When Java first came out, it was hailed not only as the next big thing, but as the language to end all languages. In those relatively early days of the web, Sun convinced us all that Java applets were here to stay and that all software (presumably written using Java) would be distributed via the web in the future. The trouble for Sun was that applets were, for the most part, made obsolete by the advent of DHTML and JavaScript. And Sun's message on using Java for desktop applications was confusing at best with two different windowing platforms, AWT and Swing, neither of which looked or performed well compared to native applications. A lot of us were left asking "What is Java for?"

Strangely, the area where Java has had the most success, J2EE web applications, isn't even mentioned on java.sun.com. Sun chose instead to focus the Java homepage on Java for cell phones and present it in a way that would only appeal to hip teenagers. I don't know about you, but java.sun.com isn't the web site that comes to mind when I think of "hip" or "teenagers".

This web page describing Java's version numbering makes it quite clear that Sun has bigger communication problems than answering the "What is Java for" question. Go ahead; try to read it straight through and maintain your sanity. Nevermind "What is Java for", just try to answer "What is the version number?".

Java is a great technology, but Sun has goofed in communicating its message. When I think of Java, what should immediately come to mind? Java.sun.com seems to say cell phone applications and a Linux distribution (Java Desktop System). More importantly for Sun, when should it be a no-brainer to pick Java over some other technology? What is Java for?