InformationWeek

Java Server Pages, which many hoped would open Java programming to Web developers, has proven disappointing in terms of ease of use. It still requires serious Java programming skills, which puts it beyond the reach of the HTML/XML programmers who build Web pages. "The JSP model makes me uncomfortable, but I expect within a year there will be powerful tools that bring a nice front end and eliminate programming," says George Roman, CTO of diCarta Inc., a Redwood City, Calif., provider of online contract negotiation and management services over the Web that makes extensive use of Java Server Pages.

Finally, third-party Enterprise JavaBeans have yet to hit the shelves in volume. Art Technology Group Inc., Theory Center (acquired by BEA Systems Inc.), and a few others offer commercial Enterprise JavaBeans. However, a large component marketplace comparable to that for ActiveX has yet to emerge, although analysts says it's coming.

The biggest drawback Java faces may be the perception of its lack of openness. Sun backed away from its promise to turn Java over to a public standards body in favor of the Java Community Process, which enforces compliance and gives licensees some input into Java development direction. Sun, however, still owns Java and controls development. This is similar to the way Microsoft treats ActiveX and COM.

"Java 2 has brought a flood of new licensees, including four of the top five application servers, 14 licensees in all," says Bill Roth, Sun's group product manager for Java 2 Enterprise Edition. However, some key players--IBM in particular--continue to sit on the sidelines. "We're working with IBM and still hope to bring them onboard," he says.

Java developers don't seem terribly worried about Sun's handling of Java. "I'm concerned about the danger when one company controls what a lot of us depend on," says Joe Chung, CTO of Art Technology Group, a developer of Java components and an early Java Community Process member. "But Sun's track record with Java is impressive, and the JCP is a reasonable start. Still, if Sun doesn't live up to its JCP commitment, I'll be the first to scream, because we really depend on Java."

Most developers are taking Sun's policy reversal in stride. "I'm a little concerned, particularly about IBM, but I don't think it is a serious problem," Kalinovsky says. Adds Grasso, "We're not concerned, and our customers aren't either. The JCP allays my fears."

Quinn also gives Sun the benefit of the doubt. "It's unreasonable for licensees to expect Sun to give up Java 2 Enterprise Edition to a nonprofit standards group, but Sun must provide a level playing field," he says. As the C++ experience illustrates, open-standards bodies have trouble moving quickly enough to come up with the right innovation when markets are changing. The JCP may yet prove the best model.

With J2EE, Sun transforms Java into more than a language, just as Microsoft has made Windows into more than just an operating system. Both offer nearly complete application-development infrastructures to speed the development and deployment of distributed component-based applications.

In further efforts to enhance the attractiveness of J2EE adoption and promote widespread use of Java for enterprisewide application development, Sun recently announced the release of its new open-source integrated development environment for Java, Forte for Java Community Edition 1.0. Available free of charge for download from Sun, the Forte for Java Community Edition consists of a modular Java technology development environment that includes integrated visual design, editing, compilation, and debugging capabilities for building Web-enabled applications.

In the end, the choice for building E-business applications will come down to the computing environment. For Windows environments, the obvious choice is Microsoft. Everyone else appears to be heading to Java. Neither is going to take over the world.

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