Aptana
Encyclopedia
Aptana, Inc. is a company making web application
development tools for Web 2.0
and Ajax
for use with programming languages such as JavaScript, Ruby, PHP and Python. Aptana's main products are Aptana Studio, Aptana Cloud and Aptana Jaxer. Current company leadership is Paul Colton, Founder and CEO, Uri Sarid, CTO/VP, Engineering and Kevin Hakman, Director of Evangelism; total staff passed 25 after Labor Day 2008. Aptana is an active participant in the OpenAjax Alliance, with Hakman serving as director of the IDE Working Group.
On January 18, 2011 Aptana announced that it had been acquired by Appcelerator.
As of November 2009 Aptana has significantly scaled back development and support of Jaxer.
An Aptana representative noted that "there hasn't been sufficient adoption to make it a money earning proposition."
integrated development environment
(IDE) for building Ajax web applications. It includes support for JavaScript
, HTML
, DOM
, and CSS
with code-completion
, outlining, JavaScript debugging, error and warning notification and integrated documentation. Additional plugins allow Aptana Studio to be extended to support Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python, Perl, Adobe AIR, Apple iPhone and Nokia WRT (Web Runtime). Aptana Studio is based on Eclipse
and is available as standalone on Microsoft Windows
, Mac OS X
and Linux
, or as a plugin for Eclipse.
web server
for building rich web pages and applications using a unified Ajax model wherein both client-side and server-side code can be written in JavaScript. Jaxer's server-side engine is based on Mozilla Gecko
, the same browser engine that is used in the Firefox browser. The Mozilla engine allows Jaxer to provide a server-side DOM in which a page may be manipulated during server-side processing using the techniques familiar to client-side programmers. Jaxer's server-side JavaScript APIs enable database access, file system access, network communications, user sessions, and other functions typical of web application servers. Jaxer also provides for access to Java objects via the open source DWR
project. Jaxer is now on GitHub
.
Aptana Jaxter provides a page-processing environment based on the Mozilla engine. This provides a Gecko
-based DOM and SpiderMonkey JavaScript engine to enable pages to be rendered and manipulated on the server before being sent to the browser. Jaxer also provides an Ajax model for performing asynchronous requests to the server. Its client and server APIs allow such requests to be made by simply calling server-side JavaScript functions from the client. Behind the scenes, Jaxer provides the logic required to manage the request and retrieve the response from the server.
It is useful for Web scraping
.
Jaxer is not a standalone web server but works with another server such as Apache
, Jetty
or Tomcat
. Jaxer provides server-side DOM and API processing for pages served by the web server before delivering the results to the browser.
Jaxer may be integrated into Aptana Studio via an optional plugin. It is open source (GPL) and available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux/Solaris.
, with support for general web/Ajax, PHP, Ruby on Rails and Jaxer. Cloud Connect also supports Java-based web applications which may be deployed and managed using the Cloud service. All applications hosted on Cloud Connect may be developed offline and deployed and managed directly using the Cloud management features included in Aptana Studio. The Cloud Connect service also provides team management, hosted source control (using Subversion), remote editing/preview and application synchronization between local, staging and production environments.
As of version 2.0, Aptana no longer provided its own PHP plugin, but has transferred development efforts to the PDT project
.
Aptana version 1.5 provides support for developing PHP applications via the add-on PHP plugin. This includes:
. This provides color syntax highlighting, Code Assist, code outlining, debugging and integrated support for Python
, Jython
and IronPython
interpreters. Aptana announced that their previously commercial available Pydev Extensions are now open sourced.
WRT widgets are small, task-focused web applications that are installed and run in the same way as other S60 applications. WRT widgets allow websites or web services to be optimised for use on S60 devices. Because they’re easy to develop and use, WRT widgets are ideal for driving traffic to a website from S60 devices.
, by presenting a pop-up with either:
This applies both to built-in functions / methods and to those already coded — but the latter use requires documenting such functions/methods with ScriptDoc, a documentation dialect similar to that used by Javadoc
.
s and CSS properties.
and SFTP
.
for the Firefox browser. Internet Explorer is supported in the Pro Edition only.
(commonly known as the "GPL") or under the Aptana Public License (known as the "APL").
With the GPL license, the Aptana IDE is available free of charge, as long as the redistribution (if any) of the Aptana IDE adheres to the terms of the GPL license. Users may download the software for free, and modify, integrate and distribute it.
Aptana also offers the simplified APL license for organizations that don't need to redistribute Aptana Studio or its derivatives outside of the company.
.
