BEA Systems today claimed "significant milestones" in its open source efforts including code releases, updated tools and additional support for its Apache Beehive web applications and services development platform.

The firm unveiled its Apache Beehive Milestone 1 release which supports Java Controls, NetUI PageFlows, and Java Web Services with developer documentation and PetStore sample application.

According to BEA, the Milestone 1 code release, developed with the Apache Software Foundation, means that developers using Apache Beehive and/or BEA WebLogic Workshop 8.1 can now contribute to the updated code base.

In addition, platform support has been improved to allow Apache Beehive projects to run on both JOnAS and Apache Geronimo in addition to Apache Tomcat.

Improved tools for Beehive include a control for Hibernate, an object/relational persistence and query service for Java. The expanded tool-set is designed to help developers building on BEA WebLogic Workshop 8.1 or Apache Beehive improve productivity.

Vittorio Viarengo, vice president of strategy and product management at BEA Systems, said in a statement: "The new code releases, plus expanded platform support and tool-set, shows the world that BEA has continued to work towards expanding the Java community and helping drive further growth of the Java ecosystem."

The Milestone 1 code release for the Apache Beehive project is now publicly available for use in both Beehive open source development and by BEA WebLogic Workshop 8.1 users, and can help developers to begin developing and collaborating on SOA-based applications.

Apache Beehive can be obtained from the Apache Software Foundation here.