[link|http://news.com.com/2008-7345-5148588.html?tag=nefd_gutspro|http://news.com.com/...?tag=nefd_gutspro]

Gosling spent the last couple years detached from daily development of Java within Sun. The well-known software engineer took a "technologist's vacation" and started his own research project, called "Jackpot," looking at ways to make programming easier.

Gosling's re-entry into the Java product development is the latest in a number of steps Sun is taking to reinvigorate its development tools and, more generally, its software business. Sun's top software executive, Jonathan Schwartz, calls developers the "lifeblood of any technology company." But at this point, some aspects of Sun's Java software health appear somewhat anemic. Despite being the founder and steward of Java, the company lags behind competitors in market share for Java server software and tools.

-------

Of course Jackpot is like an eastern bloc copy of the Smalltalk development tools. Attempting to "fake" live objects with extensive tool support. Nothing new there either. The man is the very embodiment of NIH.