester Agentless Data Aggregator, Rational Performance Tester Agentless Report Generator, Rational Performance Tester Agentless Report Viewer, and more.
Support for cloud development: You can create and deploy cloud applications using the Cloud Tools for WebSphere feature. You can also use the IBM Workload Deployer (formerly WebSphere CloudBurst) to create and manage virtual application patterns and deploy them to a private cloud or a public cloud (such as IBM SmartCloud Enterprise).
How to get RAD 8.5?
If you want to try RAD 8.5, you can download a free trial version from the [IBM developerWorks website]. You can also purchase a full version of RAD 8.5 from the [IBM Passport Advantage website]. If you already have RAD 8.0 or 8.0.4 installed, you can update to RAD 8.5 using the IBM Installation Manager.
Where to find more information?
If you want to learn more about RAD 8.5, you can visit the following resources:
The [RAD information center] provides you with user assistance for the product. You can view, browse, and search online information related to the product.
The [RAD demos and viewlets] show you some of the new or enhanced product features.
The [RAD fix list] gives you a complete list of the defects (APARs) resolved in this release and previous releases.
The [RAD forum] allows you to interact with other RAD users and experts. You can ask questions, share tips, and exchange ideas.
The [RAD support portal] helps you find solutions to your technical problems. You can search for knowledge articles, open service requests, download fixes and updates, and more.
We hope you enjoy using RAD 8.5 and find it useful for your WebSphere software development projects. Happy coding!
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