JavaSoft Announces JavaOS

JavaSoft Announces JavaOS

Companies endorse JavaOS in desktop, consumer and embedded environments

Industry leaders to provide development tools, applications

San Francisco, CA - May 29, 1996 - JavaSoft, an operating company of Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) today announced "JavaOS"™, a highly compact operating system designed to run Java applications directly on microprocessors in anything from net computers to pagers.

In related news, several industry leaders today announced that they intend to license JavaOS. Additionally, several leading software companies announced their intention to provide development tools for JavaOS.

A dynamically extensible operating environment, JavaOS brings the design advantages of the Java™ programming language to an operating system. As perhaps the smallest and fastest OS that runs Java, JavaOS enables Java on a broad range of devices. JavaOS will run equally well on a network computer, a PDA, a printer, a game machine, cellular telephone, or countless other devices that require a very compact OS and the ability to run Java.

"JavaOS is elegantly simple and extremely powerful at the same time. It was designed with a single purpose -- to be just enough OS of just the right kind to run the Java Virtual Machine™, which brings Java to a huge new range of electronic appliances," said Jim Mitchell, CTO, JavaSoft. "No other software platform has the reach that JavaOS provides for Java."

Industry endorses JavaOS

To date, Acer Inc., Acer Peripherals Inc., Alcatel Business Systems, Axil Computers, ETEN Information Systems Co., Hua-Hsing Information Corp., Hyundai Electronics, Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry (III), Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Lite-ON Technology Corp., LG Electronics, Mitac Inc., Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Nestor Technology, Nokia, Omron Corporation, Oracle, Proton, Sun Microsystems Computer Company, Sun Moon Star, SunRiver Data Systems, Tatung Company, THOMSON-Sun Interactive Alliance, THOMSON multimedia S.A., Toshiba Corporation, UMAX, Visionetics Internationalities Technology and Xerox have stated their intent to license JavaOS.

Borland International, Corel Corporation, Dun & Bradstreet Software, Hugh Symon Group, Justsystems Corp., Metrowerks, SunSoft, Inc. and Symantec Corp., endorse JavaOS and intend to build tools or applications for the platform.

ARM Ltd., Cirrus Logic, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc., LSI Logic, National Semiconductor, and Sun Microelectronics are among the companies that intend to implement JavaOS on their microprocessors. To date, JavaSoft expects JavaOS to be run on a broad variety of microprocessors, including ARM, CompactRISC, Intel X86, NS486, PowerPC, microJAVA, microSPARC, picoJAVA, SPARClite and others.

"We're having in depth discussions with companies who want to use JavaOS to create products that really push the envelope," said Mitchell. "Over the next twelve months we anticipate a broad range of product announcements based on JavaOS, including Internet and Intranet devices that will set a new standard for ease of installation and use in a networked environment."

Development Tools for JavaOS

JavaSoft is collaborating with leading tools developers to define open APIs, such as the JavaOS Debugging API, that they'll use to ensure their tools work seamlessly with JavaOS. Borland, Metrowerks, SunSoft and Symantec intend to adapt and enhance their Java development environments for JavaOS, bringing real choice of development tools to the embedded systems arena.

"We're very pleased to have such a prominent group of tools developers on board to support JavaOS," said Mitchell. "We're leveraging the expertise and volume market presence each of these companies has already developed in creating strong tools for the basic Java platform, and expect them to be able to deliver effective tools for JavaOS very rapidly."

JavaOS runs on industry microprocessors

In addition, JavaOS has been built to be fully ROMable for embedded applications, and can run with as little as 512K ROM and 256K RAM. For network computers, an entire system with JavaOS, the HotJava™ Browser and space for downloading Web content and applets requires only 3MB ROM and 4MB RAM. JavaOS can be this small because it is almost completely written in Java.

JavaSoft, headquartered in Cupertino, CA, is an operating company of Sun Microsystems Inc. The company's mission is to develop, market and support the Java technology and products based on it. Java supports networked applications and enables developers to write applications once that will run on any machine. JavaSoft develops applications, tools and systems platforms to further enhance Java as the programming standard for complex networks such as the Internet and corporate intranets.

JavaOne, the first JavaSoft-sponsored developers conference for Java, will take place May 29-31, 1996 at San Francisco's Moscone Center. JavaOne's keynote addresses will be webcast at http://java.sun.com/javaone, and all conference session materials will be available at the same url.

