Oracle has contacted IBM and Red Hat to secure support for the new direction of the Java EE platform. Both companies are already strongly involved in the development process. The Eclipse Foundation was selected as a new partner because, according to Oracle, it already has many years of experience with Java EE and related technologies. Oracle expects this to accelerate the development and create a collaborative platform.
André Sept, head of the DOAG Java Community, is somewhat ambivalent about the decision: "I would have hoped for Apache rather than the Eclipse Foundation. But since the new MicroProfile is also organized at Eclipse, the right key players such as IBM, RedHat, Tomitribe and Payara are already united. We at the DJC (DOAG Java Community) will accompany and support the process. Because this is a great opportunity to bring the platform forward and, above all, to get involved with the community."
Oracle also emphasizes in the blog entry that existing Java-EE licenses, including those upgrading to Java EE 8 and existing WebLogic server versions, will continue to be supported. Regarding future plans, Oracle has published a list of proposals subject to change:
- Transfer previous Oracle guided Java EE and related GlassFish technologies to a Foundation (including RIs, TCKs and project documentation),
- Demonstrate the ability to create a compatible implementation using Foundation resources that run through existing Java EE 8 TCKs,
- a new marketing strategy with a new name for Java EE,
- Development of a clear process to further develop existing specifications and incorporate new ones,
- Recruit developers and sponsors to advance the platform within the foundations. This also includes a possible integration of Eclipse MicroProfile technologies.
