Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Development
    • IT Management
    • Networking

    Java Creator James Gosling Leaves Oracle

    Written by

    Darryl K. Taft
    Published April 10, 2010
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      Java creator James Gosling has left Oracle.

      In an April 9 blog post, Gosling said he resigned from Oracle on April 2. While at Sun Microsystems, which Oracle announced plans to acquire in April 2009 and finalized in January, Gosling came up with the idea for the Java language and platform in the early ’90s and Sun introduced the breakthrough technology in 1995.

      Gosling did not give a reason for his departure, other than to say that frankness about the situation might “do more harm than good.”

      Said Gosling:

      ““Yes, indeed, the rumors are true: I resigned from Oracle a week ago (April 2nd). I apologize to everyone in St Petersburg who came to TechDays on Thursday expecting to hear from me. I really hated not being there. As to why I left, it’s difficult to answer: just about anything I could say that would be accurate and honest would do more harm than good. The hardest part is no longer being with all the great people I’ve had the privilege to work with over the years. I don’t know what I’m going to do next, other than take some time off before I start job hunting.”“

      In an interview with Gosling at last year’s JavaOne, I asked him if there were any scenarios where he could see himself not being at Oracle. His reply was “absolutely.”

      Actually, the exchange was as follows:

      “Q: It’s definitely the end of an era for me because I’ve really enjoyed covering Sun.A: Well, Sun is now a viral body in a strange host. So we’ll see.Q: Do you think you’ll be here?A: I have no way to predict that.Q: Well, there are things you will and won’t put up with.A: Absolutely. So I can imagine future histories where I’m gone. And I can imagine future histories where I’m not. Right now, no data.“

      However, Gosling weathered an initial transition period as Oracle began the work of integrating the Sun portfolio into its cache of software booty, which includes the industry’s dominant database platform.

      And in March, Gosling delivered a keynote at TheServerSide Java Symposium (TSSJS) telling the audience that Java was in good hands with Oracle and would continue to enjoy its position as one of the preeminent enterprise IT platforms well into the future.

      Gosling’s face became synonymous with Java. And while he enjoyed accolades from Java’s success, he also took the brunt of criticism from developers on points of discontent — many of which he had no real decision in implementing. Still, Gosling realized near-rock star status amongst the “geekerati” and could fill venues throughout the world with developers and users eager to hear what he had to say.

      But, obviously, something did not fit with the Oracle move. Perhaps Gosling ran into one of those situations he could simply not “put up with.”

      Gosling, the Sun logo, the Java coffee cup icon and the Duke mascot all immediately come to mind when you think of Java. Oracle owns Sun, the cup and Duke. But Gosling has moved on.

      He is by far the biggest defection from Oracle of the former Sun staff to date. Tim Bray, a co-creator of X M L, and Zack Urlocker, who ran engineering and marketing at MySQL also left early in the transition of Sun into Oracle.

      But where will Gosling wind up? I hear IBM is looking for some smart engineers with serious Java talent. And Microsoft could always use some proven software architects. Then there’s Google. Of the three, Google seems a likely best bet. But I just don’t see that just now.

      Darryl K. Taft
      Darryl K. Taft
      Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×