SUN MICROSYSTEMS DELIVERS TOOLS TO HELP DEVELOPER COMMUNITY LEVERAGE XML STANDARDS FOR GRAPHICS
New Tools Enables Web Developers to Leverage Power of Java Technology and XML-based Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
PALO ALTO, CA -- August 2, 2000 -- Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced the beta availability of the 2D graphics SVG generator software, downloadable for no charge at www.sun.com/xml. This easy-to-use tool, developed by Suns XML Technology Center, underscores Sun's commitment to provide the Java technology developer community with software that leverages the power and growing ubiquity of XML. XML's universal, standards-based syntax will play an important role in graphics rendering as well as data portability and usability, and Sun is progressive in meeting developer demand for the needed tools in these areas. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is in development at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and is a file format that describes two-dimensional vector graphics in XML. The latest specification was released by the for Candidate Recommendation today.
The Java platform and XML are complementary technologies that together serve as the foundation for network-centric computing. Taking advantage of these technologies' synergy, Sun's 2D graphics SVG generator software allows Java technology applications to export graphics to the XML-based SVG format. The SVG files can then be imported into the growing number of graphics editing/authoring tools and viewers that support SVG.
"As our networked world takes shape, developers will increasingly require rich graphics that work well on a range of devices, screen sizes, and printer resolutions. SVG meets these requirements and finally brings the full benefits of XML, such as interoperability and internationalization, to the graphics space, said Bill Smith, engineering manager of Suns XML Technology Center. "Once again, Sun is pleased to deliver to its developer community a powerful tool -- the 2D graphics SVG generator software -- based on two open, industry collaborative technologies: the Java 2 platform and the XML-based SVG format."
SVG has many advantages over graphics formats in use today, such as JPEG or GIF. Since SVG is a plain text format, its files are readable and generally smaller than comparable graphical images. SVG images are also "zoomable" or "scalable", meaning users can zoom in on a particular area of a graphic, such as a map, and not experience any image degradation. Because SVG is scalable, SVG images can be printed with high quality at any resolution. Text within an SVG-based image, such as a city name on a map, is both selectable and searchable. Applications written in SVG can be made accessible through means for describing the visual information in textual detail. Lastly, SVG supports scripting and animation, which enables unprecedented dynamic, interactive graphics. For more information on SVG, visit www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG
SVG Slide Toolkit Software Available for Download
As well, Sun announced today the availability of the SVG slide toolkit software, also available free of charge at www.sun.com/xml. This software is a collection of XML stylesheets and DTDs that help users to ceate XML documents that can be transformed into richly graphical, interactive SVG-based slide presentations. The software's advantage is that it allows for the separation of a presentation's content from its look and feel, enabling users to independently modify the content, the presentation style or both.
Sun and XML: Technology Delivery and Support for Open Standards
The XML development effort at the W3C started in 1996, led by Sun engineers, and until last year, Sun chaired the W3C's XML Coordination Group today. Sun also participates in W3C working groups for XML Stylesheet/Transformation Language (XSLT), XML Schema, XLink, and XML Query, as well as a number of other industry consortia including OASIS and XML.org. From the beginning, Sun was involved in defining the SVG specification at the W3C standards organization.
Sun continues to demonstrate its leadership and support for XML through the development of several APIs for the Java platform, including the Java API for XML Parsing, which is now available through the Apache Software Foundation, the forthcoming Java technology XML databindings, and the Java API for XML Messaging, which is just beginning development through the Java Community Process (SM) program. Sun also recently announced the availability of its XSLT Compiler technology, XSLT Compiler technology which greatly improves communication between applications using different XML schemas and, in general, significantly speeds up transformations for any XML file.
About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision - The Network Is The Computer[tm] -- has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to dot-com their businesses. With $15.7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at http://sun.com.
Sun, Sun Microsystems, Java, the Java Community Process and The Network Is The Computer are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
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