Sunny days for java

Migration to open source has renewed interest in Java, and opened new doors of opportunity for Sun, finds Dhanya Krishnakumar

Bangalore: When James Gosling invented Java way back in the 1990s, the thumb rule he relied on was that any programmer must be able to write a program once, compile it once, and it should be possible for him to run it anywhere. What he created was an object oriented programming methodology, which allows the same program to be executed on multiple operating systems. Gosling and Sun Microsystems have not looked back since then! At last count, there were 2.5 million Java developers in the world. In 2006 alone the number of developers who enrolled on the Sun Developer Network (SDN) was close to a million. The world has begun to understand the varied functionality of Java and today almost every device we use or purchase to make life easier has a Java component embedded in it. It's used for diverse applications, ranging from interactive internet usage, realtime graphics, mobile gaming and instant camera imaging to developing intelligent electronic devices, powering onboard computers in toys and cars to securing electronic transactions in retail and finance. As this newspaper reported recently, the size of the Indian Java economy alone is estimated at $14.65 billion for 2006, or 2.1% of the country's GDP. So, does it mean that the future of this ubiquitous free software called Java is secure? For Sun, the network is the computer and sharing innovation and building communities is the next wave of computing. To that end, Sun has managed to reach corners of the globe that seemed impossible otherwise. But how to ensure it never goes out of fashion? It is for exactly this purpose that Sun has migrated to open source, making Java and Solaris available to one and all. This has sparked new interest in Java and its possibilities. In fact the Open Source Java platform ships more than Windows, Solaris, GNU/Linux, Macs, iPods, Xbox and PS3 combined. Explains Sun's executive vice president for software, Rich Green, "We have always said that our business model is based on volumes creating revenues and thereafter value. When the number of developers with a direct linkage to Sun goes up, our products get mileage and that translates into monetisation. So for us, even the migration to Open Source only means more relationships and therefore more revenues." The India Story India is already home to 400,000 developers. According to folks at Sun, every couple of minutes there is at least one developer who logs onto their network. Matt Thompson, senior director for Sun Microsystems developer network, says India is amongst the fastest growing markets for Sun. "The response has been amazing with one out of every two professional developers from India being part of the company's network. We have understood though that to grow in India we have to successfully tap into the student community," he says. Given this widespread interest, Sun has been actively involved in academic initiatives across India to train and hone prospective developers. Currently close to 45 engineering colleges in India have enrolled to avail of Sun's education program. Sun is also working closely with Nasscom on a faculty program for Tier 2 engineering colleges. There are also campus ambassadors for Sun, who promote the adoption of Java, NetBeans, Open Solaris and CMT Technology across the country. But this clamouring for Sun's technologies is not confined to Indian shores. In recent years, other geographies have sprung up which are producing hordes of fresh talent. Changing geopolitics Matt recounts a peculiar incident that occurred during his visit to address students at the Moscow State University eight years back: "This student walked up to me and said that he and his friends were considering a career in IT and enrolling on the Sun Developer Network (SDN) to avoid joining the Russian Army, the only other option left." Today the situation has undergone a major transformation. Philip Torchinsky is a St Petersburg-based Solaris engineer. Philip joined Sun after completing an MS in Computer Science and a PhD in Maths and Physics. For Philip and many of his peers, pursuing a career in computing is a dream come true and a window to the outside world. Something many of his predecessors could not have dreamed of just a few years ago. According to Matt, Russia is slowly emerging as a viable option for creating a pool of developers. From a no-jobs market eight years ago, Russia has re-invented herself. "Today we can see development centres coming up in the country, including one of ours. There is a pool of amazing talent in Russia. The obstacle being finding developers who can understand and speak in English," Matt says. Till date India has been playing the cost efficiency and English-speaking work-force card to win projects. But the tide is slowly changing, and other geographies are emerging which offer cheaper costs and an equally skilled workforce too. As Matt puts it, If India bases her IT economy on cost and language alone, she will be passed over. Indian developers need to concentrate on IP creation. Innovation is the only factor that can act as a differentiator and make India more attractive. He adds, "Countries like Philippines, Indonesia, Russia, Argentina are slowly surfacing on the software developer radar. We are seeing some fresh commitment to producing tech-savvy and industry ready professionals from these geographies. We are willing to invest in these countries and train students and professionals in return for a guaranteed relationship with the company." Emerging markets Leading the pack are the Philippines and Vietnam, with others like Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Korea and China slowly emerging as hot beds for software development. Opportunities are varied in all these countries and especially in the Philippines and Vietnam, costs are much lower than in India and the language barrier no longer exists. Thailand falls behind in the race only because of its English deficiency. Matt says, "The opportunity is big in Thailand, but we have to translate our entire course material in order for the students to understand Java. That slackens the pace. Indonesia on the other hand would have emerged a leader long back if only the government in that country was stable. This is one country where the knowledge of computing has been around for more than 20 years now and the students have potential combined with a hunger for success. It's a pity that political climate is not more favorable." Korea again is a huge market but there are significant signs that China, will pass over Japan and Korea in no time. The greatest advantage for Argentina and Brazil is that US companies are looking for locations closer home to outsource work to. Brazil has a language barrier, but Argentina is showing lot of promise. Being on the same time zone as America, it is a preferred destination and language is also not an insurmountable issue. Securing the future Interest in Java is being fanned across the globe. Open source has only added sheen to it and made the Java landscape a lot more interesting. So to all those soothsayers and hyper-enthusiasts, all we have to say is that Java is back with a vengeance. And it will be a long time before we can bid this platform goodbye. Object-Oriented Programming Object-oriented programming (OOP) is a programming paradigm that uses "objects" (containing data and functions) to design applications and computer programs. Object-oriented programs are easier to modify. Even though it originated in the 1960s, OOP was not commonly used in mainstream software application development until the 1990s. Today, many popular programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, C#, Visual FoxPro, C++, Ruby and Objective-C support OOP. Java derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model.