Cross-platform compatibility has never been a big strength of the computer industry. Vocal attempts to standardize often fall on deaf ears as companies go it alone once they realize consensus-driven initiatives often do not align with their business plans.
One of the big advantages of the Java programming language is its platform-friendly attitude. Run it on Windrows, run it on Linux, run it on Unix, Java doesn’t care. But for it to thrive and survive it also needs to guarantee the continuation of this cross-platform compatibility.
Several years back, Sun Microsystems -the parent of the Java language – realized the evolution of Java needed to have a wider array of expertise than what existed just within Sun. In 1998 the Java Community Process was born to help guide the development and approval of Java technical specifications, while at the same time give developers input in Java’s evolution.
“We realized after a couple of years doing Java that companies were taking Java in places where we didn’t really think about or, for example, Sun doesn’t have expertise,” said Onno Kluyt, manager of the JCP program.
One JCP raison d’