With annual revenues of more than $6 billion, Sun Microsystems, Inc. provides products and services that enable customers to build and maintain open network computing environments. Widely recognized as a proponent of open standards, the company is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of products, technologies and services for commercial and technical computing. Sun's SPARC™ workstations, multiprocessing servers, SPARC microprocessors, SolarisTM operating software and ISO-certified service organization each rank No. 1 in the UNIX® industry. Sun's Java™ platform-independent programming environment, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of programming for complex networks, including the Internet. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, The Network is the Computer, Solaris, Java, HotJava, JavaSoft are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, INC. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and in other countries exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners

JavaSoft Unveils New HotJava

Enables Custom Internet and Intranet User Environments

San Francisco, CA - May 29, 1996 - JavaSoft, an operating company of Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) today outlined a road map for HotJava, a set of Java class libraries for developers to build dynamic, customized network-aware applications and user environments. The early access release of the newly redesigned HotJava is available now.

"JavaSoft is providing the framework for developing user- environments that are as dynamic and extensible as Java itself. Developers will be able to create user experiences that are tailored for specific content and applications," said David Spenhoff, director of product marketing, JavaSoft. "We're developing HotJava for JavaSoft's corporate customers and ISVs who have expressed enormous interest in a product that would allow them to create dynamic customizable user-environments that support Java applets -- in browsers and in any other environment they might develop. HotJava is ideal for developing desktops that run on devices enabled by JavaOS -- JavaSoft's lightweight OS designed for network computers and consumer devices."

As an example of what can be created with HotJava, JavaSoft has developed the HotJava Browser, a total redesign that replaces the HotJava Browser alpha, released last year as a proof of concept to demonstrate that a powerful application could be written in Java. The new HotJava Browser is available now in early access at http://java.sun.com.

JavaSoft will license the HotJava class libraries and HotJava Browser source to developers. The HotJava Browser binary will remain free for individual non-commercial use.

"As HotJava evolves over the next year, we'll be creating a modular, extensible set of building blocks for developers to create not only dynamic, `morph-able' Internet and intranet applications but also complete desktop suites," said Amy Pearl, HotJava engineering manager, JavaSoft. "Just as the HotJava Browser run Java applets, anything a developer creates using HotJava -- like a mail client, a web kiosk, a shared whiteboard or even an interactive game -- would run Java applets too. We're bringing the infinite reach of the Internet along with the interactive capabilities of applets, Web access and HTML to every user environment."

Baltimore's Columbus Center Creates a HotJava Environment

The Columbus Center, a marine biology museum located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, is working with The Widget Works to develop the Channel Marker, an interactive multimedia system designed to assist and educate visitors to the museum.

"HotJava is far and away the solution that we were looking for," said Alex Crain, president, The Widget Works. "It comes with most of what we need built in, with an interface that we can expand. We wanted our application to change its appearance to reflect the context of each page as visitors progressed to more advanced levels in the material. With HotJava, it's a simple task to reconfigure the interface to reflect the URL."

"Using the HotJava building blocks, content creators like The Widget Works can now tailor a branded desktop environment that integrates with and enhances their content," said Pearl. "Each hyper-text link or new URL can bring a new experience to the user."

According to Crain, HotJava is a way for applications like the Channel Marker to stay current in the face of constant change. "With HotJava as a base," added Crain, "our applications can readily reflect advances in technology without redesigning the application or rebuilding the text and graphics content."

Working with HotJava

With the source code for the HotJava class libraries, developers will have the building blocks to create dynamic Internet and intranet user environments. Additionally, the HotJava Browser binary is built to include enough flexibility to allow users to customize the look and feel of their environments easily and quickly.

JavaSoft's plans for HotJava include refining and extending the components available now in the early access release of HotJava. Expected to be available in Q4 1996, the new HotJava will include HotJava class libraries and the HotJava Browser, for which source licenses may be purchased. The HotJava Browser binary is now available free for individual non-commercial use. In addition, site licenses for the HotJava Browser binary will be available for purchase commercial use, and for redistribution. For purchasers of HotJava, installation and configuration support will be available.

