The Three Key Questions for the Future of Java

The Three Key Questions for the Future of Java

e have all heard the speculations about why Oracle is purchasing Sun:

  • Oracle is trying to get on the same level as IBM. They want to be considered a complete vendor, offering applications, platforms, and databases. A one-stop shop, if you will.
  • Oracle has maxed out the applications and database markets. To remain a major player in the space, they have to expand and get into the hardware business.
  • The purchase is a long-term defensive move in response to the rumors of Microsoft purchasing SAP.

While the reasons for the purchase may be important to many people, what is most important to me is what happens to the Java technologies that Sun has created, built up, and serviced over the past 15 years. I have often written that “Java is COBOL,” because almost every business today has some sort of Java somewhere doing something. Rumors are flying around the application development industry, but it is way too early in the process to know just where the dust will settle and how the story will end. That does not mean that we cannot use history as a guide to predict the future.

I have often written that “Java is COBOL,” because almost every business today has some sort of Java somewhere doing something.

Looking at the Oracle acquisition from a purely Java perspective, the three key questions are:

  • Will the Java Community Process (JCP) continue to exist?
  • Will the dispute between the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) and Sun be resolved?
  • Could Oracle seize Java IP by withholding TCKs for the JDK?

Will the JCP Continue to Exist?

Oracle is an Executive Member of the JCP and they have submitted over 80 Java Specification Requests (JSRs). Even with this long-standing commitment to participation, Oracle has stated?in a chorus with other vendors and participants–that the JCP process needs to become more open, transparent, and vendor-neutral. Specifically, on December 12, 2007, Oracle proposed the following:

Resolution 1 (proposed by Oracle, seconded by BEA)

“It is the sense of the Executive Committee that the JCP become an open independent vendor-neutral Standards Organization where all members participate on a level playing field with the following characteristics:

  • members fund development and management expenses
  • a legal entity with by-laws, governing body, membership, etc.
  • a new, simplified IPR Policy that permits the broadest number of implementations
  • stringent compatibility requirements
  • dedicated to promoting the Java programming model

Furthermore, the EC shall put a plan in place to make such transition as soon as practical with minimal disruption to the Java Community.”

So we can expect Oracle to continue the JCP, but it may become a completely different JCP. If Oracle is successful in implementing its desired changes, the results could be very interesting and wide reaching. It will be especially interesting to see how Oracle would implement the changes. That will be one of the first indications of how Oracle will work with Java.

Will the Dispute Between Apache and Sun Be Resolved?

The main issues surrounding the Apache/Sun dispute are varied, but here is a short summary of events that led up to it:

  1. The Apache Harmony Project was intended to create an ASF-licensed modular virtual machine (VM) and a JDK based on Java SE version 5.0.
  2. Sun open sourced the JDK with the OpenJDK project.
  3. To be a certified JDK, Harmony had to pass Sun’s Technology Compatibility Kits (TCKs).
  4. Sun stated that Harmony was based on the old JDK 5.0 standard and not on the latest JDK (6.0, at the time), so the certification process stalled and the Harmony Project was left in limbo.

To this day, the OpenJDK governance board has not resolved the dispute. How Oracle handles this situation is the second barometer of how they will manage the Java process.

Could Oracle Seize Java IP by Withholding TCKs for the JDK?

The many legal issues involved in JDK certification could be a large can of worms for Java. For example, unless you pass the TCK for the OpenJDK, you do not get rights to the Java Intellectual Property (IP)?i.e., you don’t have a certified JDK.

There is really no way to have an official OpenJDK 7.

Since we don’t have a specification for Java SE 7 and Sun does not appear to be pushing for one, there is really no way to have an official OpenJDK 7. Oracle could take the same approach and not release a specification or the TCKs, and thus keep the IP internal.

Reading the Tea Leaves

As you can see, the three questions above are intertwined to such a degree that each answer could itself have different levels and layers, such as:

  • The JCP will most likely continue to exist, but it may assume a different role in dictating the direction of the technology.
  • That difference in governance could provide a simple fix for the ASF issues, leaving them as a fading memory.
  • Oracle may release a new JDK specification and the TCKs along with it, fully realizing the promise of an open JDK.

How these factors play out will give the Java developer community a clear understanding of how Oracle intends to run Java.

devx-admin

devx-admin

Share the Post:
Razer Discount

Unbelievable Razer Blade 17 Discount

On September 24, 2023, it was reported that Razer, a popular brand in the premium gaming laptop industry, is offering an exceptional deal on their

Innovation Ignition

New Fintech Innovation Ignites Change

The fintech sector continues to attract substantial interest, as demonstrated by a dedicated fintech stage at a recent event featuring panel discussions and informal conversations

Import Easing

Easing Import Rules for Big Tech

India has chosen to ease its proposed restrictions on imports of laptops, tablets, and other IT hardware, allowing manufacturers like Apple Inc., HP Inc., and

Anthropic Investment

Amazon’s Bold Anthropic Investment

On Monday, Amazon announced its plan to invest up to $4 billion in the AI firm Anthropic, acquiring a minority stake in the process. This

AI Experts Get Hired

Tech Industry Rehiring Wave: AI Experts Wanted

A few months ago, Big Tech companies were downsizing their workforce, but currently, many are considering rehiring some of these employees, especially in popular fields

