Appcelerator announced updates to its software that will further its ability to bring together RIA and SOA. The company has created Appcelerator RIA Developer, an Eclipse plug-in that makes it easy for developers who prefer an Eclipse environment to create Appcelerator projects. It is also releasing an updated version of the Appcelerator SDK platform that includes powerful new features that streamline the use of third-party software with Appcelerator to quickly create RIAs.

The open source Appcelerator Platform enables developers to assemble rich interactive Web applications without the need for JavaScript or player-based plug-ins. Web applications created using Appcelerator are enabled with service endpoints provided for Java/J2EE, PHP, Ruby, .NET, Python and Perl to address the heterogeneous nature of most enterprises today.

“The traditional approach to building rich Internet applications has placed an unnecessary burden on the developer,” said Nolan Wright, chief technology officer at Appcelerator. “They have to spend time finding, integrating and versioning different pieces of their platform. Appcelerator changes all of this because we’ve addressed every aspect of building rich Internet applications. With our updated Appcelerator SDK and the new Eclipse-based IDE, we’re equipping developers with a uniquely open and comprehensive RIA platform.”

Version 2.1 of the Appcelerator SDK delivers several new features and framework attributes, including:

• RIA Widget API—Can be used to create new widgets or wrap existing widgets from third-parties such as Yahoo (e.g. Yahoo UI, Yahoo maps and calendars), ExtJS (GridPanel and TreePanel).
• Appcelerator Web Expression Language—Provides a syntax for turning standard HTML elements into dynamic RIA components. It also integrates widgets. This feature allows Web interface designers who are accustomed to using HTML to create interfaces that require JavaScript or AJAX, but does not require them to code it themselves. In this manner, Appcelerator allows designers to do work that otherwise necessitated a developer.
• Appcelerator Plug-in Architecture—Allows developers to package, distribute and install software that integrates with the Appcelerator Platform.
• Message-Oriented Architecture—Handles message routing on the client for local and remote messages, as well as marshalling data on behalf of the client application. This feature decouples the user interface from the server to allow developers to create applications without concern for backend integration. When the UI is completed, it can be integrated to the backend with no impact on the application’s look and feel or performance.
• Appcelerator Command-Line Interface—Bundles Appcelerator with a cross-platform command-line utility modeled after Ruby Gems. This allows users to download Appcelerator software, create new Appcelerator projects by programming language, download and install Appcelerator plug-ins and widgets, and upload new widgets.