Originally industry analysts suggested Linux was to be a large threat to Microsoft’s sales. However, the company seen to be suffering most from lost sales to Linux is Sun.
Read more in an article here on Forbes.com.
IBM Code Analysis tool
This sounds interesting – Structural Analysis for Java.
This is a code analysis tool that analyzes code structure and architecture and then recommends suggested refactoring to avoid common ‘antipatterns’.
I haven’t had time to download it yet, but it sounds like it would be worth checking out.
It would be interesting to know if it picks up on Bruce Tate’s Antipatterns from his book, Bitter Java:
JSR133 – Problems with the current Java Memory Model
IBM have a good article on their Developerworks site discussing the shortcomings of the current Java Virtual Machince Memory model and what needs to be changed in order to make it more predicable in some circumstances.
The major issues described in the article are problems related to synchronized access to data, and compiler reordering of statements which may cause unexpected side effects.
Sun to offer verification programme for certifying Java on Mobile Platforms
Since the introduction of ‘feature-light’ J2ME for mobile/small devices, Sun is becoming concerned that vendors are adding many proprietary extensions to the API and hence breaking the ‘write once, run anywhere’ promise.
Vendors have been adding additional APIs to add additional hardware support options – the problem is that code written to take advantage of these specific features will not run on a platform that does not have the additional features.
Sun is therefore going to start a ‘Verification Programme’ to certify core features on J2ME supporting devices to ensure a certain degree of standardization in Java supporting devices.