if you're still using Java, better rethink ...

Ars Technia points out in "Oracle profits surge—at the expense of Java development and software support" that Oracle development of the Java language and development environment has pretty much stopped. This is no surprise to anyone. Oracle is all about profits, and Java doesn't produce much, especially since the decision in Google's favor in the recent API court case. Oracle database software has hit the market limit: everyone who could possibly want it already has it. And there's not much more you can do to improve it. And the other stuff Oracle has is also unlikely to produce much in the way of big money.


So Oracle is jumping on the "cloud." Despite a drop in revenues, they're showing some profits. How? By cutting costs. The biggest costs are people. So I imagine they're trimming staff. This can be a good thing for a company if it's not too vicious. But cut too deep and you're cutting healthy muscle and organs. (IBM is doing this - they've imploded.) I suspect Ellison doesn't have the long-term health of his company at heart. So I think Oracle is on the big, long, decline. Oracle's software will continue to produce revenue through licensing, but it's going to turn into a utility - like the water and power companies. Or like the Internet providers who are now just telecoms.


As for Java. It'll languish until smaller companies find ways to support the language. Ellison might eventually sell it, though I think he has some emotional baggage there. Court cases do that. In the meantime, you might consider moving to a different language. Consider Python, for example.