Call for Discussion: Project proposal: Greenfields

[Remi Forax]

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Magnus Ihse Bursie" <magnus.ihse.bursie at oracle.com>
> To: "discuss" <discuss at openjdk.java.net>
> Sent: Friday, April 1, 2022 7:51:44 AM
> Subject: Call for Discussion: Project proposal: Greenfields

> With Project Loom[1] getting closer to delivery, we will soon have a
> world where even simple Java programs might use millions of threads.
> This will, in effect, mean a world-wide multiplication on the number of
> threads in Java programs by several magnitudes! This might seem like a
> fantastic win for the Java eco-system, but we are forgetting the effects
> on the real eco-system.
> 
> As you might or might not be aware of, the textile industry is one of
> the heaviest polluter in the world[2]. Adding billions upon billions of
> new threads to this world seem like environmental arrogance.
> 
> I therefore propose we start Project Greenfield, which will research the
> reintroduction of Green Threads, and study how much pesticide and
> fertilizer use will rise due to Project Loom. Project Greenfields will
> also develop prototypes to lower pesticide, fertilizer, and water use
> for Java programs that need to create millions of threads.
> 
> Project Greenfields will deliver its first prototype in exactly one
> years time, April 1, 2023. If this is successful, we can retarget the
> project for the upcoming year, to look at the CO2 cost associated with
> Java bean production.

Thanks Magnus, that's very moving for me.

I would like to add that i feel responsible here, in Java 7 we introduce the try-with-resources and i think it's now time to be bolder and introduce the try-without-resources that will help to make the planet greener.

The try-without-resources, with the syntax
  try() {  // notice here, no resources used !
    ...
  }

is a responsible choice to everybody that crave to signal that he/she/their want to make an effort for the planet.

Even if this Project is not yet voted, i think we can already allow everybody on Twitter to re-tweet Java codes with one or more trw-without-resources.
It's all this little steps on Twitter that makes an impact for our blue planet.

> 
> /Magnus

Rémi

> 
> [1] https://openjdk.java.net/projects/loom
> [2]
> https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20201208STO93327/the-impact-of-textile-production-and-waste-on-the-environment-infographic