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JavaOS

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JavaOS
DeveloperSun Microsystems
Written inJava
OS familyJava
Working stateDiscontinued
Source modelClosed source
Initial releaseMay 29, 1996;28 years ago(1996-05-29)
Latest releaseFinal / August 23, 1999;24 years ago(1999-08-23)
Available inEnglish
PlatformsARM,PowerPC,SPARC,IA-32(x86)
KerneltypeMicrokernel
LicenseProprietary

JavaOSis a discontinued[1]operating systembased on aJava virtual machine.It was originally developed bySun Microsystems.[2]UnlikeWindows,macOS,Unix,orUnix-likesystems which are primarily written in theCprogramming language, JavaOS is primarily written inJava.It is now considered alegacy system.[3]

History

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TheJavaprogramming language was introduced by Sun in May 1995. Jim Mitchell and Peter Madany at JavaSoft designed a new operating system,codenamedKona, written completely in Java. In March 1996, Tom Saulpaugh joined the now seven-person Kona team to design aninput/output(I/O) architecture, having come from Apple as Macintosh system software engineer since June 1985 and co-architect ofCopland.[4]: XI–XIII 

JavaOS was first evangelized in aBytearticle.[5]In 1996, JavaSoft's official product announcement described the compact OS designed to run "in anything from net computers to pagers".[2]In early 1997, JavaSoft transferred JavaOS to SunSoft. In late 1997, Bob Rodriguez led the team to collaborate withIBMwho then marketed the platform, accelerated development, and made significant key architectural contributions to the next release of JavaOS, eventually renamed JavaOS for Business.[4]: XI–XIII [6]IBM indicated its focus was more on network computerthin clients,specifically to replace traditionalIBM 3270"green screen" and UnixX terminals,and to implement single application clients.[7]

TheChorusdistributed real-time operating system was used for its microkernel technology.[4]: XIII This began withChorus Systèmes SA,a French company, licensing JavaOS from Sun and replacing the earlier JavaOS hardware abstraction layer with the Chorus microkernel,[8]thereby creating the Chorus/Jazz product, which was intended to allow Java applications to run in a distributed, real-time embedded system environment.[9]Then in September 1997, it was announced that Sun Microsystems was acquiring Chorus Systèmes SA.[10]

In 1999, Sun and IBM announced the discontinuation of the JavaOS product.[1]As early as 2003, Sun materials referred to JavaOS as a "legacy technology",recommending migration toJava ME,leaving the choice of specific OS and Java environment to the implementer.[citation needed]

Design

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JavaOS is based on a hardware architecture nativemicrokernel,running on platforms includingARM,PowerPC,SPARC,StrongARM,andIA-32(x86). The Java virtual machine runs on the microkernel. Alldevice driversare written in Java and executed by thevirtual machine.A graphics and windowing system implementing theAbstract Window Toolkit(AWT) application programming interface (API) is also written in Java.[4][page needed]

JavaOS was designed to run onembedded systemsand has applications in devices such asset-top boxes,computer networkinginfrastructure, andautomated teller machines(ATMs). It comes with theJavaStation.[citation needed]

Licensing

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JavaSoft granted licenses to more than 25 manufacturers, includingOracle,Acer,Xerox,Toshiba,andNokia.IBMand Sun announced the cooperation for JavaOS for Business at the end of March 1998.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abShankland, Stephen (August 23, 1999)."Sun, IBM decaffeinate JavaOS".CNet News.RetrievedDecember 16,2011.
  2. ^ab"JavaSoft Announces JavaOS"(Press release). JavaSoft (Sun Microsystems). May 29, 1996.RetrievedMay 4,2016.
  3. ^ab"What is the migration path for the PersonalJava, EmbeddedJava and JavaOS technologies?".Connected Device Configuration FAQ.1995–2003. Archived fromthe originalon June 4, 2003.RetrievedMarch 9,2022.
  4. ^abcdClements, Tom; Mirho, Charles (January 1999).Inside the JavaOS Operating System.Java series.Preface text.Addison-Wesley.ISBN0-201-18393-5.OCLC924842439.{{cite book}}:External link in|others=(help)
  5. ^Mirho, Charles; Clements, Tom (July 1997)."JavaOS: Thin Client, Fat Service"(PDF).Byte.22(7): 53–54.ISSN0360-5280.JavaOS uses a small memory footprint, yet its network-centric design lets it access large-scale services
  6. ^Hayes, Mary (February 23, 1998)."Sun Enlists IBM For JavaOS Aid".InformationWeek.Archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2000.RetrievedDecember 16,2011.
  7. ^Finney, Russ (March 10, 1998)."Inside the IBM JavaOS Project".itmWEB.RetrievedDecember 16,2011.
  8. ^"Chorus Leaves Unix Behind; Refocuses on Java and CORBA".Computergram International.No. 3112. March 4, 1997.RetrievedJune 1,2021– via Gale General OneFile.
  9. ^"Chorus Systems Announces CHORUS/JaZZ".EE Times.February 20, 1997.
  10. ^"Sun Expands Network Software Business Into Embedded Systems Market".EE Times.September 11, 1997.