"HotJava will offer a framework to design user environments that are 100% customizable, Internet-aware and extensible," said Pearl. "Future versions of HotJava will include more building blocks to create dynamic applications that include mail and news reading features, WYSIWYG HTML editing, and workflow and collaboration."

With annual revenues of more than $6 billion, Sun Microsystems, Inc. provides products and services that enable customers to build and maintain open network computing environments. Widely recognized as a proponent of open standards, the company is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of products, technologies and services for commercial and technical computing. Sun's SPARC workstations, multiprocessing servers, SPARC microprocessors, Solaris operating software and ISO-certified service organization each rank No. 1 in the UNIX®industry. Sun's JavaTM platform-independent programming environment, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of programming for comples networks, including the Internet. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, The Network is the Computer, Solaris, Java, HotJava, JavaSoft and JavaOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and in other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license and are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, INC. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and in other countries exclusively licensed through X/Open Company, Ltd. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners.

JavaSoft Component API Initiative Announced

Portable, platform-neutral standard endorsed by industry leaders

May 29, 1996, Mountain View, CA - JavaSoft today unveiled an initiative to create a set of component APIs which are open and are written entirely in Java[tm]. The project, code-named "Java Beans", will allow developers to write Java applets and applications from reusable components that can transfer their functionality to other Java applets and applications, as well as to non-Java, platform-dependent applications.

The Java Beans initiative already has broad-based industry support. Industry leaders including Borland International, Inc., International Business Machines, including its Lotus Business Products Division, Netscape Communications Corp., Oracle Corp., and Symantec Corp., have endorsed the project as the model for open standards-based component in Java.

The Java component API add a dynamic capability to portable Java applets and applications. A button or icon in one document, for instance, can control functions in another document. For example, a button component in one document can trigger a bar chart to be drawn in another document; a live data feed in one document could be represented as a chart in another document.

The Java component API provides a seamless and powerful integration into applications in multiple formats and component architectures, including HTML, COM, OpenDoc, and LiveConnect. Java Beans components, which will include ordinary Java applets, will also be able to be embedded into existing "containers" such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Word and Excel, Microsoft Visual Basic, and others.

Java Beans will be written entirely in Java, providing developers with the ability to write components once and run them anywhere. Developers need not be tied to any platform specific component architecture that limits the portability of their applications.

"Our mission with the Java Platform has been to guarantee developers that if they write in Java, their applets and applications will run anywhere," said Alan Baratz, president of JavaSoft. "The Java Beans initiative is evidence that we are pursuing that commitment vigorously. The winners are developers and ultimately end-users, who get all the functionality of current component architecture models with the portability and ease-of use of Java."

Among other key characteristics of the Java component API:

It is compact and simple for developers to use. It is easier to create and reuse Java components than with other component object models. Developers just write Java.
It speeds application development by letting developers re-use existing Java applets to compose new applications. Because Java is an architecture-neutral platform, applets from a number of different sources can be composed into applications.
Application-building tools will allow developers to graphically compose Java components into applets and applications. Companies such as IBM with its VisualAge for Java, Borland with its Latte tools, SunSoft with its Java WorkShop, and Symantec with its Cafe development environment, have committed to providing graphical user interface (GUI-based) tools to build Java Beans components.

Broad-Based Industry Support

The Java component API specification is currently under development and will be reviewed with leading industry experts prior to being made available for public comment in September. Early access to Java component technology will start in late 1996, with full availability expected by mid-1997. The Java component API will be incorporated into the Java Development Kit and will be made available by Java licensees.

Several companies have already endorsed the Java Beans initiative.

