"the ecosystem" The truly great thing about java is sun somehow created an ecosystem, a community. Probably by leading with specs, always, and not implementing

"the ecosystem" The truly great thing about java is sun somehow created an ecosystem, a community. Probably by leading with specs, always, and not implementing anything but the core. So, you wind up with a real marketplace and a collaborative development effort. The variety of widely-accepted non-Sun solutions is an indicator. Meanwhile, in microsoft-land... no spec, no standard. It's just "whatever MS does, that's the Thing." Nothing 3rd party is implemented because (a) no spec, and (b) MS has a nasty habit of cutting 3rd parties off at the knees. (Maybe because they're not happy with what 3rd parties develop, because... no spec.) The result? Microsoft blinders. "If MS didn't invent it or publicize it at Build, it's no good." So, you get the absolute ferment of java (and python, same factors, really) or... solutions by MS or MS vendors, which is more limited because a profitability case has to be made to lenders. MS really did play catch-up with Java, which they were able to do because of the MS tax. Don't make any arguments based on technological superiority, 'cause there ain't none. Java (and the entire web, really) caught MS flat-footed. Bottomless pockets saved them.