Java Programming Language Versions

Since its introduction, Sun has released a new version of the Java language every two years or so. These new versions brought enhancements, new capabilities and fixes to bugs. Until recently, the versions were numbered 1.x, where x reached up till 4. (Intermediate revisions were labeled with a third number - 1.x.y - as in 1.4.2.) The newest version, however, is called Java 5.0 rather than Java 1.5.

Below is a timeline of the different versions of the basic, or Standard Edition (SE), of Java along with some of the new features that each one introduced. This edition contains the core language packages (the name for code libraries in Java) and is aimed for desktop programming.

* 1995: Version 1.0 of the Java Development Kit (JDK) was released for free by Sun.
o 8 packages with 212 classes
o Netscape 2.0-4.0 included Java 1.0.
o Microsoft and other companies licensed Java.

* 1997: Version 1.1:
o 23 packages - 504 classes
o Improvements include better event handling, inner classes, improved JVM.
o Microsoft developed its own 1.1. compatible Java Virtual Machine for the Internet Explorer.
o Many browsers in use are still compatible only with 1.1.
o Swing packages of greatly improved graphics became available during this time but not included with the core language.

* 1999: Version 1.2, also called the Java 2 Platform
o 59 packages - 1520 classes
o Code and tools distributed as The Software Development Kit (SDK)
o Java Foundation Classes (JFC), based on Swing, for improved graphics and user interfaces, now included with the core language.
o Collections API included support for various lists, sets, and hash maps.

* 2000: Version 1.3:
o 76 packages - 1842 classes
o Performance enhancements including the Hotspot virtual machine.

* 2002: Version 1.4:
o 135 packages - 2991 classes
o Improved IO, XML support, etc.

* 2004: Version 5.0 (previously numbered 1.5):
o 165 packages, over 3000 classes
o Faster startup and smaller memory footprint
o Metadata
o Formatted output
o Generics
o Improved multithreading features

* 2006: Version 6.0
o Dramatic performance improvements for the core platform and Swing.
o Java Compiler API
o Improved Web Service support through JAX-WS
o JDBC 4.0 support
o Support for pluggable annotations
o Many GUI improvements, such as integration of SwingWorker in the API..etc

Java SE 6 Update 10 is meant as a major enhancement in terms of end-user usability. The release version is currently available for download. This version features

o Java Kernel, a small installer including only the most commonly used JRE classes.
o A new Swing look and feel called Nimbus and based on synth.
o Enhanced updater.
o Enhanced versioning and pack200 support: server-side support is no longer required.
o Java Quick Starter, to improve cold start-up time.

Java SE 7

Codename Dolphin. This is in the early planning and development stages. The Dolphin Project began in August 2006 and is tentatively scheduled for release in 2009.