Oracle and Apple today announced the OpenJDK project for Mac OS X. Apple will contribute most of the key components, tools and technology required for a Java SE 7 implementation on Mac OS X, including a 32-bit and 64-bit HotSpot-based Java virtual machine, class libraries, a networking stack and the foundation for a new graphical client. OpenJDK will make Apple’s Java technology available to open source developers so they can access and contribute to the effort.
“We are excited to welcome Apple as a significant contributor in the growing OpenJDK community,” said Hasan Rizvi, Oracle’s senior vice president of Development, in the press release. “The availability of Java on Mac OS X plays a key role in the cross-platform promise of the Java platform. The Java developer community can rest assured that the leading edge Java environment will continue to be available on Mac OS X in the future. Combined with last month’s announcement of IBM joining the OpenJDK, the project now has the backing of three of the biggest names in software.”
“We’re delighted to be working with Oracle to insure that there continues to be a great version of Java on the Mac,” said Bertrand Serlet, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, in the press release. “The best way for our users to always have the most up to date and secure version of Java will be to get it directly from Oracle.”
Apple also confirmed that Java SE 6 will continue to be available from Apple for Mac OS X Snow Leopard and the upcoming release of Mac OS X Lion. Java SE 7 and future versions of Java for Mac OS X will be available from Oracle.
Java is a general purpose software development platform that is specifically designed to be open and enable application developers to “write once, run anywhere.” The Java platform is most widely used in business software, web and mobile applications.
More information:
• Java Platform, Standard Edition
• OpenJDK
• JDK 7 Feature Roadmap
Source: Apple Inc.
Not that I’m a big Java proponent, but this is good news. The more options taken away from Mac, the more people will look elsewhere.
Ok, so Apple stopped supporting their Java run-time a few weeks ago. We just need to wait a few more weeks, and the Xserve issue will be fixed, too. Right?
Yes, there is a God after all! I was so afraid Apple would come after us in the server market by collaboratiing with Oracle/Sun to come out with an Xserve replacement but instead they choose to dawdle with Java. That should give me time to consolidate MS Server in every education & movie editing backing.
…and JavaFX.
just my $0.02
I understand the reasons for not being a Flash fan, particularly on mobile platforms, but how different is Java as a “write once, run anywhere” solution. If the installed base of Flash is 100s of millions, it would seem that it would easier to fix bad code than watch competitors catch up.
@Ballmer’s whatever
I realise that you are channeling a general all things MS persona built upon El Zune Tang’s original take. I think I get that. It’s just that you’re somehow coming across so very lame instead of witty, let alone acerbic. I mean, if you have to ‘wink wink it’s a sarcasm’ right from your name, then it kindda makes it, well, tragic really.
I know your heart is in the right place, and therefore I’m sorry for ball-busting you like this (I know straight lace tongue in cheeks can be tough and I can’t do it), but really after seeing so many of your attempts at humour lately, I thought I might say something. Nothing personal, and hope you’ll understand.
Cheers.
All we need now is for Oracle to deliver their server hardware with Mac OS X server as an optional install and the circle will be complete.
This is a very significant alliance.
This move was needed to move the Java JRE 7 to iOS via an Oracle App Store. Jobs isn’t stupid, it’s actually a brilliant move. By putting the development burden back where it should have been in the first place it assures the development and continuation of Java development without costing Apple resources better used to develop Mac OS X and iOS. Apple made to call to focus iOS development on the OS without needing to worry about bringing Java along for the ride Apple was able to focus on making iOS what it is, the best model OS on the planet.
@ cricket
Is your nick a reflection of the noise a cricket makes? Because if that is so then I suggest you bend over & take it like a man whenever SJ gives it to you up the posterior. The Xserve debacle is alienating many loyal Apple fans but I guess your homo-eroticism with SJ prevents you from seeing the light.
Ha!
Well, they sure handled this press news better on this than they did with the “Flash is going back to Adobe” news.
It’s funny:
“In the future, you will get Flash directly from Adobe”
“Oh no, this is the death of Apple!”
“In the future, you will get Java directly from Oracle”.
Oh wow, that’s really great!”
It’s all in how you announce it.
Ballmer’s left nut,
You have crossed over from merely lame to childish and offensive.
Clean up your act.
@Googled, there is actually a huge difference between Flash and Java “write once, run anywhere” solution. Flash is a client side development solely. Its for building a GUI, and its tools and features center around giving you rich graphical capabilities.
Java on the other hand is a general-purpose development environment that can be used for UI. Its most popular usage is to develop server systems to power the web. Apple’s WebObjects, that powers iTunes Store, is built with Java.
The lack of Flash on a Mac means YOU as a user can’t experience sites that use it. The lack of Java on a Mac means that a whole host of serious applications are unavailable to you, but more importantly, you can’t use a Mac as a means to develop and use OS X as a server to deliver Java-based applications (web / server / etc).
Considering how poorly the XServes were apparently selling, it’s interesting to watch the manufactured internet outrage around Apple’s decision to drop them. I’d wager the number of people getting on their soapbox complaining about it is significantly higher than those who actually bought one in the first place.
As for this Java stuff in future versions of OS X, I’m hopeful they make it entirely optional, rather than an in-built part of the system. I really don’t need it.
Ballmer’s left nut:
A troll trying to disguise himself as a fanboi disguising himself as a troll.
’tain’t workin’
MW = all, as in, That’s all, folks.
Interesting.
On the Xserve matter, this has me thinking that Apple may partner with Sun to deliver Apple oriented servers, or run OS X Server on Sun hardware.
This is more significant that it looks. If you think Jobs bought and nurtured Next/OS X just to one day peddle small electronics only, you are a fool. Having hardcore geeks using Mac OS is very important to its development and future.
@Googled – Adobe actually uses Java a lot in its Flash integration with various OS and platforms. Adobe simply had the “flashier” and easier to use GUI software that beat out the Java GUI suite. But for backend services and all around computing Java is more complete. To me if you have Java then Flash is redundant. But lots of designers rather work with Adobe scripts and tags then learning Java.
The outrage was drummed up by all of those MDN stores about Apple taking over the enterprise.
People don’t realise that 50% of the news on this site is incredibly biased and the rest is just made up.
This is the way it should have been all along. Sun screwed Apple over with poor cooperation on Java for Mac. Here we see a benefit of Oracle now owning Java.
We also see elements of Java going Open Source. The whole thing should be Open Source! Some day…
Anonymous coward ‘me’ sez: “People don’t realise that 50% of the news on this site is incredibly biased and the rest is just made up.”
Right.
Q: And you are WHO?
A: An anonymous coward.
I wish I was brave like you Derek.
What’s your real name and address by the way?
HAHAHAHA!
Anonymous coward ‘me’ was too lazy to Google me.
Bite me ‘me’. Trolling is sadomasochism. You love to hate and you love others to hate you. Simple as that.
There’s help for that.