In the wake of Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems,
analysts and industry commentators have been predicting the
emergence of a more commercially aware version of the Java
programming language and platform.
The first signs of this may have surfaced at the company's
JavaOne developer conference this week, with the announcement of a
new Java Store to showcase applications in front the 800 million
desktop Java technology users worldwide.
This consumer-facing storefront has been developed in response
to what Sun says is the increasing number of Java developers who
have embraced its technology, but have been frustrated at the lack
of a clear route to monetisation of their software.
Built to house Java SE (standard edition) and JavaFX rich
internet applications, the company hopes that both corporate Java
shops and small software start-ups alike will be able to reach a
widening customer audience through this new channel.
The Java Store will begin life as a private beta programme
before its full international roll-out. Developers can submit
applications to the store's 'Java Warehouse' and, if selected by
Sun, their software can progress upward for distribution in the
Java Store, where it can be delivered to end-users via the Java
Runtime Environment (JRE).
Sun says the Java Store will contain personal productivity,
business and entertainment software presented in a straightforward
user interface that allows users to install applications by
dragging them directly onto their computer desktop. Consumers can
sign up for a
chance to participate in the Java Store private beta programme and
developers can submit
applications for the Java Warehouse.
This news announcement followed a keynote speech 'handover' by
Sun chairman Scott McNealy to the man he described as "the next
leader of the Java community, Mr Larry Ellison". Ellison joined
McNealy on stage at JavaOne to comment on his hopes and aspirations
for the future of Java.
"Oracle has invested more in Java (in terms of dollars) than
anybody else. I am determined to expand the Java community and to
encourage the Open Office group to build rapidly now. If you want
to know more about the future for Java, then just look at its past.
I expect very few changes apart from an expanded level of
enthusiasm for Java from Oracle," said Eillison.