Your peers pick top JavaOne keynote, tell whether Java makes life easier, and describe their Java development and purchasing activity
An exclusive JavaWorld survey of JavaOne Today and JavaWorld readers indicates that JavaOne conference attendees overwhelmingly agree Java is making their lives easier.
The survey, posted at the JavaWorld and JavaOne Today magazine Web sites, asked readers about the JavaOne developer conference and their companies’ use of Java. Respondents — most of whom attended this year’s JavaOne developer conference — say Sun CEO and chairman Scott McNealy gave the best keynote. But several respondents argue McNealy and Co. should cease the habitual Microsoft bashing.
“I think all the attacks on Microsoft and Bill Gates are infantile and counterproductive to the future of Java,” noted one attendee. “It would be much better to enlist Gates as a supporter.” Another said “Stop the Microsoft bashing; it’s a waste of time.” And another: “Although not a particular fan of Microsoft, I am not entirely comfortable with polarizing the Java community in this way.” One respondent said, “The reasons for backing Java should be more logical than emotional.” Others suggested Sun replace such criticisms of others (not to mention the marketing hype) with “useful content.”
Of course, when it comes to mudslinging — especially when the target is Bill Gates — you’re bound to see at least a few nods of approval. One attendee even suggested this novel approach: “Kidnap Bill Gates and force him into a debate with John Gage or Scott McNealy.”
Other favorite keynote speakers include Java creator James Gosling and comedian Dana Carvey (whose performance embraced McNealy’s anti-Microsoft sentiment — not surprising considering he was a paid speaker at the Sun event.)
Of the 431 respondents, 71.4% say Java “has made my life easier”; 14.7% say Java has made their lives more difficult; and 13.7% say Java has had no significant impact one way or another.
Like JavaWorld‘s professional readership, survey respondents are heavily involved in their companies’ development efforts and embrace Java:
85% of respondents are programmers/developers, consultants, systems integrators, or other technical professionals and managers.
84% say their company is developing in-house applications currently or plans to do so with in the next six months; another 8% will do so in 6-12 months.
- 62% say their companies are purchasing Java-centric applications for in-house use now or within six months, and another 11% will do so in 6-12 months.
Respondents described a wide variety of Java-centric apps being developed to tackle tasks such as financial analysis and services, groupware, electronic banking, workflow, factory automation, and front ends for access to legacy systems and databases.
Specific projects include scientific software featuring simulations, educational physics applets for a Web site, health care software (such as an app that lets physicians retrieve patient information over the Web), statistics and data mining software, a front end for a mainframe-based banking system, SQL-based help desk materials, multimedia training tools for airline maintenance, employee photo and org chart browsers, CORBA-based network management, military command and control systems, Java-powered set-top boxes for decoding ATSC television, financial risk-management systems, genome browsing utilities, and payment and reporting applications for Chase wholesale customers.
The survey also reflects the increasing popularity of Java: 85.2% of respondents attended this year’s JavaOne conference, compared to 21.4% who attended JavaOne ’96. (Comparing overall attendance, JavaOne ’96 attracted about 6,000 developers; JavaOne ’97, about 10,000.)
Readers also appreciated the JavaOne coverage provided in JavaOne Today, a show daily published exclusively on the World Wide Web by JavaWorld in cooperation with Sun, which included the show daily in the JavaOne section of its JavaSoft Web site (java.sun.com).
“I think it’s great,” said one respondent. “My co-workers who didn’t attend the conference had easy online access to the same info I did.” Another said: “Excellent. Helps quickly spread the word to interested professionals.” And a reader who missed the conference said, “I didn’t attend, but through these neat articles JavaOne comes to life in my mind.”
Even readers outside the U.S. took advantage of the show daily: “The coverage that all of you [provided] on the Internet about JavaOne is a real life-saver for anyone really interested in Java that could not attend the conference,” remarked a reader in Portugal.
Respondents also appreciated the various conference materials posted on the JavaOne Web site. “The availability of transcripts, slides, and recordings let me catch the sessions I missed during the show,” noted one attendee.
