Much ballyhoo’d Java start-up Marimba Inc finally reveals its products this week as a set of tools for writing and deploying Java applications across networks outside of the browser environment. Sticking with the percussive theme they’re called Castanet. There’s a Castanet server and client, which in Marimba speak are referred to as the Transmitter and Tuner. Java applets loaded into the Transmitter can be downloaded through network channels established from a users’ desktop Tuner client. A Tuner can store details of multiple channels and is similar to a browser’s bookmark facility. The difference between Castanet and the browser metaphor is that applets can be distributed and opened in their native form from wherever a user chooses. They don’t require a browser to be opened and a URL contacted before an applet is download run. Java software is distributed across the net using Marimba’s Application Distribution Protocol. The company thinks its technology is ideal for bringing the internet to consumers, providing home banking, home delivery or newspaper channels to small footprint devices such as network computers. The Tuner and Java virtual machine will run in about 1Mb, channels will require additional memory, the more multi media stuff they contain the more memory they’ll use. Other applications include customized newsfeeds a la PointCast, interactive games and simulations. The company recognize application channels, such as a Microsoft Word applet component channel is conceivable, but Marimba CTO Arthur van Hoff doesn’t find that kind of stuff very interesting. In any case expects Castanet to be pressed into all kinds of nerdy use initially. Web site like HotWired are using the stuff. Channels can be launched fr om icons, a menu or from a Web page that contains links to channels. Likewise Web pages can be launched from channels. Marimba says most existing Java applets can easily be loaded into Castanet channels. The Transmitter is written in C++ and Tuner i n Java, although a Java version of the server is coming. The Tuner runs channels in the background so that applets are constantly updated. If the client logs off and back on it will pick up the latest version when it re-connects. Castanet 1.0 will be out by the year-end by which time Castanet will be able to plug into and use the same port as the native http server. Version 1.1, due in the first half of next year will include encryption support for the deployment of non-Java code such as DLLs , ActiveX, Shockwave and the like. A proxy server is on its way which will provide cache-style features so that applets don’t have to be resent to each channel separately but can be retrieved from a cache. Marimba says AT&T, Apple, Disney, Netscape and JavaSoft are already testing Castanet applications and it’s looking for OEMs. Betas are at www.marimba.com; the full version ships year-end. The Tuner client is free for non-commercial use and Transmitter-Basic server is $1,000 supporting 100 users per hour per channel. Additional 100-user licenses are the same price and the Transmitter-Pro unlimited user license goes for $15,000. There is a Repeater kit for channel replication for $500 and a Proxy Server for $1,000.