Web application
A web application is an application that is accessed over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. The term may also mean a computer software application that is coded in a browser-supported language and reliant on a common web browser to render the application executable.Web applications are...
development tools for Web 2.0
Web 2.0
The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...
and Ajax
Ajax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
for use with programming languages such as JavaScript, Ruby, PHP and Python. Aptana's main products are Aptana Studio, Aptana Cloud and Aptana Jaxer. Current company leadership is Paul Colton, Founder and CEO, Uri Sarid, CTO/VP, Engineering and Kevin Hakman, Director of Evangelism; total staff passed 25 after Labor Day 2008. Aptana is an active participant in the OpenAjax Alliance, with Hakman serving as director of the IDE Working Group.
On January 18, 2011 Aptana announced that it had been acquired by Appcelerator.
As of November 2009 Aptana has significantly scaled back development and support of Jaxer.
An Aptana representative noted that "there hasn't been sufficient adoption to make it a money earning proposition."
Aptana Studio
Aptana Studio is an open sourceOpen source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
integrated development environment
Integrated development environment
An integrated development environment is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development...
(IDE) for building Ajax web applications. It includes support for JavaScript
JavaScript
JavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
, HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
, DOM
Document Object Model
The Document Object Model is a cross-platform and language-independent convention for representing and interacting with objects in HTML, XHTML and XML documents. Aspects of the DOM may be addressed and manipulated within the syntax of the programming language in use...
, and CSS
Cascading Style Sheets
Cascading Style Sheets is a style sheet language used to describe the presentation semantics of a document written in a markup language...
with code-completion
Autocomplete
Autocomplete is a feature provided by many web browsers, e-mail programs, search engine interfaces, source code editors, database query tools, word processors, and command line interpreters. Autocomplete involves the program predicting a word or phrase that the user wants to type in without the...
, outlining, JavaScript debugging, error and warning notification and integrated documentation. Additional plugins allow Aptana Studio to be extended to support Ruby on Rails, PHP, Python, Perl, Adobe AIR, Apple iPhone and Nokia WRT (Web Runtime). Aptana Studio is based on Eclipse
Eclipse (software)
Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
and is available as standalone on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, or as a plugin for Eclipse.
Aptana Jaxer
Aptana Jaxer is an open source AjaxAjax (programming)
Ajax is a group of interrelated web development methods used on the client-side to create asynchronous web applications...
web server
Web server
Web server can refer to either the hardware or the software that helps to deliver content that can be accessed through the Internet....
for building rich web pages and applications using a unified Ajax model wherein both client-side and server-side code can be written in JavaScript. Jaxer's server-side engine is based on Mozilla Gecko
Gecko (layout engine)
Gecko is a free and open source layout engine used in many applications developed by Mozilla Foundation and the Mozilla Corporation , as well as in many other open source software projects....
, the same browser engine that is used in the Firefox browser. The Mozilla engine allows Jaxer to provide a server-side DOM in which a page may be manipulated during server-side processing using the techniques familiar to client-side programmers. Jaxer's server-side JavaScript APIs enable database access, file system access, network communications, user sessions, and other functions typical of web application servers. Jaxer also provides for access to Java objects via the open source DWR
DWR (Java)
DWR, or Direct Web Remoting, is a Java open source library that helps developers write web sites that include Ajax technology. It allows code in a web browser to use Java functions running on a web server as if those functions were within the browser....
project. Jaxer is now on GitHub
Github
GitHub is a web-based hosting service for software development projects that use the Git revision control system. GitHub offers both commercial plans and free accounts for open source projects...
.
Aptana Jaxter provides a page-processing environment based on the Mozilla engine. This provides a Gecko
Gecko (layout engine)
Gecko is a free and open source layout engine used in many applications developed by Mozilla Foundation and the Mozilla Corporation , as well as in many other open source software projects....
-based DOM and SpiderMonkey JavaScript engine to enable pages to be rendered and manipulated on the server before being sent to the browser. Jaxer also provides an Ajax model for performing asynchronous requests to the server. Its client and server APIs allow such requests to be made by simply calling server-side JavaScript functions from the client. Behind the scenes, Jaxer provides the logic required to manage the request and retrieve the response from the server.
It is useful for Web scraping
Web scraping
Web scraping is a computer software technique of extracting information from websites...
.
Jaxer is not a standalone web server but works with another server such as Apache
Apache HTTP Server
The Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to as Apache , is web server software notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. In 2009 it became the first web server software to surpass the 100 million website milestone...
, Jetty
Jetty (web server)
Jetty is a pure Java-based HTTP client/server, WebSocket client/server and servlet container developed as a free and open source project as part of the Eclipse Foundation...
or Tomcat
Apache Tomcat
Apache Tomcat is an open source web server and servlet container developed by the Apache Software Foundation...
. Jaxer provides server-side DOM and API processing for pages served by the web server before delivering the results to the browser.
Jaxer may be integrated into Aptana Studio via an optional plugin. It is open source (GPL) and available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux/Solaris.
