JavaOne: Oracle outlines updates for Java 8, EE and FX

Oracle has updated the JavaFX platform and provided details about upcoming versions of Java and Java EE.

The recently released Java 7 introduced a number of key features which Oracle hopes to expand with the upcoming Java 8 release, according to Mark Reinhold, Oracle's chief Java architect.

Java 7 was categorised as an 'evolutionary' release, but Reinhold promised that Java 8 will be a 'revolutionary' update.

The Oracle executive highlighted features such as the for/join framework, which allows Java code to be broken down for parallel processing and forms the early stages of a larger multi-thread approach in Java 8.

Reinhold also noted improvements in the development process, such as Project Coin which reduces the need to copy code when writing Java programs.

"Project Coin is all about small changes designed to simplify everyday programming tasks. Programs that are easier to write, read and maintain," he said.

Oracle also unveiled JavaFX 2.0 for Windows systems, along with the developer preview for Mac OS machines, and additional tools for browser-based applications developers such as FXML, which allows web developers to use markup language when creating code.

Java Enterprise Edition, meanwhile, includes new components to better handle cloud computing tasks such as metadata processing and multi-tenant systems.

"We want to provide a way for customers and users to leverage public, private and hybrid clouds," said Oracle technical staff consulting member Lind DiMichiel. "We see this as an evolutionary change and the next logical step for Java EE."