[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Oracle announced its plans for advancing the Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) and JavaFX with an update on the Java SE and JavaFX roadmap at the Oracle OpenWorld.

Java SE 8 Roadmap

Java SE 8 is expected to be available in late-2013.

• The Java SE 8 (JSR 337) Expert Group recently decided to defer the addition of a module system and the modularization of the Java platform (Project Jigsaw) to Java SE 9.
• In order to allow Java SE 8 implementations to scale down to small devices, Oracle has proposed a set of compact Profiles of the Java SE Platform.
• Oracle says it is continuing its work to merge the Oracle HotSpot JVM and the Oracle JRockit JVM into a converged offering.
• JDK 7 contained the first version of the converged JVM, with features inspired by JRockit including manageability, heap-based metadata storage and an initial release of features from JRockit Flight Recorder.
• Completion of the HotSpot/JRockit JVM convergence project is targeted for JDK 8, including performance enhancements and a second-generation Java Flight Recorder.
• The OpenJDK Community continues to host the development of the reference implementation of Java SE 8. Weekly developer preview builds of JDK 8 continue to be available.

JavaFX Roadmap
JavaFX 8 will be released as part of Oracle’s JDK 8 implementation and will be the default UI toolkit for Java SE 8 Embedded. Oracle intends to standardize relevant parts of JavaFX through the JCP in the Java SE 9 time frame.

• Public UI Control API to allow 3rd party developers who build UI controls ensure forward compatibility with future JavaFX releases.
• Additional HTML5 “tags” will be supported in the WebView component, enhancing the level of synergy between Java and HTML5
• Enhanced 3D support for better data visualization and innovative user interfaces.
• Support for bi-directional (“BiDi”) languages and complex character sets will provide full internationalization.
• JavaFX SceneBuilder 2.0 will also support JavaFX 8 features, as well as provide easier interaction with the NetBeans Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and other Java IDEs.

Beginning with the Java SE 7 Update 6, released in August of 2012, users have access to Java SE features and security updates across all major desktop operating systems: Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The Java SE 7 Update 6 also introduced support for Linux/ARM, extending standard Java SE to emerging ARM micro servers and ARM-based PCs aimed at educational and hobbyist use such as the Raspberry Pi.

JavaFX is now available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux and fully integrated into Oracle’s Java SE 7 implementation.

Oracle is releasing a JavaFX developer preview for Linux/ARM, available for immediate download.  This developer preview is intended for use with ARM-based devices together with Oracle’s Java SE port for ARM. A developer preview of JavaFX Scene Builder 1.1 is also available, adding support for Linux.

[Image Courtesy: Hartmann Studios / Oracle]