Unfortunately, JavaSoft won't reveal details of the latter technology until engineers are further along in the patent process, but expect JavaSoft to describe the other technologies in some detail at JavaOne. The new security features in JDK 1.1 are welcome improvements, but JavaSoft has plans for more fine-grained access controls available this summer. With these expanded access control lists, users can assign very specific permissions to individual applications or code signers, such as the ability to read or write only within specific directories or to connect to particular ports on certain hosts. Late in '97, we should also see SSL, SKIP, and similar secure channel mechanisms available in the JDK as they implement the cryptography API currently under review. Paltry user-interface tools is a common gripe among many Java developers.
Pluggable widgets are just the beginning.
Java Foundation Classes also will provide a framework for drag and drop, undo, context-sensitive help, and a raft of other concepts that developers expect from mature development environments. Also in the works, Java 2D will allow developers to use Postscript-like design of screen elements, including most of the transformations and font control for which Postscript is renowned. We'll see parts of this new framework released this summer with the remainder released two quarters later. You'll see many of these plans discussed in the technical track sessions and covered at JavaOne Today during the week.