Microsoft Launches Java-to-C# Converter

Microsoft Corp. has released the beta version of a tool for converting Java applications into extensible .NET versions, a key to its JUMP to .NET plan.

The Java Language Conversion Assistant (JLCA) enables developers to migrate their existing Java code to C# on the .NET Framework. "Developers can then extend these applications to produce and consume XML Web services and to take advantage of the benefits of the .NET Developer Platform including Microsoft ASP.NET, Microsoft ADO.NET, and Microsoft Windows Forms," according to the company.

The announcement states that JCLA will offer:

• Integration with Visual Studio .NET. "The new tool provides programming support through its inclusion with the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET integrated development environment (IDE)."
• Protection for prior investments. "By converting business logic, the JCLA helps leverage existing investment in business knowledge. This reduces the risk of new development while decreasing time-to-market."
• Full C# implementation. "Converts existing Java language source code fully to C# and uses the underlying .NET Framework directly. Developers can immediately start using the power of the .NET Framework and the component-oriented programming features of C#."

It should be noted that applications and services converted with the JCLA will run only in the .NET Framework and will not run on any Java virtual machine.

The JUMP to .NET (Java User Migration Path to Microsoft .NET) strategy also includes Visual J# .NET for Microsoft Visual J++ customers and other Java-language programmers.

The 8MB JCLA can be downloaded here. Further information on JUMP can be found here.