JDC Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 4

JDCNewsletter@Sun.com
Thu, 24 Dec 1998 13:36:30 GMT

-WELCOME- to the Java Developer Connection(sm) Newsletter, covering Early
Access software releases, new products, developer programs, and more.

J D C N E W S L E T T E R

PRODUCT NEWS
* Early Access Developer Release Software
* Java(tm) 2 Final Release Now Available
* Production Beta of Java 2 for Solaris Now Available
* Java(tm) Foundation Classes 1.1 with Swing 1.1 Released
* Java(tm) Media Framework API 1.1 Released
* Java 3D(tm) API Released
* Java Naming and Directory Interface(tm) Released
* EmbeddedJava(tm) API Specification 1.0 Released
* PersonalJava(tm) 1.1.1 Application Environment Specification
Released


INSIDE THE JDC
* New on the JDC
* Announcing the Java(tm) Community Process


DEVELOPER PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES
* Sun Developer Essentials(sm) Subscription
* Need Technical Support?
* Java(tm) Foundation Classes Product Directory
* Java(tm) Foundation Classes Developer Kitchen Coming Soon
* Visit Sun's New Java Industry Web Site
* Enterprise Developer News

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P R O D U C T N E W S

EARLY ACCESS DEVELOPER RELEASE SOFTWARE. The following Java(tm) platform
software is now available for download on the JDC: Java Cryptography
Extension 1.2, Java(tm) Project X for XML-enabling services, Java(tm) 2
Solaris Production Beta Release. To access, see

http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/

JAVA(tm) 2 FINAL RELEASE NOW AVAILABLE for download. Formerly
code-named JDK(tm) 1.2, Java(tm) 2 for Windows 95/98/NT is free to
download and use in accordance with license agreements. This release adds
major features to the Java platform and tools since JDK 1.1. Java 2 brings
new functionality to the Java platform including Java(tm) 2D,
accessibility, drag & drop, application services, Java extensions
framework, collections, input methods, version identification, reference
objects, and Java interface definition language (IDL).

Major enhancements have been added to JavaBeans(tm) components, Java
Security, Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI), Java Sound, Java Database
Connectivity (JDBC(tm)), reflection, Java ARchive (JAR), and Java Native
Interface (JNI). Performance enhancements include: Solaris(tm) native
thread support, memory compression for loaded classes, faster memory
allocation and garbage collection, monitor speedups, native library JNI
port, Just In Time (JIT) Compilers, object serialization, and RMI. The
Java platform also includes floating changes to improve efficiency on
popular microprocessors.

Java 2 includes Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and Java Plug-in, tools
support (Java Virtual Machine Debugger Interface and Profiler Interface),
and tool improvements.

Globalization enhancements include Input Method Framework (supports
Japanese, Chinese, and Korean characters). Complex output using the Java
2D API to provide a bi-directional, high-quality display of Japanese,
Arabic, Hebrew and other character languages. For comprehensive
information about Java 2, see

http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2/

PRODUCTION BETA OF THE JAVA(tm) 2 FOR SOLARIS(TM) NOW AVAILABLE. Designed
to deliver superior performance and scalability to server-side Java
applications found in the Solaris enterprise environment, this release
includes an optimized version of the Java Virtual Machine (VM) found in the
reference implementation of the JDK. The results are that Java applications
running on Solaris can now benefit from the added performance gains of up
to 8CPUs.

This enhanced Java VM includes an optimizing Just-In-Time (JIT) Compiler,
native threads, fast-thread synchronization, and a state-of-the-art memory
system with exact, generational garbage collection. Combined with the
inherent enterprise capabilities of Solaris this release enables a truly
scalable, higher performing, and more reliable runtime environment for
deploying Java applications.

We are looking for immediate feedback from developers as this is likely the
last opportunity to incorporate bug fixes prior to the final release.
Please send your comments to solaris_jdk12_feedback@Sun.COM

To access download, see

http://www.sun.com/solaris/java

JAVA(tm) FOUNDATION CLASSES (JFC) 1.1 WITH SWING 1.1 RELEASED. The JFC 1.1
for JDK(tm) 1.1 environments provide performance and stability improvements,
finalized PLAF API, a new MacOS look and feel, and a new 100% Pure Java
installer. JFC 1.1 is certified as 100% Pure Java, which assures that
the Swing package runs as intended on all JDK 1.1, compatible platforms.
It also enables you to certify your JFC-based product as 100% Pure Java.
For more information, see

http://java.sun.com/products/jfc

JAVA(tm) MEDIA FRAMEWORK (JMF) API 1.1 RELEASED. Allows incorporation of
various media types into Java applets and applications. Supports the
synchronization, control, processing, and presentation of compressed
streaming as well as stored time-based media, including audio and video.
This 1.1 release of the JFM API is a cross-platform solution written
entirely in the Java programming language that allows developers to
implement multimedia for any Java Compatible(tm) environment supporting
JDK(tm) 1.1. To access, see

http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/jmf/1.1/

JAVA 3D(tm) API RELEASED. Brings the ease-of-use benefits of the Java
programming language to 3D developers, dispelling the myth that only
graphics specialists can write sophisticated 3D applications. Because the
Java 3D API was built on the network-centric Java platform, developers are
using this 3D programming tool to build applications that allow users to do
high-end 3D visualization over the network, regardless of the computing
platform.

