Oracle Modernises Java ME Platform, Java ME 7
As popularity for the platform grows, Oracle have modernised Java ME via new Java Specification Requests (JSRs) to the Java Community Process (JCP). Rated as the leading programming language, according to the TIOBE Programming Community Index, Oracle has enabled customers and members of the Java community to submit JSRs for Java ME 7 to start development within the JCP.
The Java ME 7 release involves open review, weekly builds and collaboration between Oracle engineers and members of the Java ecosystem via the OpenJDK Community and the Java Community Process (JCP). Users of the new platform benefit from:
• Language changes to help increase developer productivity and simpler common programming actions by reducing the amount of code required.
• Improved support for dynamic languages including Ruby, Python and JavaScript, delivering increased performance on the JVM.
• A new multicore-ready API enabling developers to decompose problems into tasks to be executed across arbitrary numbers of processor cores in parallel.
• A comprehensive I/O interface for co-ordination with file systems that can access a wider array of file attributes, offering additional information when errors happen.
• New networking and security features.
• Expanded support for internationalisation, including Unicode 6.0 support.
• Updated versions of libraries.
Adam Messinger, Vice President of Development on Oracle Fusion Middleware, said in a statement, “We are very excited about the future of Java ME, which will further extend the world’s leading application platform for mobile and edge devices and offer increased opportunity for both Java developers and mobile operators.” He added, “Greater alignment between Java ME and the JDK will enable Java developers to leverage consistent tooling and resources, unlocking new possibilities and helping to enable a new wave of innovative applications.”
More platform extensions in the future will help operators to push critical applications and services to mobile devices, increasing handset presence and strengthening consumer relationships. Oracle will be submitting an update to the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) virtual machine and library specifications to better align with Java Development Kit (JDK) 7. They also plan to add new APIs, thereby extending the reach of Java ME 7 to billions of connected embedded devices and turning them into applications. Java Card technology adoption will be increased with the Java Card 3.0.4 platform, in emerging areas of Near Field Communication (NFC) mobile payments and machine-to-machine (M2M) secure devices.
Written by: Tobias Manolo