Last time there are many implementations of languages in pure Java. I wrote last time here about JRuby which is on other hand very powerful solution. All these JSomething implementations are not without sense because Java has still enormous capabilities and thousands, milions libraries in any context of use. So imagine what brings you Ruby flexibility with Java enterprise. There are of course other implementations like Jython, now in 2.2.1 version. But thing that determined me to write this post is what I found last time - JSqueak, and now here is my question: it is necessary to implement everything in Java ? To understand general problem of Java and Dynamic Languages you should read this great article: Dynamic Languages - The FUD Continues…. Here is short a short excerpt from this article:

“The simple truth is that for web applications dynamic approaches are massively more productive. Take a look at Seaside (Smalltalk), Grails (groovy) or Rails (Ruby) and its clear that Java has nothing to compare. The DSLs provided by these languages make web development a cinch. Productivity improvements of 2-3 times is not uncommon. This translates to a reduced time to market, and better responsiveness to business needs.”

“The domains where Java makes sense are shrinking. Given the performance of dynamic languages nowadays and the ability to inter-operate with high performance system languages like C++, I see Java and C# being squeezed.”

I agree with author completly ! So nevertheless if JRuby or Jython are great, projects like JSqueak are for me interesting only from academic or educational point of view. It is so because Squeak are desperately pretty, I mean it’s so simple and powerfull, small and considered. So why takes it from brilliant Smalltalk to big, heavy Java ? Of course all these projects are very important because we need to still trying new concepts to find appropriate solutions. But question is - is Java keyword still necessary to talk about enterprise, good solutions ? Probably not.

If you just started to work with Ruby and if you are the Java Developer this is the most powerful solution for you - JRuby. That’s the magnificent synergy between power of Java( millions libraries, millions projects in whole world, millions Java programmers) and Ruby ( always giving productivity and fun). If you haven’t tried JRuby yet, there is a video you should see: JRuby: The power of Java and Ruby. Simple speaking it’s an 100% pure-Java implementation of the Ruby programming language. Of course we can using Ruby On Rails or Merb with it now Current version is 1.1.2 and it gives really good performance (opposite to the groovy which I was talking about last time). All your JRuby projects can be started later with for example GlassFish server.

There is another interesting tool called JtestR - that will make it easier to test Java code with state of the art Ruby tools (RSpec, Test/Unit, dust, mocha and Active Support).

So now the only way is to download it and start using

Groovy is an “agile dynamic language for the Java Virtual Machine, builds upon the strengths of Java but has additional power features inspired by languages like Python, Ruby and Smalltalk” - from their site. It’s quite interesting, so i decided to write about it. On RailsEnvy blog we can find more features about it from this: article. Many informations also were on last Dynamic Languages World Conference. What is more, Groovy has a brilliant Grails framework inspired by Ruby On Rails. It all looks nifty huh ? but … there is a “little” problem with Groovy - low performance You can find tests and quick comparison here. UPDATE! (may 2008 test but isnt still truly - JRuby 1.1.2 is faster still, thay compared 1.1.1 version). Why it is so ? explanation you can find in headius (Charles Nutter) blog in this article. Generally speaking if you want to power of Java in beautiful language choose JRuby - its much much better (faster and more powerful) - this is my opinion

Tworzenie aplikacji na platformy mobilne staje się coraz bardziej popularne. Mamy również coraz szerszy zestaw narzędzi pozwalających na ich tworzenie. Na blogu Sun‘u pod tym adresem zamieszczono porównanie platformy Java ME oraz Adobe Flash Lite. Powinno ono ułatwić niezdecydowanym wybór najbardziej odpowiadającej im technologii. Ciekawym projetkem, na który na prawdę należy zwrócić uwagę, jest opublikowanym przez Sony Ericsson most Capuchin Technology, który łączy bisnesowe możliwości Java ME i wizualne Adobe Flash Lite. Teraz możemy korzystać z zalet jakie niosą obydwie platformy, budując np. frontend za pomocą Flash Lite, a backend przy pomocy bardziej rozbudowanego Java ME.