Java's Creator Aims to Make Software World More Diverse

Strategic Insights -

James Gosling, the mastermind behind the new computer language Java, is concerned that Microsoft Corp. may be crowding out all competition in the software business. To counter this, Sun Microsystems Inc. will distribute Java freely over the Internet, creating an alternative software world that Microsoft will be unable to dominate. Gosling's vision is to liberate the software industry from Microsoft's dominance and create a more diverse market. A self-taught programmer from Canada, Gosling is known for his innovative ideas and has a history of pushing the boundaries of what is possible in software design.

Key Takeaways:

  • James Gosling, the creator of Java, wants to make the software world safe for diversity by creating an alternative to Microsoft's dominance.
  • Gosling's previous project, NEWS, demonstrated the potential for distributing computer-processing power across a network, paving the way for today's client/server computer networks.
  • Java was originally conceived as a programming language for interactive television and consumer electronics but was later steered toward the Internet's World Wide Web.
  • Despite the potential for Java to become an Internet standard, Sun Microsystems may receive little direct financial benefit, as most people will be getting it free.
  • The growth of the Internet contributes to Sun's health, as the company's network server computers are the most popular way for companies, agencies, and universities to connect to the global computing web.
  • Gosling's history as a self-taught programmer and electronics tinkerer has equipped him with skills to make code compact and fast.
  • The Java project was initially codenamed Oak and was at the heart of Sun's attempt to create software for set-top television controllers.
  • The project was reoriented in mid-1994 to focus on the Internet's World Wide Web, where the real "information highway" action was starting to take place.
  • Gosling believes that Java's free distribution will create a more diverse software market and ultimately contribute to Sun's growth.

Statistics:

  • James Gosling is 40 years old and has been working in the software industry since he was 13.
  • Gosling began his graduate studies at Carnegie Mellon University in the late 1970s.
  • The NEWS project, which was Gosling's first effort at transforming computing with software design, was started in 1984.
  • Java, Gosling's second effort, was begun in secret in 1991 as a programming language for interactive television and consumer electronics.
  • The Java project was reoriented to focus on the Internet's World Wide Web in mid-1994.
  • Sun's network server computers are the most popular way for companies, agencies, and universities to connect to the global computing web.

Sources:

  • John Markoff, "Java's Creator Aims to Make Software World More Diverse," New York Times Service, Palo Alto, CA.
  • James Gosling, interview, Palo Alto, CA.