In a recent article for InfoWorld, Paul Krill presented several reasons to stick with Java, as well as several to get rid of it altogether in an enterprise setting. One of the most dominant reasons to "dump" this software involves its problematic relationship with Android devices, where it reportedly is weaker and not the same as its server-based counterpart.
Krill cites statements from analyst Stephen O'Grady, who puts forth a mixed opinion on Java. While he firmly believes that it is the way of the future and "enormously popular," O'Grady also recognizes that Java use on Androids might change thanks to an appeal case by Oracle. This company recently sued Google for allegedly unauthorized use of Java software on the Android platform.
This case was decided in Oracle's favor earlier this year, when an appeals court jury found that the copyright status of 37 Java packages had been infringed upon, but not the patents. Still, O'Grady said that this has potential implications for the way that mobile devices use Java from now on. Google had attempted to defend the appropriation through the legal convention of "fair use."
"The biggest threat I see to Java at present is Oracle's pending litigation against Google," he said. "If Java is jeopardized on the Android platform, it could lead to a substantial perceived drop in developer relevance."
These are valid reasons to simply avoid Java by turning to a solution that takes full advantage of mobile devices without depending too much on the uncertainties of this software. A web based terminal emulator will help businesses create a more coherent technological answer that will work no matter what Java's future is.