Java at 30: How a language designed for a failed gadget became a global powerhouse

James Gosling Bromberger Hoover Photography/Getty Images Some programming languages, such as Rust, Go, or TypeScript, are cool. Others, including Cobol and Java, are regarded as dull. However, while Java, which turned 30 on May 23, may not be the most exciting language, it remains one of the most important languages in use today. First released by Sun Microsystems on May 23, 1995, Java's journey from a niche project for consumer electronics to a global powerhouse in enterprise, cloud, and web development is a story of vision and adaptability. Also: The best AI for coding in 2025 (including two new top picks - and what not to use) While Java may have just turned 30, its history is far longer. Java's roots trace back to 1991, when Sun engineers James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton set out to create a language for interactive television and embedded devices. This was called the Green Project. Its goal was not so much to create a new language as to build what we'd call an ... Read full article.