Razer Discount

Unbelievable Razer Blade 17 Discount

On September 24, 2023, it was reported that Razer, a popular brand in the premium gaming laptop industry, is offering an exceptional deal on their Razer Blade 17 model. Typically

Innovation Ignition

New Fintech Innovation Ignites Change

The fintech sector continues to attract substantial interest, as demonstrated by a dedicated fintech stage at a recent event featuring panel discussions and informal conversations with industry professionals. The gathering,

Import Easing

Easing Import Rules for Big Tech

India has chosen to ease its proposed restrictions on imports of laptops, tablets, and other IT hardware, allowing manufacturers like Apple Inc., HP Inc., and Dell Technologies Inc. more time

Semiconductor Stock Plummet

Dramatic Downturn in Semiconductor Stocks Looms

Recent events show that the S&P Semiconductors Select Industry Index seems to be experiencing a downturn, which could result in a decline in semiconductor stocks. Known as a key indicator

Anthropic Investment

Amazon’s Bold Anthropic Investment

On Monday, Amazon announced its plan to invest up to $4 billion in the AI firm Anthropic, acquiring a minority stake in the process. This decision demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to

AI Experts Get Hired

Tech Industry Rehiring Wave: AI Experts Wanted

A few months ago, Big Tech companies were downsizing their workforce, but currently, many are considering rehiring some of these employees, especially in popular fields such as artificial intelligence. The

Lagos Migration

Middle-Class Migration: Undermining Democracy?

As the middle class in Lagos, Nigeria, increasingly migrates to private communities, a PhD scholar from a leading technology institute has been investigating the impact of this development on democratic

AI Software Development

ChatGPT is Now Making Video Games

Pietro Schirano’s foray into using ChatGPT, an AI tool for programming, has opened up new vistas in game and software development. As design lead at business finance firm Brex, Schirano

Llama Codebot

Developers! Here’s Your Chatbot

Meta Platforms has recently unveiled Code Llama, a free chatbot designed to aid developers in crafting coding scripts. This large language model (LLM), developed using Meta’s Llama 2 model, serves

Tech Layoffs

Unraveling the Tech Sector’s Historic Job Losses

Throughout 2023, the tech sector has experienced a record-breaking number of job losses, impacting tens of thousands of workers across various companies, including well-established corporations and emerging startups in areas

Chinese 5G Limitation

Germany Considers Limiting Chinese 5G Tech

A recent report has put forth the possibility that Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community may consider limiting the use of Chinese 5G technology by local network providers

Modern Warfare

The Barak Tank is Transforming Modern Warfare

The Barak tank is a groundbreaking addition to the Israeli Defense Forces’ arsenal, significantly enhancing their combat capabilities. This AI-powered military vehicle is expected to transform the way modern warfare

AI Cheating Growth

AI Plagiarism Challenges Shake Academic Integrity

As generative AI technologies like ChatGPT become increasingly prevalent among students and raise concerns about widespread cheating, prominent universities have halted their use of AI detection software, such as Turnitin’s

US Commitment

US Approves Sustainable Battery Research

The US Department of Energy has revealed a $325 million commitment in the research of innovative battery types, designed to enable solar and wind power as continuous, 24-hour energy sources.

Netanyahu Musk AI

Netanyahu and Musk Discuss AI Future

On September 22, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with entrepreneur Elon Musk in San Francisco prior to attending the United Nations. In a live-streamed discussion, Netanyahu lauded Musk

Urban Gardening

Creating Thriving Cities Through Urban Gardening

The rising popularity of urban gardening is receiving increased recognition for its numerous advantages, as demonstrated in a recent study featured in the Environmental Research Letters journal. Carried out by

What You Need to Know About Cloud Security Strategies

What You Need to Know About Cloud Security Strategies

Today, many businesses are adopting cloud computing services. As a result, it’s important to recognize that security measures for data in the cloud are different from those in traditional on-premises

Romanian Energy Security

Eastern Europe is Achieving Energy Security

Canada and Romania have solidified their commitment to energy security and independence from Russian energy exports by signing a $3-billion export development agreement. The deal is centered on constructing two

Seamless Integration

Unlocking Seamless Smart Home Integration

The vision of an intelligently organized and interconnected smart home that conserves time, energy, and resources has long been desired by many homeowners. However, this aspiration has often been hindered

New Algorithm

MicroAlgo’s Groundbreaking Algorithm

MicroAlgo Inc. has revealed the creation of a knowledge-augmented backtracking search algorithm, developed through extensive research in evolutionary computational techniques. The algorithm is designed to boost problem-solving effectiveness, precision, and

Poland Energy Future

Westinghouse Builds Polish Power Plant

Westinghouse Electric Company and Bechtel have come together to establish a formal partnership in order to design and construct Poland’s inaugural nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania.

EV Labor Market

EV Industry Hurting For Skilled Labor

The United Auto Workers strike has highlighted the anticipated change towards a future dominated by electric vehicles (EVs), a shift which numerous people think will result in job losses. However,

Soaring EV Quotas

Soaring EV Quotas Spark Battle Against Time

Automakers are still expected to meet stringent electric vehicle (EV) sales quotas, despite the delayed ban on new petrol and diesel cars. Starting January 2023, more than one-fifth of automobiles