A Virtual Cup of Coffee: Java

The story of Java began in 1993. Patrick Naughton, a software engineer with Sun Microsystems complained about the different combinations of software APIs (application programming interfaces) he had to work with. The CEO, Scott McNealy, tried to work around this problem by asking Naughton to state his complaints and the solutions he could offer for them. Naughton did so and much to his surprise developed a software that would work on multiple platforms.

A team, code named Green was entrusted with the task of developing the software. They discussed the pros and cons of the existing system before proceeding with their current task. They chose to call their work a new object-oriented programming language, Oak. This was primarily based on C++ and was developed to be compatible with the limited space chips in existing hand held devices offered. Oak was designed to allow programmers to easily support dynamic, changeable hardware.

The team had still to find a way to commercialise their idea. They chose the television market to pursue their marketing strategies.

However, the onset of the World Wide Web gave the company its commercial idea. Green, by now a full-fledged company called First Person, used its limited resources on a software system for online multimedia. It was taken a little further and positioned as a "language based operating system." The Oak language itself became the product, instead of remaining a part of a device. The language was renamed as Java and was given away free in source form on the Internet. The ball started rolling when Netscape threw its considerable influence behind Java, and the Java era sailed in.

Java is known today for the capability it offers in both Web page interactivity. It has evolved into a computing platform where software developers to build applications.

Java technology-based software are agile, interactive programs called applets. These work inside Web browsers on computers and other devices. Unlike other applications, applets reside on the network in centralised servers. The network delivers the applet to the system on request.

For instance, to check your account at an online store, you would dial in to the Internet and then use your browser to surf over to the e-store and log into its system. The data will be sent to you by the store along with the applet needed to view it. The status of your shopping cart or account is dynamic and can be modified on-the-fly because applet allows you to.

Java technology is revolutionary because it allows computers and devices to communicate with one another more easily than ever before. Moreover, with Java applications can be created and deployed with ease.

Java technology-based software can be delivered over a network, CD-ROMs needn't be used for installation. Programs written in the Java programming language can run on many different systems because of an in-built component, the Java virtual machine. This translator turns general Java platform instructions into tailored commands that make the devices do the work.

Java Communication: The Next Generation
Java technology-based software can be used in Screen Phone with PersonalJava and Web browser, a Mobile Phone with PersonalJava or embedded Java, a Desktop computer with Java-enabled Web Browser, a Desktop Computer with Java technology-based application, Network Computer and a Server with Java based applications or Servlets.

Java software can either be built into the phone or delivered in realtime via a wireless connection. Stock quotes, calendars and address books are the kinds of applications typically built with this software. Java virtual machine interacts with a screen display engine and provides the visual interface on the phone.

Only after stringent security checks, the Java virtual machine runs the software. Often, the Java virtual machine is integrated directly into the phone's real time operating system. The phone's real-time operating system provides device-specific support for many of the actual operations and interactions.

Now, interactive Java software is integrated into the phone. The software can also control the back-end workings of the phone itself and manage automatic software updates.