" But for consumers, the need for Java is probably going to be fairly rare."
That's what I call uninformed, un-journalistic opinion without evidence or data.

" To Jobs, that means [cross-platform software are] coded for the lowest common denominator interface, which for him, means they're terrible."
Terrible opinion, indeed. Apple becomes more and more closed (although curiously they opened the iPhone a bit, after lobbying from developers).

" just because Apple is not supporting Java doesn't "kill" Java--when it dies is really up to Oracle."
Wasn't Apple blocking the Sun version of Java, pretexting they can do a better job of integrating it to the hardware & system? Causing a lag versions behind the rest of the IT world...
If Oracle chooses to make a Java for Mac, at least it will become a good news. (But Oracle stance toward open source version of Java is sad news too.)

So, the obvious follow-up question... on the day that Apple doesn't provide Java, and Oracle doesn't bother, where does that leave Processing?

The kindle runs processingjs

Processing for the Android devices is in the works

As of now I am not interested in coding objective C. Coding should be like having a conversation or like two persons looking at  a piece of art. However, OSX can read web pages. All this does is prevent an individual from using Mac OSX as their deployment vehicle not the highway upon which they operate. You can still use pc's to generate java rich content and use the HTML5 canvas as a pathway to the mac.

Jobs prefers HTML5 and once persons move towards that and away from flash, it's no showstopper. I am not a fan of flash to begin with. HTML5 still has some promise.

We will see how this pans out.

In things get really bad, OpenJDK can be compiled for OSX, see here and here. In fact, I don't trust Oracle's commitment to open source either, so I would be much comfortable with a community-built version of Java.

Someone has started an online petition to get Apple to donate their Java implementation towards OpenJDK. I don't believe petitions work well with Apple but I signed it anyway.

Andreas

Signed.

Signed too!

signed

For reference, see also the Java deprecated for MacOSX thread.
Note: the blog post shoes[1].drop(); explains why Apple is unlikely to release their Java as open source, and I fear the explanation is rather convincing...

Gosling on the inq:

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1810973/james-gosling-takes-steve-jobs-task?WT.rss_f=Home&WT.rss_a=James+Gosling+takes+Steve+Jobs+to+task

kb, http://www.riftgame.com/

Cing sounds great! They have a website here:

www.cing.cc

I doubt that Java on Mac is dead anytime soon. It will get (again) harder to install it but I doubt that it will be worse than other open source packages. As a Processing user I am quite relaxed about this at the moment. I believe this move is a fallout from the changes in the mobile phone markets, and as such gets discussed with more drama that necessary. I am sure, there is enough commercial and open-source interest in Java applications to make OpenJDK a good option in the future.

The real problem is, I think, to decide for the Processing developpers how to prepare Processing for the long term. Even in that context I see Java as a good choice for the forseeable future - but of course I am not a developper.

Andreas

I work in a research lab that has federal funding from multiple sources including the NSF, NIH, and NEH.  We tell them upfront that our development and implementation will be in Windows only and we have had no problem securing funding.

I am working in a research area where most people now use Macs to 'get the work done'. However, that's not the point. For the first time (in my opinion) we are able to use a coherent collection of open software to do all our collaborative work. This means that people can work on Linux, Windows or Mac without jumping through any hoops etc. Java is not essential for this but it helps since a number of programs we use (such as Jabref, Eclipse, etc) are Java based. I selected Processing as our internal teaching and prototyping tool because it fits into this framework very nicely.

Andreas

To add some new rumors to an old thread: Java seems to be not in the default install of Lion but might be `automatically' downloaded when needed, see e.g.:

OK so Lion's Golden Master is available now, anyone figured out how we are going to install Processing on the coming Macs?

Hi All,