The next update of Java (http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/ea/6u10/6u10beta.jsp) is going to have some very interesting features in it; namely the Java Kernel. <>

The Java Kernel allows a user to run a Java applet or Web Start application quicker than ever by loading only portions of Java and its libraries, as needed by the code you are running. This differs from the past where you would have to wait for the entire Java platform to load, and possibly wait for large JAR files to download, before a single line of code executed. 

Other improvements include a much improved Java installer, which does a much better job of detecting existing Java installations before proceeding. It uses a combination of a Java application and JavaScript code to make this a more deterministic, and painless, process.

For those who have one of the latest versions of Java installed, the Java auto-updater has been improved to use a patch-in-place mechanism to improve the speed and reliability of the update process. It also means an end to the list of Java updates as individual entries in Windows' "Add or Remove Programs" control panel applet.

Remaining enhancements include:

• Better Windows Vista support
• Improved support for hardware acceleration: improved Swing application performance due to Microsoft Dirce3D 9 support.
• New Swing theme called "Nimbus"
• Quick Start: a utility that runs when your computer starts to pre-load parts of the Java platform to into system memory to improve the start time of your Java applications.
• Large heap size support
• Support for multiple installed JREs

 

Articles Of Interest:

 

  - Better Java EE Programming:  
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/Interviews/community/bien_qa.html

 

   - Ben Fry on Data Visualization (PodCast):

  http://www.ddj.com/java/207000454

Happy coding!

 

-EJB