30 Years of Java - How Did We Get Here?

Explore Java's remarkable three-decade journey from its 1995 launch as a web-focused programming language to becoming one of today's most popular development platforms in this comprehensive conference talk. Discover how Java evolved from targeting browsers and the early World Wide Web to establishing itself as the standard for enterprise-scale applications. Learn about the key milestones, pivotal moments, and strategic decisions that shaped Java's development over 30 years through the perspective of Simon Ritter, who began his career at Sun Microsystems in 1996 during JDK 1.0's launch week. Gain insights from his extensive experience spanning 14 years at Sun Microsystems, 5 years at Oracle, and nearly 10 years at Azul, enriched with personal anecdotes and historical artifacts from Java's evolution. Understand the factors that contributed to Java's sustained popularity and its consistent ranking among the top three programming languages used by developers worldwide, while enjoying a nostalgic journey through the major developments that defined this influential programming platform.