Aptana Cloud Connect
Aptana Cloud Connect is Aptana's web hosting and application management service. Cloud Connect provides the infrastructure required to host applications developed using technologies supported by Aptana Studio and is primarily based on ApacheApache HTTP Server
The Apache HTTP Server, commonly referred to as Apache , is web server software notable for playing a key role in the initial growth of the World Wide Web. In 2009 it became the first web server software to surpass the 100 million website milestone...
, with support for general web/Ajax, PHP, Ruby on Rails and Jaxer. Cloud Connect also supports Java-based web applications which may be deployed and managed using the Cloud service. All applications hosted on Cloud Connect may be developed offline and deployed and managed directly using the Cloud management features included in Aptana Studio. The Cloud Connect service also provides team management, hosted source control (using Subversion), remote editing/preview and application synchronization between local, staging and production environments.
Ajax library support
Aptana Studio ships with the following Ajax libraries, but more can be added or updated.- Adobe SprySpry frameworkThe Spry Framework is an open source Ajax framework developed by Adobe Systems which is used in the construction of Rich Internet Applications. Unlike other pure JavaScript frameworks such as the Dojo Toolkit and Prototype, Spry is geared towards web designers, not web developers.-Components:The...
- ExtExt (javascript library)Ext JS is a JavaScript library for building interactive web applications using techniques such as Ajax, DHTML and DOM scripting.Originally built as an add-on library extension of YUI by Jack Slocum, Ext includes interoperability with jQuery and Prototype...
- Aflax
- Rico
- PrototypePrototype Javascript FrameworkThe Prototype JavaScript Framework is a JavaScript framework created by Sam Stephenson in February 2005 as part of the foundation for Ajax support in Ruby on Rails. It is implemented as a single file of JavaScript code, usually named prototype.js...
- MochikitMochiKitMochiKit is a light-weight JavaScript library written and maintained by Bob Ippolito.Inspired by the Python networking framework, Twisted, it uses the concept of deferred execution to allow asynchronous behaviour...
- YUI Library
- MootoolsMooToolsMooTools is a lightweight, object-oriented, web-application framework for JavaScript, written in JavaScript. It is released under the free, open-source MIT License...
- Dojo toolkitDojo ToolkitDojo Toolkit is an open source modular JavaScript library designed to ease the rapid development of cross-platform, JavaScript/Ajax-based applications and web sites. It was started by Alex Russell, Dylan Schiemann, David Schontzler, and others in 2004 and is dual-licensed under the modified BSD...
- jQueryJQueryjQuery is a cross-browser JavaScript library designed to simplify the client-side scripting of HTML. It was released in January 2006 at BarCamp NYC by John Resig...
- Script.aculo.us
PHP
PHP has returned to Aptana for version 3.0 with code formatter only and without debugging and code assist.As of version 2.0, Aptana no longer provided its own PHP plugin, but has transferred development efforts to the PDT project
PHP Development Tools
PHP Development Tools is a Language IDE plugin for the Eclipse platform and the open source project that develops it.The project intends to encompass all tools necessary to develop PHP based software...
.
Aptana version 1.5 provides support for developing PHP applications via the add-on PHP plugin. This includes:
- built-in PHP server for previewing within Aptana Studio,
- full code assist, code outlining & code formatting,
- integrated PHP debugger,
- built in Smarty,
- type hierarchy view,
- go to declaration,
- integrated PHP manual (online or local).
RadRails
Aptana Studio supports Ruby on Rails development using RadRails, an open source plugin for the Ruby on Rails framework. This includes:- integrated Rails shell console,
- default-install and configuration of the Ruby interpreter, database and debugger,
- code completion with type inferencing,
- Code Assist for Ruby, CSS, JavaScript, and HTML inside RHTML files,
- type hierarchy view,
- go to declaration,
- call hierarchy,
- full implementation of RDT (Eclipse's Ruby Development Tools project).
Python
Aptana Studio provides support for Python in the form of the PyDev pluginPyDev
Pydev is a third-party plug-in for Eclipse. It is an Integrated Development Environment used for programming in Python supporting code refactoring, graphical debugging, code analysis and .- History :- Features :...
. This provides color syntax highlighting, Code Assist, code outlining, debugging and integrated support for Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
, Jython
Jython
Jython, successor of JPython, is an implementation of the Python programming language written in Java.-Overview:Jython programs can seamlessly import and use any Java class. Except for some standard modules, Jython programs use Java classes instead of Python modules...
and IronPython
IronPython
IronPython is an implementation of the Python programming language targeting the .NET Framework and Mono. Jim Hugunin created the project and actively contributed to it up until Version 1.0 which was released on September 5, 2006. Thereafter, it was maintained by a small team at Microsoft until...
interpreters. Aptana announced that their previously commercial available Pydev Extensions are now open sourced.
