Eric Explores Java.NIO

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:50:17 -0400

In this Programming with Reason column, I explore the performance differences between Java file IO with Random Access Files, and Java NIO Memory Mapped Buffers. Read about it and download the code here...

Java For Embedded Devices

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 21:55:19 -0400

C isn't the only choice for embedded development. Java has been a valid choice for years, for devices of all sizes.
I recently received a question asking about the pros and cons of developing software for an embedded device with Java. To answer the question, I first pointed out that Java remains the most popular development language in the world for enterprise and web application development, as well as in mobile and embedded solutions. Yes, I've seen the recent survey by TIOBE, but its criteria is based on search engine results, and it may not be an accurate indicator of just which language is most used.
In summary, with millions of Java developers world-wide, and literally billions of devices of all sizes deployed with Java virtual machines (VM), Java is arguably the most widely used environment in the embedded space.
Oracle offers Java Micro Edition (ME) for some of the smaller devices such as cell phones, but they also offer Java SE Embedded for embedded use in more capable systems. It differs from standard Java SE in that it requires less storage space to install and less memory to run. But otherwise, it's nearly identical to desktop Java, which makes it easier to develop for. Oracle offers headless versions that are even smaller in footprint for embedded devices with no UI requirements. There's also support for embedded Linux and Windows releases, and processors such as ARM, PowerPC, MIPS, along with Intel x86 and Atom. See the following page for a matrix of supported OS and processor combinations: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/embedded.jsp
JIT Compilation - Sometimes Faster than C/C++
Other Java SE Embedded differences include internal tuning to run well on devices with constrained resources such as processor, storage, and memory capacity. This includes tuned versions of functionality Java developers have come to expect from a Java VM, including automatic garbage collection, and HotSpot just-in-time (JIT) code compilation. HotSpot compiles your application's class bytecode to native machine language that allows it to run equally well when compared to compiled C applications. In many cases, Java applications can even exceed the performance of C/C++ applications because the Java code is compiled and optimized according to dynamic run-time conditions. C applications are compiled and optimized statically, where as the JVM continually optimizes your application as it executes over time.
All of these features make Java an ideal language and platform for even the smallest of embedded devices. Take a look at this page for more information, along with trial downloads for different OS and processor combinations: http://java.sun.com/javase/embedded/index.jsp
Happy Coding! -EJB

JavaFX 1.3 Released

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:55:41 -0400

Oracle has released the much anticipated JavaFX 1.3 SDK and runtime, along with the JavaFX Production Suite (for graphic design work), and NetBeans 6.9 Beta with an updated JavaFX Composer tool. You can get all of this for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and Solaris x86 here.
This release includes JavaFX TV support with an emulator (which only runs on Windows XP). Other additions include: -Improved performance (especially for binding) -Much faster startup time -Faster animations in terms of frames/second -Reduced memory usage all around -A JavaFX Mobile Emulator for all platforms -An improved JavaFX Script editor -New UI controls -New layouts -Native JavaFX fonts (Amble) -Increased customization through CSS support
What you'll notice right away, besides the performance and startup improvements, are the new controls, and enhancements to the existing controls. If you're a designer or site artist, you'll appreciate the production suite of tools that allow you to collaborate with developers better, and the ability to pull in your existing work from Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Go ahead and check it all out javafx.com.

Glassfish Roadmap and Java Se 6 Update

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:47:23 -0400

Oracle announced some details on the future of Glassfish. In a nutshell, Oracle will continue developing Glasfish as open-source, clustering will be included, it will continue to be a full-featured Java EE 6 implementation, there will be some degree of integration with Oracle Fusion, and it will run on both the Hotspot and JRockit JVMs. Oracle will also maintain the “100 day” release schedule for versions 2.1.2 and 3.0.1, with version 3.1 coming later this year.

Java SE 6 Update 20 was released this week with some critical bug and security fixes. Oracle strongly recommends that Java SE 6 users upgrade to this release. For more information on the security issues fixed, check out this recent US-CERT notification.

2010 Java Survey Results

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:40:10 -0400

Replay Solutions today released the results from their annual Java technology survey. This year, over 1,000 Java developers and enterprise architects responded with some interesting results. Select questions from the survey include:

- Which Java EE App Servers will you deploy in 2010? - What is the most important Java EE IDE in 2010? - Will you increase Java deployments on virtual machines in 2010? - Will you deploy Java to the cloud in 2010? - What cloud technologies will you use in 2010? - Which operating systems will you deploy Java on in 2010? - Which JVMs will you deploy in 2010? - What Java EE Frameworks and Components will you use in 2010?

Here are some of the interesting results:

- Java Developers Are Surprisingly Interested in Cloud Computing:  36% said they will either test or deploy parts of their infrastructure to the cloud in 2010.  35% expect to more than double virtual machine deployments in 2010.

- Java EE App Servers (more than one selection allowed):  57% of respondents chose Apache Tomcat 37% chose WebSphere 26% chose JBoss 22% chose WebLogic

- Java Platforms:  57% of respondents said they expect to run Java applications on Windows 35% chose Red Hat or CentOS 18% on Solaris.

- Java EE IDEs:  66% of respondents said the Eclipse IDE was still the most important Java EE IDE.  17% chose NetBeans  12% chose JDeveloper

It's interesting to note that Oracle, now the owner of the Java platform, consistently ranked at the bottom--if at all--in these results for its own products. The full results of the survey are available at here.