General

What is EGL Community Edition?

IBM Rational EGL Community Edition is a free tool from IBM that simplifies the creation of rich Web 2.0 style applications. It contains the EGL Rich UI technology, which simplifies JavaScript and HTML development, and also contains other technology to simplify the creation of Java-based REST and SOAP services.

What is EGL? Why haven't I heard of it before?

EGL is IBM's newest business language. The goal of EGL is to allow developers to focus on what needs to be developed, and not on all the underlying plumbing that typically slows down development and hinders innovation. EGL, and its predecessor technology, is used by thousands of customers around the world, but until now has not been easily accessible to the general public. Although EGL helps you create cutting-edge applications, it has a long, rich history.

Is it really free?

Yes. You are free (no pun intended) to download and use EGL to build modern rich Web applications. It is not officially supported by IBM, though you will have the ability to post questions and get help on the EGL Café forum.

Why is IBM doing this?

We understand that for a programming language to be successful, it needs to be accessible by the broadest possible group of people. We will continue to sell our enterprise-level products and services, such as our tools that enable customers to migrate from languages like Natural and RPG.

Who is it for?

EGL Community Edition is intended for anyone who wants to develop RIAs quickly and efficiently. Since EGL syntax is easy for people to learn and can integrate across different business tiers, people from all development backgrounds (Java, PHP, COBOL, etc) find they are very productive using EGL.

Why would I be interested?

Let's face it - RIA / Web 2.0 application development is not easy. With EGL, you can spend more time building cool apps, and less time digging through JavaScript reference manuals.

What types of apps can I create with Free?

EGL helps you create RIAs (rich Internet applications) that take advantage of popular widget toolkits, like Dojo, all without getting your hands too dirty with the complexities typically associated with developing these kinds of applications.

Who is working on this project?

The initial code for this project was taken from IBM Rational Business Developer (RBD). RBD provides additional enterprise-level, such as support for WebSphere Application Server and other third-party vendor databases like Oracle.

Can I contribute?

Currently the project is not open source, but we definitely want your feedback! Your input can help influence the direction of the project, so please let us know what you think! More details will be provided on how you can submit bugs and request new features.

What if I want to develop extensions?

We want to talk to you! Please post your ideas or suggestions to the discussion forum or contact Will Smythe (smythew@us.ibm.com).

Downloading and using

When will it be available and how do I get it?

It's available now! Downloading EGL Community Edition

How big is the download?

Around 230 MB.

What are the system requirements for Free?

System requirements and supporting software

What software is required?

System requirements and supporting software

What platforms are supported?

Windows only. System requirements and supporting software

How do I install it?

Downloading EGL Community Edition

Are there samples I can follow?

Yes. Sample tutorials and videos will be provided to help you get started.

What application servers can I deploy my applications to?

Initially just Tomcat 6.0, but we are looking at other options as well (WebSphere Community Edition, for example).

What about databases? / What databases are supported?

Initially, DB2 (including DB2 Express-C) and Derby will be supported. Other databases that support JDBC (like MySQL) will probably work.

What if I have questions? What type of support is provided?

Although no official technical support is provided for this edition of EGL, a forum has been setup for you to ask questions. Your questions will likely be answered by our development teams or by other community members using the technology.

How do I report any bugs or suggest additional features?

Post any potential bugs to the EGL Community Edition forum

What's the difference/relationship between Free and RBD / RDz with EGL?

The commercial versions of EGL tooling from IBM (Rational Business Developer, Rational Developer for System z with EGL, and Rational Developer for i for SOA Construction) have additional capabilities not included in Free, such as support for WebSphere Application Server and other enterprise-level capabilities and features. Free is a subset of these tools and is focused squarely on helping you build end-to-end (client and server) RIAs.

Can I run existing RBD apps with Community Edition?

Applications written in RBD and other EGL tools can be manually migrated into EGL Community Edition.

How often will EGL Free be updated?

It really depends on demand and need, but we expect at least one update in 2009.