Sun ships new version of Java 2 Standard Edition

Date: 11 November 2004	Issue: One Hundred and fourteen (08/11/04 - 13/11/04) (ICT World)

Sun Microsystems has announced the general availability of Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0.

Sean OHare, Java systems engineer at Sun Microsystems SA, says J2SE 5.0 is being heralded as the most significant upgrade to the Java platform and programming language in nearly a decade.

J2SE 5.0 is delivering greatly improved developer productivity and better quality applications by relying on the values of the Java language. It sets the stage for the next wave of network systems innovation, he adds.

J2SE 5.0 is derived from the work of 15 component Java Specification Requests (JSRs) encompassing advanced capabilities for the language and platform.

Vendors participating in the J2SE 5.0 expert group include Apache Software Foundation, Apple Computer, BEA Systems, Borland Software, Cisco Systems, Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Macromedia, Nokia Corporation, Oracle, SAP AG, SAS Institute, SavaJe Technologies and Sun Microsystems.

Java language programmers can be more efficient and productive with new Java language features that enable faster and more secure coding. Generics, enumerated types, metadata and autoboxing of primitive types enable easier and faster coding, explains OHare.

The new platform also delivers better monitoring and management, a key focus for the new platform release, the Java Virtual Machine and Java technology-based applications, can be monitored and managed with the built-in support for Java Management Extensions.

This helps ensure that Java powered systems stay up and running longer, he adds.

Additional benefits include a new, more modern default Java technology-based application look and feel which provides an up-to-date GUI for Java technology-based applications; performance improvements such as faster start-up time; a smaller memory footprint; and JVM auto-tuning to drive greater overall application and development performance on J2SE 5.0 over previous versions.

The Java technology platform's leadership and impact on innovation in the network computing industry is undisputed. The J2SE platform is the foundation platform for delivering Java on the desktop and throughout the enterprise, concludes OHare.