Sun Microsystems has made new contributions to the open source community with the announcement that its Project Looking Glass and Java 3D technologies are to be made available to developers through its java.net portal.
This contribution is expected to result in a new dimension of developer innovation on Sun's 3D Desktop Technology Open Source Project, says Dumisani Mtoba, senior systems engineer at Sun Microsystems SA.
"While Java is pervasive in the mobile and the back-end, it is only beginning to make significant inroads into the desktop environment. With these new contributions, Sun is helping to drive the ubiquitous adoption of Java on any device and on any platform," he explains.
Project Looking Glass is a 3D desktop project that offers an intuitive 3D environment to interact with desktop applications. It features window transparency, rotation, zoom, multiple desktop workspaces and miniaturisation. The technology helps developers build visual 3D desktops and applications that will run on the Solaris Operating System and Linux systems such as Sun's Java Desktop System.
"The Project Looking Glass developer's release is expected to enable Java technology developers to break new ground in the way information and data is represented to the user," Mtoba says.
Meanwhile, the Java 3D API (application programming interface), recently used by NASA for its command and control system for the Mars Rover mission, helps developers incorporate platform-independent 3D graphics into applications and applets based on Java technology.
Sun is also working on additional open source desktop efforts in collaboration with the Java developer community, such as the JDesktop Network Components (JDNC) and JDesktop Integration Components (JDIC).
Explains Mtoba: "JDNC simplifies the development of networked desktop applications, while JDIC integrates cross-platform Java technology-based applications with the native desktop. These open source community contributions aim to promote innovation, ease of development, integration and interactivity on the desktop, and stimulate growth of the Java platform economy for all participants."
By contributing desktop technologies that provide simpler ways to create Java technology-based desktop content and integrating into the underlying operating system, Mtoba says Sun is broadening the desktop capabilities and ensuring ease-of-use for developers.
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