Borland	"Borland's Delphi rapid application development (RAD) tools have proven that components are the key to productivity for software developers," said Paul Gross, Sr. Vice President of Research and Development at Borland. "We're excited to see JavaSoft driving a cross-platform component architecture that Borland intends to support in our Latte RAD tools for Java."
IBM	"The convergence of three critical areas of technology -- Java, standards, and the Internet -- presents a unique opportunity for customers," said John Slitz, IBM vice president, object technologies application development marketing. "IBM is fully committed to providing customers maximum competitive advantage, and is working on its own implementation, Arabica, which is a robust blending of the strengths of Java and reliable and flexible nature of OpenDoc."
Lotus	"We are pleased to support JavaSoft with our experience in component software, cross platform development and Internet applications," said Michael Welles, General Manager of the Lotus Components Business Group. "Java Bean's unique cross platform support will enable developers to build component-based applications that can be easily deployed across multiple operating systems using Lotus Notes over the Internet. Users will access these applications via Notes clients or any Java Beans enabled Web browser. Lotus customers are excited about building applications with Notes and Lotus Components, and with Java Beans they will be able to deploy these applications beyond the Java Beans they will be able to deploy these applications beyond the Win32/ActiveX environment."
Netscape	"Java Beans is a powerful extension of the Java Platform," said Rick Shell, vice president of engineering, Netscape Communications Corp. "Netscape intends to extend Netscape LiveConnect technology to provide support for Java Beans, further integrating Java into the Netscape software platform."
Oracle	"Oracle applauds JavaSoft's intention to define a cross-platform component model for Java," said Joseph Duncan, vice president of Web and object oriented tools at Oracle Corp. "Oracle is an active supporter of software component standards. This is a timely step toward true open systems integration."
Symantec	"At Symantec, we are very excited about Java Beans. This new component API is an important step towards allowing component programming in Java. We will definitely adopt the JavaSoft component model in our forthcoming Visual Cafe for allowing easy visual development using Java," said Mansour Safai, general manager of the Symantec Internet tools division.

JavaSoft, headquartered in Cupertino, CA, is an operating company of Sun Microsystems Inc. The company's mission is to develop, market and support the Java technology and products based on it. Java supports networked applications and enable s developers to write applications once that will run on any machine. JavaSoft develops applications, tools and systems platforms to further enhance Java as the programming standard for complex networks such as the Internet and corporate intranets.

JavaOne[tm], the first JavaSoft-sponsored developers conference for Java, will take place May 29-31, 1996 at San Francisco's Moscone Center. JavaOne's keynote addresses will be webcast at http://java.sun.com/javaone, and all conference session materials will be available at the same url.

With annual revenues of more than $6 billion, Sun Microsystems, Inc. provides products and services that enable customers to build and maintain open network computing environments. Widely recognized as a proponent of open standards, the company is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of products, technologies and services for commercial and technical computing. Sun's SPARC[tm] workstations, multiprocessing servers, SPARC microprocessors, Solaris[tm] operating software and ISO-certified service organization each rank No.1 in the UNIX® industry. Sun's Java[tm] platform-independent programming environment, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of programming for complex networks, including the Internet. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982, and is head quartered in Mountain View, California.

New APIs Augment Java Platform

Open specifications assure smooth evolution of Java

San Francisco, CA - May 29, 1996 - JavaSoft, an operating company of Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) today announced a set of application programming interface specifications (APIs) to be added to the core JavaTM platform as well as a set of Java Standard Extension APIs, an open and extensible family of additional APIs that developers can access to build robust Java applets and applications for the Internet and corporate intranets.

"The Java industry has asked us for a roadmap that shows Java's smooth, open evolution from a new object-oriented programming language to a complete programming and operating environment," said Alan Baratz, president,JavaSoft. "We've defined new core APIs that will be basic to the highly compact Java platform that will be embedded in the industry's leading operating systems.

"In addition, we've defined Java Standard Extension APIs -- standard because they are fully specified and documented to promote consistent, universal usage -- extensions because they're additions to the core Java platform," added Baratz. "Each of the Java Standard Extension APIs will maintain full compatibility with the Java platform as it moves forward."

JavaSoft collaborated with industry specialists to develop the Java Media APIs, Java Enterprise APIs, Java Commerce APIs, Java Security APIs, Java Servlet APIs, Java Management APIs and Java Embedded APIs, some of which will be core APIs and some Standard Extensions (see attached chart).

"We've leveraged the tremendous resources of our collaborators to identify these APIs in `Internet time,'" said David Spenhoff, director of product marketing, JavaSoft. "Java's explosive growth required us to move very rapidly to meet the demands of developers who let us know exactly what they needed to write robust Java applications for the Web, intranets, and new markets that are made possible by JavaOSTM -- JavaSoft's new lightweight operating system for network computers, devices and embedded controllers." (see related release, "JavaSoft announces JavaOS", May 29, 1996 in this press kit or at http://java.sun.com).

