WebSphere Application Server supports two tools that you can use to develop, assemble, and deploy J2EE modules: Application Server Toolkit (AST) and Rational Web Developer. These tools are referred to in this information center as the assembly tools.
Either or both tools are available on separate CD-ROMs in your WebSphere Application Server CD-ROM package.
The assembly feature of the AST and Rational Web Developer products runs on Windows and Linux Intel platforms. Users of WebSphere Application Server on other platforms must assemble their modules using an assembly tool installed on Windows or Linux Intel platforms. Follow instructions available with AST or Rational Web Developer to install an assembly tool.
Although this information center refers to the AST and Rational Web Developer products as the assembly tools, you can use AST and Rational Web Developer to do more than assemble modules. Rational Web Developer is an integrated development environment that provides development, testing, assembly and deployment capabilities. However, articles on application assembly in this information center focus on assembling J2EE modules using the J2EE Perspective of the assembly tools. AST and Rational Web Developer provide extensive online documentation; the articles on application assembly in this information center supplement that documentation. The Application Server Toolkit information center is available with this information center.
Note: You can also use Rational Application Developer to assemble application files, though it is available only on a trial basis in the WebSphere Application Server CD-ROM package.
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