Second Beta of J2SE 5.0 released

BANGALORE: Sun announced the release of second beta of Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0, the most significant upgrade to the Java platform and programming language since its initial release nearly one decade ago, at the JavaOne Conference in San Francisco.

Code-named Project Tiger, this updated Java platform offers ease of development, new application monitoring and management features and a dedicated focus on rich client support for the PC desktop.

The J2SE 5.0 software development kit (JDK) includes tools such as compilers and debuggers necessary for developing applets and applications and the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).

Sun has also announced that Java Specification Request (JSR) 176 has reached final draft through the Java Community Process (JCP). J2SE 5.0 is based upon JSR 176.

"Java technology has built a commanding lead in the network computing arena with undisputed popularity and demand among developers," said Jeff Jackson, vice president of Java Developer Platform and Strategy at Sun. "With over 110 million downloads of J2SE since its availability in December 1998, the Java platform continues to fuel the Java economy and drive global business innovation on desktops and servers."

The J2SE 5.0 SDK is available in the Standard as well as Enterprise edition and can be downloaded here.