I must say, the deprecating of Java does concern me. I do agree that Apple has been somewhat slow to update their version of Java. It's also strange that they default to 1.5 instead of 1.6. In principle, having Oracle maintain the JVM sounds ok.
However, I understand that the Apple Java makes use of hidden API's in order to provide the level of integration that it does. That integration always impressed me and was one of the many things that originally sold me on using Macs for development. Will Apple work with Oracle to achieve the same level of integration? Or is this really a sneaky way of trying to kill Java on Mac?
I miss the Apple that loved Next, used Java internally, among other languages, and spent a lot of time trying to make technical users happy with things like X11 support and Apple integrated Java. These things are what brought me to the platform.
The Cocoa/Java bridge has been deprecated for ages; other than that, I can't think of any other secret sauce that Apple spreads on their JVM (of course, if there were hidden APIs, and if the Apple JVM used them, and if Apple wanted them to stay secret, I wouldn't be able to say). Regardless, it's not like Java on OS X is going to disappear; if nothing else, Apple's internal usage of Java and their desire to eat their own dog food guarantees as much.
This warning comes with considerably more heads-up than most such developer related warnings from Apple, so by the time 10.7 ships, I would imagine that an open JDK/JRE will be readily available.
I'm no expert on the matter, but from what I hear the APIs involve bridges to the graphics or windowing system. I do hope that a solid open JDK is built.
Oh? Perhaps it was 10.5 then? Or maybe due to upgrading. I've had to switch the default from 1.5 to 1.6 on my machine and on several other peoples as well.
However, I understand that the Apple Java makes use of hidden API's in order to provide the level of integration that it does. That integration always impressed me and was one of the many things that originally sold me on using Macs for development. Will Apple work with Oracle to achieve the same level of integration? Or is this really a sneaky way of trying to kill Java on Mac?
I miss the Apple that loved Next, used Java internally, among other languages, and spent a lot of time trying to make technical users happy with things like X11 support and Apple integrated Java. These things are what brought me to the platform.