Sun Announces Beta Version of New Java Platform

Enterprise Networks & Servers, Mar 2004

Sun Microsystems has announced the beta program for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 1.5 - J2SE 1.5. Code named Project Tiger, the beta release of J2SE 1.5 includes new Java programming language updates focusing on ease-of-development, new application monitoring and management features, continued focus on rich client support for the PC desktop and greater performance. J2SE powers the Sun Java Enterprise System, the Sun Java Studio Enterprise tools and the Sun Java Desktop System offerings.

"Java technology gives developers the best platform for innovation and ease of development," said Mark Bauhaus, vice president, Java Web Services, Sun Microsystems. "J2SE 1.5 marks a tremendous achievement for the Java development community, and is a key milestone in the Java technology roadmap. These Java programming language enhancements appeal to a broad variety of Java developers by harnessing the power of the Java platform and allowing developers greater to access it."

The language updates in the new version allow developers to be more efficient and more productive by supporting faster and more secure coding. New features include generics, enumerated types, metadata and autoboxing of primitive types. Performance improvements integral to the new release include reduced startup time, a smaller memory footprint and Java Virtual Machine (JVM) auto-tuning to drive greater overall application and development performance on the new platform.

Monitoring and manageability is a key focus for the release, and J2SE 1.5 features improvements that allow Java technology-based applications created on the J2SE 1.5 platform to be deployed into existing SNMP-based enterprise management systems. This allows the JVM software to be monitored and managed for higher levels of reliability, availability and serviceability. Also new in J2SE 1.5 platform is the inclusion of the Java Management Extensions (JMX), delivering out-of-the-box deployment to enterprise management systems that support JMX.