August 2012 - java-se-8-spec-observers

Modularity in Java SE 8
by mark.reinhold＠oracle.com 21 Sep '12

21 Sep '12

The Java SE 8 Umbrella Platform JSR, as submitted, proposes to integrate a module system directly into the Platform [1]. This would ease the construction and maintenance of large applications, finally allowing developers to escape the "JAR hell" of the brittle and error-prone class-path mechanism. It would also enable the Platform itself to be modularized, so as to support customizable configurations which scale from large servers down to small embedded devices and, in the long term, enable the convergence of Java SE with the higher-end Java ME Platforms. Initial exploratory work toward these goals has been going on in Project Jigsaw in the OpenJDK Community [2]. Steady progress is being made but some significant technical challenges remain, and there is considerable risk that these will not be resolved in time for the proposed Final Release of Java SE 8 in August 2013. There is, more importantly, not enough time left for the broad evaluation, review, and feedback which such a profound change to the Platform demands, both via this JSR (337) and, primarily, a forthcoming JSR to define a standard Java Platform Module System. I therefore propose to defer the addition of a module system and the modularization of the Platform to Java SE 9. This is by no means a pleasant choice, but I think it's preferable to delaying Java SE 8 until the modularity work is complete. This change will slow the long-term effort to converge the Java SE and Java ME Platforms. I therefore further propose that in Java SE 8 we consider defining a small number of Profiles which will, in the meantime, allow compact configurations of the SE Platform to be defined and deployed. (More background on this proposal, if you're interested, is available on my blog: http://mreinhold.org/blog/late-for-the-train) Comments? - Mark [1] http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=337 [2] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jigsaw/

4 9

Java SE 8 EG Introductions
by mark.reinhold＠oracle.com 10 Sep '12

10 Sep '12

I think we EG members are known to each other, at least by reputation, but for those following along at home I think it'd be helpful for us to introduce ourselves, providing links to online bios where possible. I'm Mark Reinhold, Chief Architect of the Java Platform Group at Oracle. My online bio is here: http://mreinhold.org/ . - Mark

3 2

Java SE 8 comments list
by mark.reinhold＠oracle.com 24 Aug '12

24 Aug '12

I've created one more mailing list: java-se-8-spec-comments [1]. This list is for sending comments, suggestions, and other feedback directly to the EG. Only EG members may subscribe to this list, but anyone may post, and the archives are public. The EG will read all messages sent to this list. EG members -- If you'd like to be subscribed to this list, just let me know. - Mark [1] http://mail.openjdk.java.net/mailman/listinfo/java-se-8-spec-comments

1 0

Google's representative to the Java SE 8 EG
by mark.reinhold＠oracle.com 23 Aug '12

23 Aug '12

I'd like to welcome Kevin Bourrillion as Google's representative to this EG. - Mark

2 1