dmf - Re: "Sun, Java, Intc, Compaq, etc."
This is Power Play Politics, Technical Edition.
SUN invented and proselytized Java, and a host of Java-related extensions and "components".
The basic concept is "hardware independent code" and "write once, run everywhere" software applications. I'll skip the details for now.
Java has some technical merits of its own, such as preventing direct access to memory, built in garbage collection, designed-in security features, etc. As such, it is creating a sea-change in the way software developers, especially those doing Internet related applications, approach & write their applications.
As the inventor and sole owner, SUN is in a position of power and control that Microsoft used to be in for "older" languages - Pascal, C, C++, Visual Basic, Visual C++ (note - Microsoft invented none of these but the Visual series were unique implimentations).
Anyhow, the companies mentioned - Intel, Microsoft & Compaq are ALL competitors of SUN and they want SUN to turn over control of their new and seemingly successful language to an OPEN STANDARDS BODY which will essentially wrest control of Java from SUN.
Once control of Java is taken away from SUN and given to a standards body, then Microsoft can repeat for Java what they effectively did for older languages - exert their own influence and "dialects" to make "M-Java " dependent upon Microsoft's operating systems.
Since Microsoft's OS runs primarily on Intel platforms, and Compaq Computers all are built around Intel platforms, the gang of three would all benefit - and SUN would lose a real trump card in the computer hardware/software bridge game.
My own opinion - JAVA may be the single best thing for Intel since Microsoft's SLOW Windows implementation.
JAVA, by its nature is an interpreted language (each line of pre-processed "byte-code" must be translated to the execution instructions of the host processor running the Java application) that EVEN FASTER, more COMPLEX PROCESSORS are required to run these applications.
Thus, JAVA applications provide a COMPELLING reason to upgrade to the most powerful Intel processor available just to maintain a modicum of speed.
Hence, Intel would surely like most JAVA applications to run on Intel platforms, and that means "hosted" by Microsoft operating systems.
Politics as usual.
Paul |
