Ajax, or asynchronous JavaScript and XML, is a form of software development that uses an enhancement in JavaScript to make Web pages more interactive and behave like desktop applications. In releasing version 3.2 of the Tibco General Interface in beta, the company decided to offer an open source license to widen the toolkit's appeal.

"Offering TIBCO General Interface under an open source license broadens the availability of our proven enterprise-class AJAX RIA (rich Internet application) libraries and visual tools to an even larger group of developers and organizations," Kevin Hakman, director of product marketing for Tibco, said in a statement.

In addition to the new licensing option, Tibco added new functionality to the toolkit, including support for Firefox 1.5.

Tibco sells infrastructure software for building service-oriented architectures, a form of distributed computing that leverages Web services standards. The General Interface tools could be used in building the presentation layer of SOA-connected applications.

The toolkit includes more than 100 components, and visual layout, data management and communication tools for building Ajax applications. The new beta version of General Interface is available for download at no charge through the company's Website.