Most smartphone implementations of Java ME conform to the same rules as all other Java ME implementations. This, unfortunately, is not the case for the Android operating system, and it's creating a headache for developers who want to reuse the same code from previous java ME projects they have worked on. Java developers are now faced with a conundrum. Do they develop Android Java ME applications with the new and non-conformant Android Java ME implementation, or do they abandon Java altogether?
One key difference between Android application development using Java ME implementation and the standard implementation available on other smartphones is the lack of the CDC and CLDC Java ME APIs on the Android version. Many Java enthusiasts consider those APIs to be a minimum requirement for the new version of Java to conform with the standard implementation available everywhere else. Without them, some Java developers have gone so far as to say the Android version of Java ME isn't even Java. Those are harsh words for platform evangelists.
Others have commented that this is the latest sign of the overall fracturing of Java, something that Microsoft will happily be celebrating. If Java has to "fork," or become inconsistent across platforms, it will only be a matter of time before the language is abandoned. No developer wants to have to waste time creating software fixes around inconsistencies in platform implementations. When a development platform is the same no matter where you find it, the process of writing code becomes much more simplified and intuitive.
It's still hard to say where the future of Java ME and the Android operating system are headed. We do know that if the forking of Java continues, Sun will face a difficult road with its highly revered platform. Let's hope it doesn't happen. In the meantime, if you have an idea for an Android Java ME application or any Android app ideas, Appiction's development team can consult with you about the realities of dealing with these kind of issues and others. May your Android app development future be fruitful and efficient. We're here to help you make sure it is!
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