Intel sips Java as Microsoft simmers

Microsoft Canada's response

June 13, 1997

Dear Mr. Morochove,

I wanted to take this opportunity to present Microsoft's vision and strategy for Java and Windows, and specifically, our implementation of Java, the role of ActiveX and the emergence of the Active Platform.

The operating system that runs the most Java applications is Windows. Clearly, we're not going to abandon the application developers who have told us they need tight integration with Windows, and we are making every effort to promote Java in the development community.

We think Java is a great programming language. We have endeavored to avoid locking people into a proprietary interpretation or implementation of the language, or limiting them to a specific software or hardware environment. Java is not monolithic. We are striving to offer the best of both worlds - Java and Windows.

In your recent column Intel sips Java as Microsoft simmers, you assert that "it's no secret that Microsoft doesn't like Java." In actuality, nothing could be further from the truth.

First and foremost, Microsoft is absolutely committed to providing full compatibility with the Java programming language and the Java virtual machine, as well as the fastest, most robust and most compatible way to run cross-platform Java applications. We are integrating Java into our products, our tools, our browser and into the Windows and Active platforms:

* Microsoft has unveiled Visual J++ 1.1, a leading Java development environment.

* Visual J++ 1.1 provides all the essential tools developers need to create 100 per cent compatible cross-platform Java applications and applets.

* Visual J++ includes a debugger that can debug applets inside a Web browser and the world's fastest Java compiler.

* Microsoft intends to offer the best browser support for Java, running standalone Java applets as well as integrating with other Java applets and ActiveX Controls.

* Internet Explorer 3.0 runs Java applets faster than any other browser via support for a replaceable Just-in-time compiler.

* We have had open design reviews with participants from Sun, Netscape and others and received phenomenal feedback on our Virtual Machine implementation.

* Microsoft will also provide the Windows reference implementation of Java.

Please also allow me to respond to your statement that "Microsoft is putting its efforts behind Java alternatives such as ActiveX." ActiveX is in no way an alternative to Java, nor does it compete with Java. Rather, ActiveX "turbocharges" Java in numerous ways:

* ActiveX enables components developed in Java to interoperate with ActiveX Controls and other objects, enabling developers to bring added functionality to their Java applications and Web sites.

* ActiveX extends the capabilities of the language to enable the scripting of Java applets with other Java applets and ActiveX Controls. Developers can also use the scripting language of their choosing.

* ActiveX also provides enhanced multimedia capabilities by permitting Java to securely call operating system services such as Direct 3D.

* Enhanced security is provided through Microsoft's Authenticode technology which allows a developer to sign the Java applet with a digital identification.

* Authenticode is provided in addition to support for Java's sandbox security. Even with OS calls, Authenticode support allows users to verify the vendor of the control and decide whether to run the control on their system.

The Active Platform is the Microsoft development platform, combining HTML, scripting, components and system services. Win32 is part of this; so is Java. Neither Win32 nor Java alone is a complete Internet development solution. We're confident more developers than ever will be targeting the Active Platform, which includes Java development technologies, because it offers quality, ubiquity and great tools.

While Java can be viewed as an alternative OS to Windows, the debate doesn't really involve the two facing off directly against each other. The real debate centres on the implementation of thin-client solutions.

Through such Microsoft technologies and products as the NetPC and the Zero Administration Kit, customers are able to benefit from Java and thin clients, but still leverage their existing infrastructure, applications, training and knowledge. The alternative to this approach is to have organizations rewrite, recode, retrain and rearchitect, a strategy which is unlikely to be cost-effective.

I would like to emphasize some additional points of fact:

* ActiveX and the Java language work together.

* ActiveX is integration technology that enables components written in many languages to interoperate. The Java programming language, among many other languages, can be used to create components.

* ActiveX Controls offer greater functionality and security than other Web extensions.

* Microsoft is already working to bring ActiveX support to both UNIX and the Mac OS.

* Microsoft has released the COM and DCOM specifications to an independent standards body to ensure an open standard for ActiveX technologies.

* Java can be used to write ActiveX controls that are single, cross-platform components.

* ActiveX is currently a (U.S.) $240 million annual business with hundreds of companies developing thousands of controls used by millions of users.

Microsoft has dedicated some of our most experienced and talented staff to our Java efforts, and made significant investments to build upon Java - simply, Microsoft wants to make Java better for developers and users. We're working closely with some of the premier Java development companies to ensure that our implementation delivers the features and capabilities businesses and consumers require.

I would certainly be interested in further discussing Java, ActiveX, Windows, Internet Explorer, the Active Platform and their inter-relationships.

Sincerely,

Neil Froggatt
Product Manager
Application Developer Customer Unit
Microsoft Canada Inc.

Return to Intel sips Java as Microsoft simmers

CW