The State of Java Development at SAP - 2001/2006

About 6 years ago, SAP embraced the J2EE framework via the acquisition of In-Q-My application server that later became one of the two (ABAP and Java) core engines of NetWeaver. Back then, this is how the press highlighted the event:

• Sun said that by adding Java Web application support, such as JavaServer Pages (JSP), Java Servlet technology, and Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) products, hosting providers will give customers more options to develop and deploy interoperable Java Web applications and services.
  

• German software developer SAP's In-Q-My Technologies subsidiary said that SAP selected its application server as the Java technology platform for the mySAP.com e-business platform. The In-Q-My Application Server supports J2EE standards, which the company said will simplify the development, deployment, and integration of clients' corporate applications.

JavaOne: Corporate software vendors jump for Java

Fast forward 5-6 years later, Gartner's analysts today praised SAP's announcement of Java EE 5 compatibility adead of main rivals with the following key statements:

• "SAP's achievement of Java EE 5 compatibility demonstrates its renewed commitment to standards and reinforces the industry's commitment to Java. It also supports SAP's strategy do develop its "ecosystem."
• "The technical preview is significant because it shows how serious SAP is about promoting its technology for use outside SAP applications."
• "SAP prospects and other vendors: Expect increased acceptance of NetWeaver technology as a stand-alone middleware platform during the next two years. It should be included in future lists of choices for application platform options."
• "...in the short term, SAP Java EE 5 is mainly of interest to independent software and technology providers, which SAP is wooing to its NetWeaver platform. SAP is competing with BEA, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and others to be the primary service-orientedarchitecture-enabling infrastructure and platform provider. While many customers will use NetWeaver as the platform for SAP's applications and services, this move to standardize and improve the platform is clearly designed to entice (and impress) these independent providers."

Gartner's analyst report is available for download on ther site

technorati tags:Java, SAP, JEE5, Analysts, NetWeaver