SAN DIEGO—While Microsoft Corp. this week introduced its new team-oriented, lifecycle-focused development platform that covers the entire application development lifecycle, some standards aficionados are wondering whether the software giant will support key specifications.

The new Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team System, code-named Burton, will cover all facets of the application development lifecycle, including modeling, but some wonder whether the technology will support the Unified Modeling Language (UML), which has become a de facto standard for modeling.

Microsoft officials said they designed the new system for "ease of use" and that UML did not seem like the best solution for an easy-to-use tool.

"We're designing for ease of use, and we didn't think UML was the way to go," said Marie Huwe, general manager for Microsoft's Developer and Platform Evangelism Division, in an interview at the Microsoft TechEd 2004 show here.

"However, we will support UML, and we are already working with people on that," she said. "Some key UML diagrams will ship in the box, and Borland [Software Corp.] and Unisys are working with us. Folks have invested in UML, and we want to make sure they can take advantage of that. We want to make sure people can use UML effectively."

Grady Booch, an IBM fellow and chief scientist at IBM's Rational division, took exception to Microsoft's claim that UML is too complex.

In a statement, Microsoft said: "For Visual Studio 2005 Team System Microsoft will build designers for the more common UML diagrams, and will build diagrams for a lot more than strictly UML. Microsoft will also work with partners to provide a more full UML solution. In version 1, the only UML diagram offered will be the class designer."

Meanwhile, Microsoft is partnering with application lifecycle management companies such as Borland, of Scotts Valley, Calif., to do things like deliver a road map for systems integrators, including patterns and best practices on how to best use the new Microsoft technology.

In addition, Borland announced the release of a new edition of Borland Together Edition for Microsoft Visual Studio .Net, a design and modeling tool. Borland also is promoting integration between its CaliberRM requirements management tool and the new Microsoft system.

Other announcements included the following:

Avicode Inc., of Hartford, Conn., said its fault management solution, Intercept Studio 2.0, is now integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. The company delivered a beta version of the integration at the TechEd show.

This article was first published on eweek.com.

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