Java 6 Appears to Have Some Staying Power
With so many new programming languages coming to the fore in the past five years, some of you might have wondered if Java, C++ and C# are on the exit lane. But recently, Oracle, one of the pioneers of Java programming language, extended the support that it offers for Java. It is supporting the Java 6 Standard Edition, or Java SE 6 as it is more popularly known as. This indicates that the company is still very much interested in keeping Java alive. So, if you are taking Oracle training classes, don’t fret as it will definitely come in handy when you are looking for a job in today’s market.
Updates after Feb, 2013 Will Be Available Only Through My Oracle Support Program
As of now, all the updates, patches, security fixes and bug fixes are provided publicly and anybody with an internet connection can download them. But according to reports from Oracle, this is going to be stopped from the month of February in 2013. The same report specified that any further updates and patches can be availed exclusively through the Oracle support program, My Oracle Support. It will therefore require a commercial license.
Transition to Java 7 Imperative for Users
This particular report was extracted from a blog post on the Java Source Blog and the same blog highlighted the importance of transition from Java version 6 to version 7. Tori Wieldt, a Java developer, said that developers and administrators have to realize that they need to make the transition of they want to keep getting updates from Oracle. She added that in case they are insistent of getting updates for Java 6 only, they must work with Oracle and the My Oracle Support initiative to get the updates.
Second Time Oracle Is Taking A Decision to Extend the Support
If you are of the opinion that this is a rather unexpected move from Oracle, you have not seen the new columns lately. In July 2012, Oracle had decided to end the support for Java 6. But then, the company came out with a statement that said that support would be extended till the month of November. From November, they have extended the support again to February. This shows the public value of Java SE 6 public updates. Don’t be surprised if Oracle manages to extend the support for a couple more months after February, 2013 also.
Please Share This Knowledge With Others!
Judy says
I am glad to hear that they think that Oracle will be around awhile. I am fed up with the system I am using and the problems I have had with it. I won’t mention any names because it may be something that others really like but I look forward to changing to Oracle permanently now that there is confirmation that they will be around awhile.
James says
Discovering what a new and improved programming language can do is often exciting (provided the new features are significant enough and not merely bug fixes). I would like to see a new features list, summarizing what this new version can do, or better yet, in true Firebox tutorial fashion, a video tutorial demonstrating this new version’s new and improved capabilities. That would be interesting.
Gladys says
Murach’s Java SE 6 is now my go-to source for reference and learning, well above and beyond other books in my collection. I just wish that all the books on the bazillion different frameworks and technologies in the Java Enterprise Edition space were as good, thorough, easy, and enjoyable as Murach’s. But I can tell the Firebox video training course is a lot easier than a manual.
Kate says
James, I agree with your comment and I would love to see a video tutorial of the new and improved capabilities that Firebox is so good at. And you are right it helps when they are significant changes and not bug fixes because the bug fixes come out all the time by the thousands. I am also glad to hear that they will be around awhile now.
Eli says
The courses that Oracle has posted and offered people have helped a great deal for me to help me understand how things work and how things change so rapidly in the computer world that you need to take these kinds of courses to keep up. This was another great article and I look forward to yet another one in about a month.
Oscar says
Eli I agree I have learned a lot from the courses that I have taken and I am extremely glad to hear that they are here to stay and will continue to do what it is they do. I am like you and I hang on every word until they come out with their next post. I can’t wait because I always share them with my friends.