Overview of development features

Together version 4.x introduced several features that enable teams to use Together not only for modeling and documentation, but for actual implementation coding as well. The option to use external tools such as editors, IDEs, compilers, and debuggers is still there. But now Together has:

Editor

Together's integrated Editor is now usable for real coding, with features that developers really want. These include:

For more information, see User's Guide: Part II: Using the Editor.

Integrated debugger

Together's integrated debugger enables you do work in conjunction with the Editor. Includes must-have features like multi-threads, watches, and breakpoints. For more information, see User's Guide: Part II: Using the Integrated Debugger.

Integrated Java compile and make

Together now offers integrated, auto-configured compile and make for Java. Together installs JDK 1.2 and auto-configures the javax compiler so you can compile any class either from it's Class diagram icon, or from the Editor. Together also installs and configures project make capability based on GnuMake. For more information, see User's Guide: Part II: Compiling and Making.

EJB development and deployment

Together moves you far ahead in productivity when it comes to developing and deploying distributed apps using Enterprise JavaBeans.

EJB Patterns and code-gen

Together includes EJB patterns for easy creation of EJB skeletons. Use an "expert" dialog to define entity or session EJBs. Configure all the core elements including constructors, fields, finder and business methods, and properties of your EJB from the dialog, and Together generates the visual model, including home and remote interfaces, and the source code framework (which of course stays in sync with the visual model at all times).

EJB Assembly diagrams

Another important feature for distributed application developers is the EJB Assembly diagram. Visually map out the assembly of an app showing the security roles, method permissions, and container transactions.

Deployment Automation and Direct-to-server deployment

Together provides deployment automation features that free you from many tedious tasks that surrond the deployment of distributed appications. For example, Together's EJB Deployment Expert takes care of deployment descriptors, manifiest, JAR file generation, and more. For servers that support it, you can even "Hot" deploy EJB's directly from Together tthe server.

For more information, see User's Guide: Part II: Developing and Deploying EJBs.