Java pioneer Sun Microsystems has made the source code for its NetBeans Mobility Pack and NetBeans Mobility Pack for CDC available under the OSI-compliant Common Development and Distribution Licence.

Java ME development tools are considered the cutting edge in mobile Java development through visual authoring features which aim to simplify and speed the creation of applications for the vast majority of mobile devices.

"Community involvement is key to the strength of the NetBeans platform," said Laurie Tolson, vice president of the Java Developer Platforms Group at Sun.

"We are experiencing continued excitement for some of the industry's most innovative mobile developer products.

"We believe by open sourcing the code, it will attract even more developers to embrace the platform thus strengthening the community."

Based on the NetBeans IDE, the Mobility Pack includes end-to-end application development, device optimisation and porting solutions, and an Ant-based build system.

NetBeans Mobility Pack for CDC is a new addition to the NetBeans portfolio. The Pack allows Java ME developers to use the Matisse graphical layout system to create mobile Java applications for devices supporting the Connected Device Configuration version of Java ME, which claims to offer a more powerful programming and runtime environment.