Popularizing Java

I think I read recently that the number of Java developers was declining, and that many Java developers were leaving to use languages and frameworks that were easier to use. I am not a Java developer, but I have been watching the changes in Java EE 5, and I have been reading about EJB 3.0 – just out of interest.

This is what I have noticed. Much of what is written about Java assumes knowledge. For example, the Netbeans.org site contains an introduction to Java EE 5. This article jumps straight into describing how Java EE 5 uses annotations instead of deployment descriptors! This is not a good place to start. I will see if I can find a better introduction and I will post it here.

On the other hand, if you are familiar with annotations, and if you are familiar with deployment descriptors, this is a good article. If you have at least played with EJB 2.0, then this introduction will make sense – however, if you already have that much knowledge, you have already been introduced. All you need is an update.

I get the impression that Java is losing ground to lightweight frameworks, and so-called scripting languages. The language is getting better, but a real effort has to be made to write well about Java and to make it interesting to young, up-and-coming developers.