Presentation: "Enterprise Java FX for the Web Platform"

Time: Thursday 10:45 - 11:45

Location: Westminster Suite

Abstract:

Java Applets were arguably one of the first examples of a Rich Internet Application in 1995, when Sun scored a major break with, then, web browser provider, Netscape Communications. The original applet was a fantastic start over decade ago, but Sun has been the client-side let down by taking its eye of the ball, concentrating on the server side technologies. Other firms, such as Apple, Microsoft and Adobe steps up their innovation on the user interface. It was not until JavaOne 2007 when Sun announced that it was going to reinvogorate the desktop of Java. By that time, the Sun marketing executives, realised that Java presence on the user interface, including the web platform, was sadly lacking.

First all, they announced JavaFX, a domain specific language and platform for building rich internet applications. JavaFX started as a pet project of Chris Oliver, working at SeeBeyond, an enterprise integration application provider in Silicon Valley. He wanted to faster way to build richer more compelling applications with Java. His decision alone, to create a specific DSL, JavaFX Script, changed the landscape. JavaFX, the platform, supports a scene graph rendering, media, audio and video in its 1.0 release.

As well as JavaFX, Sun realised they required major changes in the runtime environment. They came up with "Consumer JRE" to replace the legacy applet code. The latest Java 6 Update 11 release runs in a separate OS process outside of the browser, which means a Java cannot crash it. The new architecture of the JRE is kernel based, modularised and has a quick starter. Moreover, the new JRE enables, for the first time, a much smaller download (4MB) of the core Java. Most of the work of the "Consumer JRE" will go into the next release of Java 7.

This session will be mainly about an overview of the JavaFX and how it applies to the client side platform. It is now possible to build an entire stack from metal to bass user interface using Java / JavaFX. A compelling Java solution on the user interface, web or desktop was a let down or extremely hard in 2006, but there is the no excuse in 2009. The session will be biased to the enterprise environments. We will look around the corner into the future.

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Peter Pilgrim

 Peter  Pilgrim

Peter Pilgrim's high-tech career began at the age of 12, where he learnt BASIC on a Research Machine 380Z school computer. He wrote games galore and taught himself how to program. Peter graduated from London South Bank University then went into IT industry. He started in Germany, then returned to the UK, and eventually found himself in Investment Banking. During this long and experienced career path he achieved a background with C/C++, Fortran 77 and Pascal programming languages.

Peter is the founder and organised of the Java Web Users Group (JAVAWUG). In 2007, he was nominated by his fellow peers on the Sun Java Champions program. Peter is a Sun Certified Java Architect for the Java EE 5 platform. He has been writing Java programs since 1997. He has delivered talks on JavaFX for the Erlang Exchange, CommunityOne , San Francisco and the ACCU Oxford Conference . Peter writes the regular World View Series for the ACCU Magazine, CVuUK.

Peter currently works full time for Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets in the City of London, where he enjoys the role of Technical Leader for E-Channel Services. He has been involved with Deutsche, UBS and Credit Suisse to name but a few.