Hewlett-Packard Co will debut a second generation of its embedded Java products next month including infrastructure services to support its clean-room embedded Java virtual machine, and the SmallWeb Java server it’s created for use on JVMs. SmallWeb – synonymous with the HTTP-based HP Application Server – is intended for use in consumer electronic and other small memory systems enabling them to be accessed, managed and controlled over the web from any browser and from many kinds of devices. Imagine programming VCR at home from an office PC, or downloading an application to a cell phone. Although introduced at the same time as its embedded JVM – which HP now refers to without using the J word in respect of Sun’s trademark – SmallWeb has attracted precious little attention. SmallWeb fits into 200Kb and is said to support COM, Corba, and RMI. Having won the support of the majority of the real-time operating system (RTOS) vendors for its JVM HP says it’s soon going to scoop up home-grown RTOS’ used in set-top and other application-specific devices. It will also upgrade the embedded VM. Again we’ve heard The Open Group mentioned as a possible vendor-neutral place for standardizing Sun’s Embedded Java (CI No 3,472).
