Oracle and Apple put to rest fears that Java for Mac OS X would fade away with the introduction of the OpenJDK project for the Mac on Friday. As part of the project, Apple will be releasing several key components for Mac Java coding to the open source developer community to ensure Java-based code will continue to run on future versions of Mac OS X.
Apple will be contributing 32-bit and 64-bit HotSpot-based Java virtual machines to the project, along with class libraries, a networking stack and the code for a new graphical client. The parts Apple is contributing will help with the development of Jave SE 7 for the Mac.
Apple recently announced that it won’t be supporting the Java runtime environment in future versions of Mac OS X, leading to concerns that Mac owners would no longer be able to take advantage of Java-based applications. Friday’s announcement, however, should put those concerns to rest because future versions of Java for the Mac will come through Oracle.
Apple joins Oracle’s OpenJDK program
“The best way for our users to always have the most up to date and secure version of Java will be to get it directly from Oracle,” commented Apple senior vice president of Software Engineering Bertrand Serlet.
Oracle’s senior vice president of development said “We are excited to welcome Apple as a significant contributor in the growing OpenJDK community,” which also includes IBM. He added “The Java developer community can rest assured that the leading edge Java environment will continue to be available on Mac OS X in the future.”