Java Archive

A ZDNet article notes that Sun's JavaOne conference, starting today, will likely have a more somber mood than the one in 2000, when Java was seemingly ruling the world. Sun is facing a two-front assault by Microsoft and Open Source, and though its Java platform is a bright spot in its business plan, many users are clamoring for Sun to cede more control over its direction or even free the source code. Some major Java vendors like BEA and IBM are bypassing Sun's "Java Community Process" and releasing Java extensions on their own.

Learn how to deal with objects: creating them, reading their values and changing them, and calling their methods. Also learn how to cast objects from one class to another, cast to and from primitive data types and classes, and take advantage of automatic conversions through autoboxing and unboxing.

According to the Eclipse web site, version 3.0 is now available for public consumption.

Sun Microsystems will launch its newest Java development tool at the JavaOne conference next week and lay out plans for improvements to the Java language.

"I ran starry-eyed into the arms of Java 9 years ago. I build enterprise Java applications in my sad day job. I think I can speak with authority to Java's failings. Both authors of the original documents made claims of 'solution'. I assert that all software exists for the end-user, and a 'solution' that helps the developer, or requires arcane knowledge, solves nothing. Toolkits that allow developers to rapidly create portable code are a necessity to meet business and user needs." Interesting editorial by C.C. Hovey.

Here is a comparison of a C and Java speech librarywhere the Java version is 2-3 times faster, with server VM configuration. And here are some more C++ and java comparisons, with various algorithms. Elsewhere, Java 1.5 is 20% faster than C says JavaLobby. And some of our tests.

Contrary to published reports, Sun has not made a decision as to whether or not to release its Java platform under an open source software license, company executives said Friday.

Sun has backed up an announcement that its Solaris server operating system will have an open source flavour by making a similar promise for its Java technology.

Most of the advice on the use of exceptions in the Java language suggests that checked exceptions should be preferred in any case where an exception conceivably might be caught.

Robert Simmons continues his efforts to clarify confusion over the use of nested classes in Java in this week's installment, excerpted from Chapter 6 ("Nested Classes") of Hardcore Java. Robert discusses the somewhat troublesome limited-scope inner classes; one specific type within this category, known as anonymous classes; and the various problems programmers can encounter with limited-scope classes.

Interesting tool for Java developers:Static analysis tools promise to find existing bugs in your code without requiring much effort on the part of the developer. Of course, if you've been programming for long, you know those promises don't always pan out. Even so, good static analysis tools are a valuable addition to your toolbox. In this first of a two-part series, Senior Software Engineer Chris Grindstaff looks at how FindBugs can help improve the quality of your code and eliminate bugs lying in wait.