Extending the Power of Java

The new Java APIs provide the framework for developing robust applets and applications in Java.

Java Media APIs allow developers and users to easily and flexibly take advantage of a wide range of rich, interactive media on the Web. The APIs include a Media Framework for audio, video and MIDI players, developed in collaboration with Intel Corporation and Silicon Graphics, Inc.; 2D imaging and geometry, developed in collaboration with Adobe Systems Incorporated; 3D geometry, developed in collaboration with Intel and SGI; animation, developed in collaboration with Intel and MacroMedia Inc.; Collaboration, developed at JavaSoft; and telephony, developed in collaboration with Lucent Technologies. The extensible Media API set accommodates the industry's suite of media transports, containers, and encoding formats, and allows the addition of new media-related functionality.

Java Enterprise APIs support connectivity to enterprise databases and legacy applications. With these APIs, corporate developers are building distributed client/server applets and applications in Java that run on any OS or hardware platform in the enterprise. Java Enterprise includes JDBCTM, which has been developed with a broad base of industry support (see "Java to Integrate with Enterprise Databases, February 20, 1996 at http://java.sun.com or see http://java.sun.com/jdbc/jdbc.vendors.html for list of participating companies); Java IDL, developed to OMG's Interface Definition Language specification in collaboration with several OMG IDL vendors; and Java RMI, remote method invocation for peer-to-peer and client/server applications written entirely in Java, developed at JavaSoft.

Java Commerce APIs will bring secure purchasing to the Web. APIs include JavaWalletTM, a purchaser managementand GUI API; Payment and Service APIs that offer payment processing; and Merchant APIs that provide shopping cart and billing capabilities.

The Java Security APIs are a framework for developers to easily and securely include security functionality in their applets and applications. APIs include Cryptography, with digital signature functionality, encryption and authentication.

The Java Security API set includes an abstract layer between applications and `Security Packages' that implement the actual cryptography, which allows developers who specialize in cryptography o write packages for Java Security. The Java Security API set also includes system support for Key Management, including a secure database, certificate facilities, etc. An extensible API, Java Security allows modules to be transparently replaced within the platform as stronger, faster technologies are developed.

Java Servlet APIs are the fundamental building blocks for creating customized server solutions. The APIs provide uniform and consistent access to the server and administrative system resources required for developers to quickly develop their own Java `servlets' -- small executable programs that users upload to run on networks or servers.

Java Management APIs, developed in collaboration with SunSoft and a broad range of industry leaders including AutoTrol, Bay Networks, BGS, BMC, Central Design Systems, Cisco Systems, Computer Associates, CompuWare, LandMark Technologies; Legato Systems, Novell, OpenVision, Platinum Technologies, Tivoli Systems, and 3Com, provide a rich set of extensible Java objects and methods for building applets that can manage an enterprise network over Internets.

The Java Embedded APIs provide the essential, minimal interfaces for applications that target small footprint devices. These APIs are a subset of the total Java API set, and will be delivered synchronously with other Java APIs.

Delivering the Java Standard Extensions

"It's in the best interests of JavaSoft and the Java industry to encourage broad feedback on these extensions," said Spenhoff. "Enhanced by industry collaboration and endorsement, the Java API framework will provide developers the best software application platform available."

In addition to the Java Standard Extensions, the JavaAppletTM API is currently shipping and is available in every Java implementation.

Adding functionality to the Java Developers Kit

In addition to the API platform enhancements, JavaSoft announced plans for future versions of the Java Developers Kit, the basic Java development platform available to licensees and to developers. Enhancements will include Internationalization, technology for creating "signed" and therefore trusted applets, AWT (abstract windowing toolkit) enhancements and performance enhancements.

With annual revenues of more than $6 billion, Sun Microsystems, Inc. provides products and services that enable customers to build and maintain open network computing environments. Widely recognized as a proponent of open standards, the company is involved in the design, manufacture and sale of products, technologies and services for commercial and technical computing. Sun's SPARCTM workstations, multiprocessing servers, SPARC microprocessors, SolarisTM operating software and ISO-certified service organization each rank No. 1 in the UNIX® industry. Sun's JavaTM platform-independent programming environment, provides a comprehensive solution to the challenge of programming for complex networks, including the Internet. Sun Microsystems was founded in 1982, and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.