For instance, Pfizer Pharmaceutical runs many of its homegrown business applications on Windows, but chose BEA's WebLogic Java server software to integrate business processes across the company, said Richard Lynn, vice president of global applications and architecture at Pfiser. The J2EE architecture was better suited than .Net for Pfiser's application development strategy, Lynn said.
But as Microsoft escalates its attempt to win over developers building large-scale applications, some Java adherents are concerned that the technological merits of Java-based software are not enough.
Philip Brittan, chairman of Java start-up Droplets, said .Net poses a "dire threat" to Java.
".Net has a real strong chance to be the new standard for writing applications on the desktop and with (server-based) Web applications. Microsoft is positioned extremely well and it will take deft movement (on the part of Java software makers) to turn them away," said Brittan. "Sun understands Microsoft's strategy very well but they haven't been able to execute, and Microsoft has been able to blunt their attacks pretty effectively."
That's why Java's new appeal to a broader base of developers is so crucial, analysts say. Next year, J2EE application server software will be delivered with built-in support for Web services standards, which should further simplify development. Other planned enhancements will make Java simpler for building PC-based graphical interfaces that offer an alternative to Windows-centric front-end tools.
Even though .Net and J2EE will likely coexist in the near future, providers from both sides will compete bitterly for Web services dollars.
"The reasons these vendors are changing very quickly is because each side is trying to address their shortcomings and undermine the strength of the competitor. In a year or two, it won't be equal but it will be less clear-cut what's weak and not," O'Grady said. "They need to keep growing the pie and finding new segments to that they haven't taken advantage of before."
