We could spend entire hours looking for a less aggressive title, but honestly, it perfectly reflects the general sentiment of the web: the Java plugin has a date with the guillotine, and we are very happy that it does. Its critical security issues, combined with the rise of malware and the rejection from those working on the most important browsers, have sealed the plugin's fate.
A quick look at old articles on NeoTeo and other sister sites is enough to confirm that Java security problems have been reported ad nauseam. The amount of flak Oracle received for the quality of its software has been impressive, and rejecting the Java plugin is one of the few points where the computing community truly agrees. After numerous headaches, the main web browser developers have eradicated support for Java applets, or are about to do so. Now, Oracle itself is joining the fray.
Oracle Makes It Official
Through a brief announcement on its official blog, the company confirmed that it will begin the retirement process for its plugin with the release of version 9 of its JDK, scheduled for next September 22. This should give enough time to any stragglers to migrate their applet-based work to a safer platform. In addition to becoming 'persona non grata' on the desktop due to its numerous issues, the Java plugin is an inadequate technology in the face of the striking number of mobile devices in circulation today.
A Long-Overdue Death
In short: the death of the Java plugin is excellent news, but it arrives with a delay of several years. The losses in productivity and money caused by the plugin's security flaws were enormous, and its disappearance will be received with much relief by administrators 'and' end users around the globe. Personally, I hope the Java plugin is the first of many. With a bit of luck, Adobe and Microsoft will follow a similar path regarding Flash and Silverlight.
