Most Innovative Java Product or Technology: Project Jxta, Jxta.org
One of last year's JavaOne buzzwords, Jxta is Sun's protocol for creating peer-to-peer (P2P) applications. Pioneered by Bill Joy, Sun's chief scientist, Jxta creates a virtual network that lets peer devices interact with each other despite their specific physical network characteristics. In the true Java spirit, Sun initiated Jxta as an open source effort. Today, a community 8,000 members strong leads the project, which boasts more than 50 individual projects and 350,000 downloads of the documentation, source code, and binaries.
Jxta is based on a protocol, rather than an API, which guarantees interoperability across multiple systems, platforms, and devices. Currently, a J2SE Jxta implementation is available, with a J2ME version in the works.
As a testament to its innovation, Jxta has altered the P2P vocabulary by introducing the following concepts:
Peer groups: An aggregation of peers with common interests; peer groups can span multiple physical network domains
Peer pipes: Similar to Unix pipes; with Jxta pipes, simple services combine to form more complex services
Peer monitoring: Enables peer management
Jxta's dynamic resource discovery is also inventive. This capability allows existing applications to work in a distributed environment across the Internet without a network infrastructure.
"Jxta is very innovative and has a great architecture," says ECA judge Modi. "I look forward to the day when I can use it in an enterprise-level project."
Article, Other Awards http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/j...awards-p3.html
- js.