I think the two big factors for Java's success were these: * OOP in a C-like syntax without the complexity and traps of C++, this made it attractive as a teach

I think the two big factors for Java's success were these: * OOP in a C-like syntax without the complexity and traps of C++, this made it attractive as a teaching language and ensured a steady supply of Java developers * Cross-plattform-ness, reasonable performance, easy multitasking, and the Servlet API made it the ideal successor to Perl as the default option for web development, leading to ubiquitous industry adoption.