Jonathan Bruce's Blog

May 2006 Archives

A Java Perspective on LINQ

CROSS POST FROM: http://jonathanbruceconnects.com/jonathan_bruce

Roger Voss, posting on JavaLobby gives what I believe a very pragmatic view of what LINQ means to not only Java, but to the broader developer community. His approach I think, is particularily appropriate: in the afternath of what was an energetic JavaOne 2006, it's important to take a step back beyond the Ruby on Rails or EJB announcements and take a long hard look at the ubiquity a language advancement such as LINQ offers.

Microsoft is already on the their third CTP of the LINQ and associated technolgies. Obviously there will be an adoption curve as people figure out what it means to their development efforts, but there is no room for the Java community to rest on their laurels. Both a discussion (currrent active on JavaLobby) on a equivalent development (or standardization) effort for the Java language, I hope will be brought to the fore. With a wide ranging, frank and well articulated discussion on this, ultimately will be to the benefit of both Java and .NET developers alike.

On one point, I do disagree with his assertion that "There will still just be XPath for XML, and nothing at all for in-memory object graphs. Tuples?". He should consider XQuery and what this means as signicifant bridge to providing the mechanics of LINQ for the Java platform. If the level of functionality offered in DataDirect XQuery, and the level of symmetry between the W3C XQuery language syntax and rules, you quickly see a strong correlation between the two. Check out Jonathan Robie's blog for more thoughts.

One way or the other, and I agree with Roger Voss on this : C# 3.0 and the next generation of the .NET Framework is poised to grab some major attention, or as Voss puts it "In the on-going saga of the Language Wars, Microsoft's new LINQ feature looks poised to kick butt and take names. For in the meantime, over in the Java community, EJB3 persistence and its portable query language syntax will be regarded as the height of Java technology for query."

XQJ Reaches EDR II

JSR-225 pushed out their EDR II late last week. Coincidentally we ran our face-to-face meeting last week in San Francisco where we discussed and resolved many issues, all of which we you'll see in the next draft. For now, send your feedback to the EG...

No JavaOne this year...

No JavaOne for me this year, and this will be first time in my professional career where I won't be wandering the caverns of Moscone and once again furitlessly searching for the Esplanade, Room 301 and the speaker ready room. I guess it means one less bean bag will be occupied.

All signs seem to be pointing to a coming out party for Java EE 5, the nascent efforts of which, I recall very well back in SCA-14 in Sun's Santa Clara campus. I am sure the Glassfish team are planning lots of activities, so I'd would probably check here, for the latest goings on.

Already various bloggers are giving their perspectives on various JavaOne milestones - Bill Roth does a good job at capturing some of the highlights I remember. For this years milestones, announcements and general goings on, I will be watching very closely from not too far away. Happily, already the rumor mill is in full force - Will Sun Open Source Java? Is AOP truley dead? Etc etc.

JavaOne remains the number one gathering of Sun/Javasoft-alumni and current Sun folks. I'm sorry I will miss you all, but I trust you all remember how to tear up in the StarLight lounge.

TECHNORATI-TAGS: JavaOne

CROSS-POST: http://blogs.datadirect.com/jonathan_bruce/2006/05/no_javaone_this.html

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.