Nokia Web Runtime
The Nokia Web Runtime provides support for developing rich mobile apps for Nokia S60 series phones. This includes over 30 models and tens of millions of units around the world. The Nokia WRT Plug-in for Aptana Studio provides features that enable the creation, editing, testing, and deployment of WRT widgets from within Aptana Studio.WRT widgets are small, task-focused web applications that are installed and run in the same way as other S60 applications. WRT widgets allow websites or web services to be optimised for use on S60 devices. Because they’re easy to develop and use, WRT widgets are ideal for driving traffic to a website from S60 devices.
System requirements
- Windows – 512 MB RAM, Pentium 4-level processor
- Mac OS X – 512 MB RAM, PowerPC G4/G5, Intel or Mac OS X 10.4+
- Linux – 512 MB RAM, Pentium 4-level processor
Editions
Aptana Studio is available as an open source Community Edition. The previously available features in the paid-for Pro Edition were merged into the Community Edition. All of the features in Pro are now part of the standard Community Edition of Studio, thus Aptana ceased to exist as multiple editions IDE.Code Assist
Code Assist is similar to completing code statementsAutocomplete
Autocomplete is a feature provided by many web browsers, e-mail programs, search engine interfaces, source code editors, database query tools, word processors, and command line interpreters. Autocomplete involves the program predicting a word or phrase that the user wants to type in without the...
, by presenting a pop-up with either:
- the supported arguments for the function call begin coded;
- the supported properties and methods on the desired object.
This applies both to built-in functions / methods and to those already coded — but the latter use requires documenting such functions/methods with ScriptDoc, a documentation dialect similar to that used by Javadoc
Javadoc
Javadoc is a documentation generator from Sun Microsystems for generating API documentation in HTML format from Java source code.The "doc comments" format used by Javadoc is the de facto industry standard for documenting Java classes. Some IDEs, such as Netbeans and Eclipse automatically generate...
.
Browser support
The Code Assist feature includes information on browser support for JavaScript methods/properties, HTML elementHTML element
An HTML element is an individual component of an HTML document. HTML documents are composed of a tree of HTML elements and other nodes, such as text nodes. Each element can have attributes specified. Elements can also have content, including other elements and text. HTML elements represent...
s and CSS properties.
FTP/SFTP
Support for uploading downloading and synchronization using FTPFile Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
and SFTP
SSH file transfer protocol
In computing, the SSH File Transfer Protocol is a network protocol that provides file access, file transfer, and file management functionality over any reliable data stream...
.
Debugger
Both Pro and Community editions support integrated JavaScript debuggingDebugging
Debugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one may cause bugs to emerge...
for the Firefox browser. Internet Explorer is supported in the Pro Edition only.
License
Aptana uses a "dual licensing" model. Under this model, users may choose to use the Aptana IDE under the free software/open source GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
(commonly known as the "GPL") or under the Aptana Public License (known as the "APL").
With the GPL license, the Aptana IDE is available free of charge, as long as the redistribution (if any) of the Aptana IDE adheres to the terms of the GPL license. Users may download the software for free, and modify, integrate and distribute it.
Aptana also offers the simplified APL license for organizations that don't need to redistribute Aptana Studio or its derivatives outside of the company.
License history
- When launched in 2006, Aptana was released under the Eclipse Public LicenseEclipse Public LicenseThe Eclipse Public License is an open source software license used by the Eclipse Foundation for its software. It replaces the Common Public License and removes certain terms relating to litigations related to patents....
1.0. They were using the EPL until milestone 8. The first few builds of milestone 9 were licensed under the Eclipse Public License 1.0 until nightly build 16120. - One nightly build of milestone 9 was licensed under the GNU General Public License 3.0 (build 16204)
- Builds after 16204 have been licensed as FreewareFreewareFreeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
with redistribution restrictions licensed under the Aptana Public License, v1.0. - On September 21, 2007, Aptana announced they would be using a dual license: GPL V3 and the freeware APL.
Acquisition
Aptana was acquired by Appcelerator, Inc. on January 7, 2011. Employees of Aptana were absorbed to the Mountain View campus of Appcelerator and work is scheduled to continue on the release of Aptana 3.0. Appcelerator in their webcast made users aware of their intention to integrate their mobile application framework with Aptana Studio, with a planned beta within Q1 2011. Emphasis on visual workflow was indicated for both of the products, and continued support will continue for existing Aptana products. Appcelerator put Jaxer on githubGithub
GitHub is a web-based hosting service for software development projects that use the Git revision control system. GitHub offers both commercial plans and free accounts for open source projects...
.
See also
- List of Eclipse-based software
- EclipseEclipse (software)Eclipse is a multi-language software development environment comprising an integrated development environment and an extensible plug-in system...
External links
- Aptana – official site
- aptana.tv – official Aptana screencasts and demonstrations
- Jaxer on github
- Jaxer on IBM
- Appcelerator acquires Aptana – acquisition page by Appcelerator