Customers can mix and match open source frameworks with BEA's WebLogic Workshop development environment for Java, Aman said.

BEA maintains that its commercial WebLogic platform provides commercial-grade features needed in enterprise applications and lacking in open source offerings. Open source platforms such as Tomcat and Geronimo can serve as a starting point toward moving to a BEA enterprise solution, according to the company.

BEA is looking to make an ally of open source, said Shawn Willett, an analyst at Current Analysis.

"It's a threat that they are trying to make into a friend," Willett said in an e-mail.

Noting the JBoss open source application server is produced by the commercial company of the same name, Willett said BEA is eyeing other open source platforms.