Languages and standards - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Oracle issues emergency Java patch

  Oracle has issued an emergency patch for a Java vulnerability that can cause systems to hang and that can be exploited by remote attackers without authentication.

• Oracle drafts OpenJDK bylaws

  Oracle has issued a set of draft bylaws that it hopes will guide the process of developing its preferred open-source version of the Java programming language, the OpenJDK.

• JCP chair: Organization does not operate in secrecy

  The chair of the JCP (Java Community Process), the official mechanism for amending the Java platform, defended the organisation's openness this week in response to contentions that the JCP operates in secrecy.

• CS pioneer Knuth releases long-awaited textbook

  Trailing the last volume he published by 38 years, computer science pioneer Donald Knuth has released the first part of volume four of his widely respected series of books, "The Art of Computer Programming."

• Oracle nominates user group to fill Apache's JCP spot

  Oracle has nominated Brazilian user group SouJava to fill the vacancy left by the Apache Software Foundation on the Java SE/EE executive committee.

• Micro Focus extends Cobol to Java and the cloud

  Micro Focus on Thursday announced it is extending its Cobol platform to Java and the Microsoft Windows Azure cloud platform, with the launch of Micro Focus Visual Cobol R3.

• Cobol comes to the cloud

  Micro Focus has updated its developer platform for the Cobol programming language, adding the ability to run Cobol applications on Microsoft's Azure cloud service.

• Microsoft opens HTML5 Labs

  Microsoft is debuting on Tuesday HTML5 Labs, a test and sandbox site for developers to experiment with early draft specifications of emerging HTML5-based technologies.

• W3C offers mobile app etiquette

  In an effort to make mobile applications easier to use, the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) has established a set of guidelines for developers to keep in mind when creating their Web-standards based applications.

• Oracle, mobile vendor in Java legal battle

  Oracle and Swiss mobile software platform vendor Myriad Group are locked in a legal battle over Java licensing issues, one with an apparent connection to Google.

• Oracle asks Apache to reconsider Java committee departure

  Oracle has asked the Apache Software Foundation to reconsider its decision to quit the Java SE/EE Executive Committee, and is also acknowledging the ASF's importance to Java's future.

• Apache resigns from Java community

  Protesting what it perceives as Oracle's undue control of Java, the Apache Software Foundation has resigned its seat from the Java SE/EE Executive Committee, the organization announced Wednesday.

• Python 3.2 eases concurrent development

  The next version of the widely used Python programming language will offer greater support for writing multithreaded applications, a challenging duty for an increasing number of programmers in this age of multicore processors.

• Phone makers, software vendors push Web-based apps

  Companies including Mozilla, Opera Software, Palm and Sony Ericsson are trying to accelerate the use of Web standards when developing applications for smartphones.

• Oracle submits specs for Java 7 and 8

  An Oracle official detailed on Tuesday the submissions of upcoming Java releases to the formal specification process, including versions 7 and 8 of Java's standard edition.