Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

BuildForge software allows application development teams to document what was created, how it was developed and where the application was put into production, according to IBM officials. Tools from Austin-based BuildForge -- combined with IBM Rational software -- will allow users to automate, track, audit and analyze their application development life cycles to boost product quality and move toward regulatory compliance, IBM said in a statement.

The acquisition is the third for Rational since IBM acquired it in 2002. The BuildForge tools will be sold under the Rational brand.