Database rival companies, Oracle and IBM, will be working together to allow developers and clients to enhance existing Java investments and the Open Java Development Kit reference implementation. Java is a general-purpose software development platform that is specifically designed to be open and enable application developers to "write once, run anywhere". The platform is most widely used in business software, web and mobile applications. The collaboration between the two companies will be centered around the Java language, JDK, and Java Runtime Environment.

The duo will particularly join forces to support the OpenJDK development roadmap and accelerate the availability of Java SE [Standard Edition] across the open source community. The OpenJDK community will act as the "primary location for open source Java SE development." The Java Community Process (JCP) which will be enhanced will continue in its role of setting the standards for the Java specification.

Oracle has recently been hitting the sour note with the open source community after its decision to end open distribution of source codes for its Solaris enterprise operating system and its rupture with the open source community behind Open Office . But this time around, it seems to have hit the right chords by pairing up with IBM which has played a big role in development of java, to not only reassure its enterprise customers about Java's future but also provide some hope to open source developers regarding much needed reforms in the Java community process.

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