Oracle recently announced the release of an update for Java Micro Edition (ME), which is specifically optimized for ARM-based architectures such as Raspberry Pi, and Keil STM32 F200 for Cortex-M processors.
The new version of Java ME is aimed at software development in low-powered, tight environments without interfaces or screens, for example microcontrollers. Java ME is rapidly gaining ground in the “Internet of Things”, which works mostly on machine-to-machine coding (M2 coding).
The Importance of embedded Systems
The increasing connectivity in devices is quite different from how it works in end-system value. Most of the companies have identified the importance of embedded systems development and are actively investigating it. Analysts say more than a million developers area currently writing code for these systems, not including the third-party developers trying to get a foothold in the embedded systems space. Java ME has become the third most used language used in embedded development, and is challenging the historically favorite C/C++ language in this arena.
The past few years has seen an increase in intelligence as well as extra memory and processing resources in a lot of previously dumb devices. What corporations are looking to with them, has dramatically changed how the organizations are viewing software development.
The latest Java ME update includes support for embedded chip architectures such as ARM versions 5, 6, 7, and Cinterion M2M modules from Gemalto. The update also supports Windows XP and Windows 7 operating systems. You can also emulate external connectivity along with peripherals, the in-field and remote debugging and administration.
The new release significantly provides SDK plugins for NetBeans IDE, and Eclipse, allowing more options for application development environments to developers. Enterprise developers will find it easier to work meaningfully on embedded devices with this support.
Oracle Java Platform Integrator was also unveiled, which is aimed at helping partners of Oracle, customize the Java ME products like SE Embedded, Embedded Client, and ME Embedded, for various devices as well as market segments. The market for embedded systems has been a very fragmented, heterogeneous environment of various form factors and boards, each targeting different application in the industry.
The vision of learning Java programming as a unifying technology in the device classes discussed here has support in the forums and communities. If Oracle pulls it off, then it is likely going to be a huge factor in the future of Java ME.
The release was announced at the Shanghai 201 conference. The Java ME SDK is being provided for no extra cost for internal testing and development.
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