You can use an Integrated Development Environment to develop, assemble, and deploy Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) modules for WebSphere® Application Server.
The IBM® Rational® Application Developer for WebSphere Software product, the IBM WebSphere Application Server Developer Tools for Eclipse product, and the IBM Assembly and Deploy Tools for WebSphere Administration product are supported tools for integrated development environments.
This information center refers to the products as the assembly tools. However, you can use the products to do more than assemble modules. Take advantage of these tools in an integrated development environment to develop, assemble, and deploy Java EE modules.
The Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software is a more extensive set of tools supporting enterprise development. This workbench has integrated support for WebSphere Application Server Version 6.1 and later. This workbench also supports both the OSGi and Java EE programming models, and contains wizards and visual editors to help you develop Web 2.0, Service Component Architecture (SCA), Java, and Java EE applications. This product contains code quality tools to help you analyze code and improve performance. This product integrates with Rational Team Concert to provide a team-based environment to help developers share information and work collaboratively. The Trial download for Rational Application Developer is available at http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/downloads/r/rad/.
IBM WebSphere Application Server Developer Tools for Eclipse is a lightweight set of tools for developing, assembling, and deploying Java EE applications to WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0 and 8.0. This workbench integrates with the application server to help you to quickly deploy and test applications. This product contains wizards and visual editors that support the Java EE programming model.
IBM Assembly and Deploy Tools for WebSphere Administration, available with WebSphere Application Server, provides the tools for administrators to assemble and deploy Web, Java, Java EE, and OSGi applications to WebSphere Application Server Version 8.0.
For documentation on the tools, see "Rational Application Developer documentation." Topics on application assembly in this information center supplement that documentation.