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JDK 1.2: Immature, but tons of new abilities

A few more beta releases of the JDK 1.2 may add the necessary maturity, but until then, it's still worth trying the new features and capabilities

By Gordon Spencer, JavaWorld.com, 01/01/98

The JavaSoft division of Sun Microsystems announced it is moving the next generation JDK from limited early access to its first round of public beta tests, and attempted to clarify the schedule for other key technologies that are moving forward independently of the JDK.

During the first quarter of 1998, Sun plans a follow-up JDK beta version that will round out some of the missing pieces from the first beta, as well as to respond to early developer feedback. A final version is expected during the second calendar quarter.

While early access documentation and comments previously referred to this release as JDK 1.2, JavaSoft's press release for the new JDK (see Resources) avoided the 1.2 moniker, perhaps hinting there is internal discussion over whether there is technical justification and marketing benefit to relabeling the technology as JDK 2.0.

As more and more key Java technologies move forward independently of the JDK, it is becoming a challenge to keep the schedules clear. Along with the first public JDK 1.2 beta, Sun is releasing:

• JDK 1.1.5 (a performance-tuning release for JDK 1.1)
• The first public release of the Enterprise JavaBeans specification
• The final version of JFC's GUI components ("Swing") for JDK 1.1
• The first early access release of Java Activator

The Resources section of this article includes more information on these releases.

The following table plots out what you can expect from Sun through Q298.

Java Technology Roadmap
Date	Technology

December 1997

First public beta of JDK 1.2

JDK 1.1.5: performance tuning release

JFC 1.1 (final version of "Swing" components)

Enterprise JavaBeans Spec. made public

Java Activator early access 1

Q1 1998

Second public beta of JDK 1.2

JDK 1.1.6: further performance tweaks

HotSpot JVM early access

Final Enterprise JavaBeans Spec.

Java Activator early access 2

Java Activator 1.1 final (late Q1)

Java Messaging Service (JMS) Public Spec.

Java Management API (JMAPI) Public Spec.

Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) Final Spec.

Q2 1998

Final JDK 1.2 Ships via Java Porting & Tuning Center

Final JFC included in core Java

Deployable HotSpot JVM available

Java Activator 1.2 early access

Java Messaging Service (JMS) Final Spec.

Java Transaction Service (JTS) Final Spec.

Java Management API (JMAPI) Final Spec.

HotSpot JVM final (Summer, perhaps Q3)

Software and documentation for JDK 1.2 can be downloaded from the JavaSoft Web site by any developer who registers with the Java Developer Connection -- a free service offering access to pre-released software, mailings, and online discussion groups.

The new features: Stepping forward

JDK 1.2 represents a significant step forward in Java's continuing maturity with about a dozen wholly new areas of functionality and enhancements to about 10 existing features. Not all new or enhanced features are complete in this first public beta, so you'll have to await subsequent releases.

New features to look forward to include:

• Java Foundation Classes (GUI components or "Swing," accessibility, drag-and-drop, and Java 2D)
• A standard architecture for extensions and the Servlet extension
• Collections
• Input methods
• Version identification
• Weak references
• Java interface definition language (IDL)
• Javadoc templates

Major enhancements have been made to:

 

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