Sun Microsystems has announced the general availability of Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0. Sun invented the Java programming language in 1995, and it has grown to become one of the world's most popular programming platforms.
As one of the largest projects developed through the Java Community Process (JCP), J2SE 5.0 involved nearly 160 expert members designing over 100 features that drive extensive developer benefits, including ease of use, overall performance and scalability, system monitoring and management, and rich client desktop development.
Sean O'Hare, 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 Corporation, Cisco Systems, Fujitsu Limited, 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 O'Hare.
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 says.
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 startup 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," continues O'Hare.
"The installed base of Java-based technology users continues to dominate in the enterprise and on the desktop with an estimated 150 million downloads of J2SE since its availability in December 1998. Additionally, nine out of the 10 leading PC manufacturers, cumulatively representing over 60% of the PC market, are now factory-installing the Java Runtime Environment on their systems," he concludes.
Pricing and availability
The J2SE 5.0 platform and JRE are now available for download at http://www.java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.jsp. For more information on Java, visit the Sun Developer Network at www.sun.com/developers.
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