The man we all love to hate has decided to give a keynote speech at JavaOne on "Java Strategy and Directions" - a topic we are all worried about just at the moment because of his actions..

The man we all love to hate has decided to give a keynote speech at JavaOne on "Java Strategy and Directions" - a topic we are all worried about just at the moment.

Is this an opportunity to confront his biggest critics? Not at JavaOne it isn't. Most of the assembled audience will however want to be reassured that Java is in good hands and that the recent law suit against Google isn't a taste of more general things to come. Add to the Google problem the killing of Open Solaris and you start to see a trend.

As well as copyright and patent issues there is the more general question of how aggressively Oracle will pursue Java as a source of revenue. Even large companies have grown accustomed to using Java and much Java infrastructure without having to pay a cent  to anyone. Even so, a JavaOne audience isn't likely to represent Ellison's most aggressive critics - unless the very appearance at JavaOne makes them buy places, perhaps the profit motive is at work once again!

The abstract for the keynote is vague:

"In this opening JavaOne keynote, Larry Ellison, Oracle's CEO, and Thomas Kurian, Oracle's executive vice president, Product Development, share Oracle's vision for strengthened investment and innovation in Java and describe how Java will continue to grow as the most powerful, scalable, secure, and open platform for the global developer community."

The words "powerful, scalable, secure and open" are encouraging. It's the missing word "profitable" from the list that is the real issue.

"Java Strategy and Directions"
Monday September 20th  | 5:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Further reading

Oracle sues Google for Android Java use

Java helps aliens

Part Two of the Kar-Rek Saga

The dark side of Java

LadyJava music video

Java Man Quits Sun