Apache ACE gains Top-Level project status

The Apache Software Foundation has today announced that Apache ACE has graduated from the Apache Incubator to become a Top-Level Project (TLP), signifying that ACE’s community have gained Apache’s approval for top billing.

For those unaware, Apache ACE is an OSGi framework focused on delivering modular software components, configuration data and other artifacts to OSGi-based and related target systems. It was initially donated to the Apache Incubator back in 2009, by software solutions provider Luminis which triggered an influx of developers joining the community to progress it further.

Apache ACE allows developers to manage the dependencies, deployment, and feedback of installed software components through the use of OSGi bundles, proving particularly useful when scaling across complex mobile, embedded and cloud computing applications.

Users of Apache ACE can keep tabs on what’s been installed and where, whilst updates and new components can be easily distributed. In addition, ACE helps developers set up an automated development, QA/testing, staging, and production environment.

“We are excited that ACE has successfully graduated as a Top-Level Project,” said Marcel Offermans, Vice President of Apache ACE and Fellow at Luminis. “Developing projects ‘The Apache Way’ stimulates widespread cooperation with individuals that each bring their specific knowledge to the project. Diversity is key — the community is evolving the project in new and interesting ways, leveraging the collective expertise.”

Apache ACE software is released under the Apache License v2.0, and is overseen by a self-selected team of active contributors to the project. A Project Management Committee (PMC) will oversee the Project’s day-to-day operations, focusing on community development and product releases like similar Top Level projects such as Hadoop. Apache ACE source code, documentation, mailing lists, and related resources are available at http://ace.apache.org/.

This is Apache’s second big announcement in a week, after the previously proclaimed Apache HTTP server. The similarity here appears to be that there’s a heavy focus on cloud operations. Will Apache ACE be the ace in the hole, when it comes to OSGi?