No Mention of Java 6 on Leopard Features Page
So Apple has put out a page highlighting the 300+ new features Leopard will have. As I scan through this page, one word I’m particularly keen on is only mentioned once. That word is Java. It is only mentioned in DTrace section where it talks about how DTrace can monitor Java code. So we know Java is there, we also know it’s been tweaked for DTrace. We also know that Java on Leopard will be 64-bit. And we also know that Apple has been working on a Java 6 implementation for some time now.
So why isn’t Java a feature that’s listed? Honestly, this is primary reason for me to be purchasing Leopard in the first place. This is a pretty significant feature for me and many other folks who went out and got a MacBook Pro to do Java development on. These games that Apple is playing with the Java camp is certainly getting old!
It’s pity. I would like to buy a macbook, but I am concerned about Java support.
When you say java support on the macbook, what exactly do you mean? The JDK? The JRE?
I mean JDK. For example, UML NetBeans support doesn’t work on macs, because of JDK issues.
Actually, UML runs just fine in NetBeans 5.5.1, it’s just the NetBeans 6.0 beta where the UML tools are currently supported. Every Mac currently supports up to Java 5 – both JRE and JDKs. Leopard will bring Java 6 into the mix.
Well, java is mentioned on the leopard/server pages as well…..
I prepurchased Leopard. I selected the “chat” button during my purchase to talk to Apple Reps about Java 1.6 on Leopard. Each one spoke to a system engineer. The engineers said no information has been released yet regarding the version of Java on Leopard. However, the rep did everything she could to let me know that Java 1.6 would be available for Leopard. Two all but told me that it would be offered as a separate download much like 1.5 was offered separately when Tiger was first released. This makes sense as 1.6 sometimes breaks certain 3rd party Java Libraries and tools. So, I’d put $100 on Java 1.6 being offered as a separate download with Leopard.
From what I’ve been able to learn from people who have already installed the GA build, there is no Java 6 pre-installed on Leopard. At least, there is no “1.6″ in “System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/versions/”. Java 6 will have to be a separate download then. Hope it’s soon. I notice also that Apple removed the Java 6 Developer preview from the ADC site. Strange.
Playing games? They will put out Java 6 when its ready. I do wish that they would simply port a linux/unix Sun implementation and let it use non-cocoa UI elements. Or atleast make this possible for developers, but continue to do it for OS integration the way they do.
Anyways, you need Java 6 immediately? Most of the retail software world (especially the financial market i work in) is still using 1.4.2 in their live apps, and reluctantly moving to jdk 1.5 in new versions/products. Thats just the JDK though, Java EE 5? That’s a pipe dream. Java 10 will be out before that sees production use.
By playing games I mean not being open with the community about the status of Java on the Mac. It’s now a year since Java 6 was released and there is no word from Apple as to what their commitment to Java is on the Mac. No doubt, it’s not at the top of their list but getting some kind of idea of what Apples Java plans are for an Open Platform.
If your doing Swing development, Java 6 is very compelling. From my POV, things like JAX-WS and a built HTTP server make Java 6 a great target platform for RESTEasy. So do I need to move to Java 6? No. Would I like to and still work on my Mac, absolutely! And no, Windows on VMWare is not a good answer as it defeats the purpose of owning a Mac in the first place.
Coincidentally, I also work in the FS world and have been successful in getting clients onto Java 5. Performance and JMX management of the JVM have been the key sellers there. Many of these guys run Swing apps and using things like old versions of JDIC to do the same things that Java 6 can do. It’s only a matter of time.