The free Maestro software offers Java application developers tools for managing builds, mapping dependencies and tracking reusable chunks of code. Making its debut in May, Maestro is designed to improve on Apache's project with a simplified installation bundle and rapid development work synched to user demands.
"We've made sure the release is completely tested and that all the key fixes customers require are bundled in," said Dave Schwartz, general manager at Mergere. "For instance, right now in the official Maven release, 2.0.4, there's a key bug in the way dependences are being resolved. We've patched the bug in our release."
Though Maestro is available as a free download, Mergere charges $10,000 per year, per server for its support services. The fledgling company, based in Marina del Rey, Calif., is actively recruiting resellers, which earn margins on Mergere license sales, Schwartz said.
One early partner, Java services firm Chariot Solutions in Fort Washington, Pa., is putting Maestro to work on several projects.
"When you have a project with many modules, particularly an SOA-type project, it becomes extremely useful to have a tool like Maven that can coordinate those modules and streamline the build process," Chariot CTO Aaron Mulder said. "The Maestro package has a more complete and consistent install process. If you have a big company with a lot of different teams, it's a lot easier to roll out Maestro than to tell the developers individually to follow a precise deployment process."
Maestro 1.1, released this week, adds features such as a reporting interface for tracking interconnections between coding projects.
Mergere is part of Simula Labs, an umbrella company for an assortment of linked open-source startups. Simula hopes to build a partner channel around its companies, which also include SOA platform developer LogicBlaze.
