This week at Sun's JavaOne conference, its chief software chief, Rich Green, introduced JavaFX, a rich Internet application environment set to compete with Adobe Systems' AIR and Microsoft's Silverlight.
With JavaFX Script, Sun is trying to revive the use of Java on small devices, like set-top boxes, and in PC Web browsers, which the language was originally designed to do in the 1990s.
"This is Java for consumers, for individuals — not just enterprises, not just corporate. But experiences people at an individual level want to experience will be powered by Java," said Green. "The scripting language we are releasing will dramatically enhance the number of people who can create content for this platform."
JavaFX Script is a scripting language that's designed to be more productive and easier than Java, but also closely integrated with it. Developers can use JavaFX Script and write applications that run on Java-equipped PCs or mobile phones.
With it, Sun intends to broaden the audience of people writing Java-compatible applications and capitalize on growing interest in so-called rich Internet applications, or Web-connected programs with an interactive user interface.
He showed a JavaFX application with Flickr and Twitter feeds running in Facebook within the browser, and then he dragged it out of the browser — to the desktop. The same application also was shown running on a Java-enabled phone via JavaFX Mobile.
Unfortunately, the application, using the new Java Update 10 browser plug-in, kept crashing. "It's the size of the pipes in Moscone Center," Green complained. "This is the Moscone terror moment."
Sun is hoping to tap into 2.2 billion mobile devices and the vast majority of desktop PCs that are Java-enabled. JavaFX was shown running on Google's Android mobile platform. Green noted that 85 percent of cell phones, 91 percent of desktops, and 100 percent of all Blu-ray Disc players will run JavaFX.
Sun also plans to deliver JavaFX from the cloud and to gather instrumented user action data via JavaFX that goes back to developers. It could be used for advertising or to provide information to customers, Green said.
Sun plans to deliver the first version of JavaFX Desktop and browsers in the fall. The mobile version is slated for the spring of 2009. Developers can get early access to the JavaFX runtime.
When Sun announced its new JavaFX, it looked to some like the company was trying to re-create what's already being done more widely with Flash and Silverlight.
But JavaFX, which is geared to make it easier to build flashy Web sites and Java desktop applications but which isn't yet released as a final product, stands out from those competitors, Sun chief exec Jonathan Schwartz argued at a news conference.
Java is already used on the servers that power many Internet sites and on the devices people use to tap into those systems, and businesses need that connection, Schwartz said.
"We're focused on connecting business systems with people," Schwartz said. "If you're a bank, you want to reach customers on set-top boxes, car navigation systems, mobile phones. You want to reach them with your business systems to update them with their savings [account details] or credit card bill. What's happening on the Internet today is all these systems are being connected to one another."
Rich Green, Sun's executive vice president for software, said he believes the battle has just begun. "We're just seeing early build-out phases...It's just the beginning, and we have a great shot."
JavaFX programs run using standard Java software, but it employs a scripting language to try to make writing Java applications easier, Green said.
"We heard from a lot of people that [they] can do anything with Java. It just takes such a long time — it requires professional coding techniques and a very deep understanding," Green said. Added Schwartz, "JavaFX Script is going to bring Java to creative professionals — to orders of magnitude more contributors. It's no longer the domain of object-oriented programmers."
CNET News.com's Martin LaMonica contributed to this report.
