September 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

Converting Java SE 8 (JSR 337) to JCP 2.8
by mark.reinhold＠oracle.com 11 Sep '12

11 Sep '12

The Java SE 8 JSR was originally submitted in November 2010, under the rules of JCP 2.7. When JCP 2.8 (JSR 348) was approved in October 2011 [1], Oracle publicly committed to convert all in-flight JSRs led by Oracle to JCP 2.8. To satisfy the transparency requirements of JCP 2.8 for Java SE JSRs we had to update the OpenJDK Terms of Use, which required spending lots of quality time with attorneys. That was finally done this past July [2], at which point this EG began its work [3]. JCP 2.8 also requires us to have a public issue tracker, but the OpenJDK JIRA system isn't available yet [4][5]. I've therefore set up an issue tracker on java.net [6]; we'll migrate issues from that system to the OpenJDK system when the latter becomes available. To convert an existing JSR to JCP 2.8, finally, requires answering a set of questions posed by the JCP PMO [7]. Appended below are my intended answers to those questions. EG members -- To complete the conversion of this JSR to JCP 2.8 I now ask each of you whether you agree to this change. Please answer in a reply to the EG list, so that it's visible for all to see. Thanks, - Mark [1] https://blogs.oracle.com/pcurran/entry/no_more_smoke_filled_rooms [2] http://openjdk.java.net/legal/tou/ [3] http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/java-se-8-spec-experts/2012-July/000… [4] http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/announce/2012-March/000120.html [5] https://blogs.oracle.com/darcy/entry/moving_monarchs_dragons [6] http://java.net/jira/browse/JAVA_SE_8 [7] http://jcp.org/en/resources/change_jcp_version ---- Answers to JCP 2.8 conversion questions for JSR 337 (http://jcp.org/en/resources/change_jcp_version) What is the specific URL for the document archive? http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jdk8/spec/ What is the specific URL for the Issue Tracker? http://java.net/jira/browse/JAVA_SE_8 What is the specific URL for the EG communication archive? http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/java-se-8-spec-experts/ What is the description of your communications channel/how the public should provide feedback? Comments on specific elements of draft specifications are best communicated via the issue tracker. Other feedback may be sent to the comments address, java-se-8-spec-comments(a)openjdk.java.net, the archives of which are public. How will you consult with the Expert Group of your JSR on new Expert Group nominations? I will ask if anyone has anything to say for or against an incoming nomination. How will you provide details of the Expert Group nominations for your JSR to the public? Details will be provided on the publicly-readable EG list.

4 4

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