Available free worldwide at http://java.sun.com/products/java-media/3D/ and
on the next release of Graphics@Sun CD-ROM in early 1999. For more
information, visit http://sun.com/desktop/java3d.

JAVA NAMING AND DIRECTORY INTERFACE(tm) (JNDI) RELEASED. A Java Standard
Extension providing Java applications with a unified interface to multiple
naming and directory services in the enterprise, as part of the Java
Enterprise API set, JNDI enables seamless connectivity to heterogeneous
enterprise naming and directory services. Developers can now build
powerful and portable directory-enabled applications using this industry
standard. To access, see

http://java.sun.com/products/jndi/

EMBEDDEDJAVA(TM) API SPECIFICATION 1.0 RELEASED. EmbeddedJava is a new
Java Application Environment for dedicated embedded devices. Developers
use EmbeddedJava to create a variety of products including mobile phones,
pagers, process control, instrumentation, office peripherals, and
networking routers and switches. EmbeddedJava applications run on
real-time operating systems, and are optimized for the constraints of small
memory footprints and diverse visual displays. To view the specification
and for more information, see

http://java.sun.com/products/embeddedjava

PERSONALJAVA(tm) 1.1.1 APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT (PJAE) SPECIFICATION AVAILABLE.
An update to the PersonalJava 1.1 API Specification, this document
describes the facilities that the PJAE provides to Java applications. PJAE
is a Java(tm) application environment that executes software written in the
Java programming language. The PJAE addresses the software needs of
networked applications running on personal consumer devices such as set-top
boxes and smart phones rather than desktop computers. To view the
specification and for more information, see

http://java.sun.com/products/personaljava/

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I N S I D E T H E J D C

NEW ON THE JDC. Technical articles covering Getting Started with Java 2
Tools and Configuration, Using Collections with Java 2, Java 2 Roadmap:
Putting it All Together.

ANNOUNCING THE JAVA(tm) COMMUNITY PROCESS. On December 8, 1998, Sun
Microsystems, Inc., announced the Java Community Process for the
development and revision of Java technology specifications by the broader
Java Community. This formal process will enable participation in the
proposal, selection, and development of Java APIs by establishing a means
for both licensees and non licensees to participate. It is designed to be
fast, flexible, and adaptable to a wide variety of working styles present
in the Java community today. For complete information, see

http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/jcp/index.html

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D E V E L O P E R P R O G R A M S A N D R E S O U R C E S

SUN DEVELOPER ESSENTIALS(SM) SUBSCRIPTION AVAILABLE. A one-stop source
for the latest versions of software, tools and technologies needed to
develop applications on the Solaris(tm) Operating Environment and Java
platform. Three editions are available to subscribe to: Foundation
Edition, Professional Edition and Enterprise Edition. Each renewable
one-year, single-user license edition subscription offers tools and
products to meet the needs of developers of all experience and interest
levels. For more information or to order a subscription, see:

http://www.sun.com/developers/essentials.html

NEED TECHNICAL SUPPORT? Consider Sun Support Access. Designed to be easy
and affordable, provides access to development support for Java technology
and the Solaris operating environment. Offers flexible alternatives for
problem escalation and resolution through Sun developer software engineers.
For more information and available options, see

http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/techSupport/supportaccess.html

JAVA(tm) FOUNDATION CLASSES (JFC) PRODUCT DIRECTORY. Are you developing
commercial products that make use of Java Foundation Classes? Broaden the
exposure of your product to the Java community by listing your product in
the JFC Directory. The JFC Directory is a new addition to the Java
Solutions Guide. This database maintained by Sun Microsystems enables you
to search for products by company, name, product type, or market sector.
The JFC Directory is a free service to market your products to developers
and enterprise customers looking for great JFC-enabled products. For more
information, see

http://jfc.cuesta.com/c/@0/Pages/enrollment.html

JAVA(TM) FOUNDATION CLASSES (JFC) DEVELOPER KITCHEN COMING SOON. Come to
the Java 2 JFC Developer Kitchen hosted by Sun Microsystems and Nova Labs.
Get your team up and running with this exciting new platform release.
Learn how to migrate your JDK(tm) 1.1 projects now. Explore key features,
learn how to migrate from AWT to Swing and mix and match Swing/AWT
components, and more. Get tips and tricks right from the Sun Microsystems
Development team!

Dates and Locations:

Feb 22-23: Cambridge MA
Feb 25-26: Chicago, IL
Mar 1-2: Denver CO
Mar 4-5: Toronto, Ontario
Mar 8-9: Santa Clara, CA
Mar 11-12: Dallas, TX

Come to one day or both, only $299 per day. For more information see

http://www.nova-labs.com

VISIT SUN'S NEW JAVA INDUSTRY WEB SITE. One-click access to a broad range
of information, including Java technology-related industry announcements,
customer success stories, product and customer news, a Java Software
solutions guide as well as a consolidation of news sources specific to Java
technology news. To access, see

http://java.sun.com/industry

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPER NEWS. See the December update on the Java(tm)
Software Developer Partner Programs page, a joint effort by HP, IBM,
Netscape, Novell, and Oracle, and Sun. Find downloads, technical support
resources, education and certification programs, and more from these
companies. To access see:

http://java.sun.com/PartnerPrograms/

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-Copyright
Copyright 1998 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
901 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94303 USA

This document is protected by copyright. For more information, see:

http://java.sun.com/jdc/copyright.html

JDC Newsletter
Vol. 2 No. 4
December 22, 1998