Google Increases Tooling Options With Instantiations Acquisition

It looks like there could be interesting times on the way for Java developers who've used Instantiations products. Google has acquired Instantiations, one of the major tool providers for Java developers. A lot of you, especially those who use Eclipse, will be familliar with their Swing/SWT/GWT/RCP Designer tools, which provide a much needed visual editor for those frameworks, as well as their automated testing and code quality solutions.

In a quote on their website: 

Yes it’s true. Instantiations’ award-winning Java and Ajax development tools and our incredible Eclipse team have been acquired by Google. We are all very excited about taking our technology and team to the next level - and there is no bigger step up than Google! 

When you consider the GWTDesigner tool, it makes sense that Google would be happy buying them out, and providing a first class visual editor for GWT developers. Of course they get a lot more than GWTDesigner out of the bargain, and it probably won't be long before we see AndroidDesigner in the product offerings. Already developers are speculating whether or not the tools will be made open source: if they are, that's even bigger news!