Sun releases Java HotSpot, training

By JEANETTE BORZO
IDG News Service, 04/27/99

Today's release of the Java HotSpot Performance Engine got a plug from Sun President and CEO Edward Zander during the keynote presentation at the Java Enterprise Solutions Symposium (JESS '99) developers conference.

HotSpot doubles performance in the Java operating environment over the previous Java version, according to Zander. The product is initially available for SPARC, Solaris and Windows operating systems.

HotSpot is compatible with Java 2, Sun said, and speeds Java programs by identifying hotspots-or the part of applications where the most time is spent executing code-and then accelerating the rate at which that code is carried out. The product is now available online for free.

While some companies-such as IBM-have already said they don't plan to license HotSpot, Sun offered journalists a list of HotSpot endorsements from organizations ranging from the University of Hamburg Software Engineering Group to Hewlett-Packard.

Zander spent much of his time on stage discussing Sun.net, now called i-Planet, and how it would give corporate employees and consumers what he called unprecedented access to office and home applications over any Web-enabled device that houses a browser.

On the education front, Sun announced several new options for those looking for additional Java training. For example, members of the Sun Developer Connection can now get customized training through the Sun Education Essentials program. Sun also announced that it is expanding its Java curriculum for consumer and enterprise specialties and will make the currently English-only JavaTutor Courseware CD-ROM available in French, Italian, Japanese, Korean and simplified as well as traditional Chinese over the next two months.

In other product news at the conference, Sun is demonstrating how to use Version 3.2 of its Java Dynamic Management kit with its Jini technology to deliver new management services without having to modify existing platforms.