Editing Sun Microsystems (section)

===Java platform===
{{Main|Java platform}}
The Java platform was developed at Sun by [[James Gosling]] in the early 1990s with the objective of allowing programs to function regardless of the device they were used on, sparking the slogan "[[Write once, run anywhere]]" (WORA). While this objective was not entirely achieved (prompting the riposte "Write once, debug everywhere"), Java is regarded as being largely hardware—and operating system—independent.

Java was initially promoted as a platform for client-side [[Java applet|''applets'']] running inside web browsers. Early examples of Java applications were the [[HotJava]] [[web browser]] and the [[HotJava Views]] suite. However, since then Java has been more successful on the [[Server-side|server side]] of the Internet.

The platform consists of three major parts: the Java programming language, the [[Java virtual machine|Java Virtual Machine]] (JVM), and several [[Java API|Java Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)]]. The design of the Java platform is controlled by the vendor and user community through the [[Java Community Process]] (JCP).

Java is an [[object-oriented programming]] language. Since its introduction in late 1995, it became one of the world's most popular programming languages.<ref>{{cite web
 |url = http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm
 |title = TIOBE Programming Community Index
 |access-date = July 5, 2007
 |date = June 2007
 |publisher = TIOBE Software
 |archive-date = November 29, 2007
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071129202943/http://www.tiobe.com/tpci.htm
 |url-status = dead
 }} Java was ranked 1st as of June 2007, and has ranked 1st, 2nd or 3rd in this index since its inception in 2001.</ref>

Java programs are compiled to [[byte code]], which can be executed by any JVM, regardless of the environment.

The Java [[application programming interface|API]]s provide an extensive set of library routines. These APIs evolved into the [[Java SE|''Standard Edition'' (Java SE)]], which provides basic infrastructure and GUI functionality; the [[Java EE|''Enterprise Edition'' (Java EE)]], aimed at large software companies implementing enterprise-class application servers; and the [[Java ME|''Micro Edition'' (Java ME)]], used to build software for devices with limited resources, such as mobile devices.

On November 13, 2006, Sun announced it would be licensing its Java implementation under the [[GNU General Public License]]; it released its [[Java compiler]] and JVM at that time.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/story.jsp | title = Sun Opens Java | access-date =January 25, 2007 | date= November 13, 2006 |  work=Sun Microsystems Web site | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070124154133/http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/story.jsp| archive-date = January 24, 2007}}</ref>

In February 2009, Sun entered a battle with Microsoft and Adobe Systems, which promoted rival platforms to build software applications for the Internet.<ref name=Brandon>{{cite news|author=Brandon Bailey|title=Sun Microsystems, Adobe, Microsoft will battle for dominance in Internet software|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11741973|work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]|date=February 20, 2009|access-date=March 2, 2009}}</ref> [[JavaFX]] was a development platform for music, video and other applications that builds on the Java programming language.<ref name=Brandon/>