The Java platform is growing only by a few APIs and small language changes/additions every year. There is no major big innovation happening. All the major changes that has been happening are outside it. Be it the Dependency Injection, Persistence API, Scripting API, Desktop API, Application Framework API, they were only added to the platform subsequently. But they are just APIs. What we need is something big. Something that is 10 years advanced than today.
What I feel is Java is advancing in a bottom-up fashion. Small and slow changes at a time. What we need is a top-down approach. Think futuristic, design it and then only implement it in a bottom-up approach.
Take the example of new Swing Application Framework (now dropped from the standard). I think this new framework is a poorly envisioned idea. Look at the poor state of JMF. No substantial progress can be made on the desktop without support for multimedia. Yes, JavaFX is coming soon (for 3+ years ?). It is a big step forward but is not a standard (yet. Will it be ever?).
We have the JavaSE and JavaEE is built on top of it. Why can’t we do the same with the desktop? Why can’t we have something like the Java Desktop Edition or JavaDE ? Put all the big stuffs here. In this way, we can keep the JavaSE simple. Language and VM changes goes into JavaSE. Common APIs applicable to both EE and ‘DE’ goes into SE. But desktop additions like application framework, multimedia, browsing capabilities, gadget bar?, JavaFX, etc. goes into ‘DE’. Of course, JavaME also needs to be considered but since industry’s mood is to bring SE to ME, they can be considered the same for the sake of this blog.
Some might argue that the desktop is becoming irrelevant with the popularity of web applications and powerful browsers (with HTML 5). But as any unbiased report will say, the irrelevance of desktop will not happen anytime soon. After all, the browser needs to run on a desktop!
Basically, Java Desktop Edition becomes the new Operating System. It should have transparent integration with the underlying OS. Have functionalities in the form of services and modules on the lines of OSGI. So everything is a service: print service, document service, file service, graphic service, database service, < add your favorite services here >. So advanced capabilities can be exposed as a service to any module or applications (collection of modules) in the system. Imagine having Eclipse plugins as services exposed to all applications.
Think of the innovative possibilities of a Java Desktop (heard it before?):
- Java Browser with built-in support for applets, JavaFX – we can have applet plugins
- Browser can be embedded in any application
- GIMP like editor – JIMP?
- Standard installer for all applications – No OS specific versions of Eclipse or Netbeans (Java WAS supposed to be Write Once, Run Everywhere)
- Finally, a Java media player
- Desktop gadget bar
- Java Office
- < your favorite application here >
It is time for Java to grow up and act its age.
