The next generation of the Java Studio Creator IDE is in its second early access release, with several new features and fixes. Studio Creator is built on NetBeans 4.1 and includes features like a new set of JavaServer Faces components, support for building JSR-168 portlets, easy access to databases, a streamlined application model, and more.

For those who are new to Sun Java Studio Creator, Sun says that "Sun Java Studio Creator is an easy-to-use visual integrated development environment (IDE) for serious web development on the Java platform. Build applications visually, with minimal code creation, using its drag-and-drop components (EJBs and web services, too), automatic page navigation, and other convenient features."

Along with bug fixes and improved stability, the new version includes a lot of usability improvements, many of which were based on direct feedback from the first Early Access users.

Here are the highlights:

• Better stability and performance with improved memory management.
  Refactoring has been implemented so that developers can make global changes in their source code, propagating them throughout the application without altering program behavior.
  
• Binding components to data is more intuitive, with the ability to access database information using Sun’s exclusive Data Provider objects from within the "Bind to Data" dialog box.
  
• Now when web services and EJB methodsare dragged from the server navigator onto data components, the tables are populated with placeholder data.
  
• Sample applications, previously available only on the web, are now bundled directly in the product. So far they include: JAAS Authentication, Jump Start Cycles, and Travel Center.
  
• Developers can now create new projects based on their own project templates. Any existing project can be used as a template making it convenient to develop new applications derived from a baseline project of your choosing. Once project templates have been created, they appear next to the standard project types in the "New Project" dialog box.
  
• A "Save As…" action has been enabled in the Server Navigator so developers can save projects under a different name.
  
• The Page Fragments feature has been improved, especially around grid layout editing. Now the grid defaults to a certain width and height, and also contains placeholder text.

Developers can now join  the Java Studio Creator 2 Early Access program and download the new IDE free for the duration of the program. This offer Includes SDN Membership.