JLense provides a common user interface (UI) model for desktop applications.

At the core of JLense is an architecture for dynamic discovery of plug-ins. The platform handles the logistics of the base environment and provides a standard user navigation model. Each plug-in can then focus on doing a small number of tasks well. What kinds of tasks? Accessing corporate data and services, logging, reporting, managing the help system, scheduling...the only limit is your imagination.

The JLense platform defines an open architecture so that each plug-in development team can focus on their area of expertise. Let the repository experts build the back ends and the usability experts build the end user tools. If the platform is designed well, significant new features and levels of integration can be added without impact to other plugins.

The JLense platform uses the model of a common workbench to integrate features from the end user's point of view. Features that you develop can plug into the workbench using well defined hooks called extension points.

The underlying platform runtime uses the same extension model to allow plug-in developers to add support for additional data types and customized services, such as accounting, point of sale, and inventory services. The artifacts for each feature, such as files and other data, are coordinated by a common platform resource model.

The JLense project focus on the development of plugins that make it easier for Java developers to create world-class, thin-client, Swing-based, GUIs that integrate well with other standard technologies like XML, SOAP, CORBA, and EJB.

Opening sourcing JLense would be one possible way to get help with its development. On the other hand, the original goal that motivated JLense's creation was to create commercial software. Giving away the fruits of your labor isn't generally a good business plan.

However, the founder finally came to the conclusion that the benefits of collaborating with other developers on the development of the core JLense technology would far outweight the cost of giving away the result of lots of his own labor. JLense is open source with the hope that it will attract other developers that will contribute to the project for everyone's mutual benefit.

The founder's plan is, therefore, to build JLense into a world-class application framework and to build closed-source commercial software using the resulting framework. JLense hopes to attract like-minded developers that are similarly convinced of the benefits of open collaboration.

The name JLense is a reaction to the name of the Eclipse project.
There was some speculation that the name of the Eclipse project was perhaps specifically meant to suggest eclipsing of the 'Sun'.

While looking for a name for this project I read about a phenomenon called gravitational microlensing. In short, gravitational microlensing is similar to an eclipse in that a large object passes between us and another star. But unlike an eclipse, which obscures the more distant star, gravitational microlensing will cause the more distant star to become more visible or brighter in appearance.

And that is what I hope JLense (the large object between the viewer and the star) will do for Swing (the star).

Within the JLense project there will be users, developers, and commtters. These groups are defined as follows:

• Users - Users are those who are actively using JLense to build applications. These people are not contributing code to JLense but are making feature suggestions and reporting bugs.
• Developers - Developers are people who write code or documentation for the project. All developers who contribute to a source file or documentation may add their name to the list of authors for that file.
• Committers - Committers are developers who have shown a committment to the project by frequently contributing code and/or documentation to the project. A Committer has write access to the source code repository and gains voting rights allowing them to affect the future of the project.

The act of voting carries certain obligations. Voting members are not only stating their opinion, they are also agreeing to help do the work.

To view this model in action subscribe to the development list of one of the Apache projects.

Since JLense is an open source project you have the chance to participate and be involved. You can start by joining the mailing lists. Next download and build the project and give feedback on the mail lists.

Here's some good advise on how to get involved with an open source project in general.