Next week is JavaOne and in a strange way I am looking forward to attending. I actually think Oracle is finally getting its groove around Java. There seems to be an energy that I am hoping will materialize next week.
The keynotes are often an important barometer for setting the tone of the conference. As I have done in the past, there are certain things I would like to see Oracle emphasize in the keynotes and certain things they should avoid. Here is my 2011 wish list:
1. Celebrate the success of OpenJDK. Oracle has done a lot around OpenJDK and they need to celebrate. They should talk about who and how people are participating. They should spotlight key non-Oracle contributors. Take the time to celebrate the community around OpenJDK.
2. JVM languages. I want to hear a lot about the languages being built ontop of the JVM. Make JavaOne not a ‘java the language conference’ but ‘Java the Platform’ conference. There is a ton of innovation going on in this area. Oracle needs to embrace it and promote it.
3. Java in the cloud. Oracle desperately needs to provide some type of vision/strategy for Java in the cloud. Companies like Red Hat, VMware and even CloudBees are leading the way. Oracle needs to catch-up and make Java a first-class language for the cloud.
4. Update on JavaFX. I have very mixed feelings about JavaFX. Oracle made the right move to kill it as a new language but progress on JavaFX seems to still be very slow. Technologies like Javascript, HTML5 appear to be passing by Java for client-side user interfaces. Oracle needs to step it up here or get out of the way. btw, if you do a JavaFX demo, please don’t show a lame video playing in a browser. Show a demo that might actually be relevant to an enterprise Java developer.
Things I don’t really want to hear but probably will:
1. Java on BILLIONS OF DEVICES. Each year Sun and last year Oracle continues to talk about Java being on billions of mobile devices, tvs, everywhere. Sorry but saying Java is important for mobile phones is just not credible. Oracle, please don’t embarass yourself. At least make sure the Oracles executives turn off their iPhones or Android phones when they make the claim. 
2. Project Jigsaw. Oracles continues to promise a new modularity story for Java 8. We don’t need a new modularity story, we already have OSGi. Work to make OSGi better. Jigsaw will cause a disruption in the Java ecosystem that just is not worthwhile.
3. New and improved JCP. I know Oracle is working on fixing the JCP and it surely needs fixing. I just don’t care. Prove to me that it is fixed and then celebrate.
Overall, I think it is going to be a good week. The Eclipse Foundation will have a booth at JavaOne, so if you are attending please drop by to say hi.
