The next version of Java eases use of Perl, PHP, Python, JavaScript, and Ruby languages The next version of Java, code-named Mustang, is expected to feature Web 2.0 functionality in the form of expanded support for scripting languages. Mustang is due in a beta release later this month.Officially known as Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) 6, this release will later emerge as a basis for Project GlassFish and Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (EE) 5. GlassFish is an application server project that will implement Java EE 5. A final release of Mustang is due this fall.Enabling use of scripting languages gives Mustang a Web 2.0 bent, said Bill Curci, product marketing manager for Java SE at Sun. “[With Web 2.0], it’s this vision that the Web is the platform” for applications, he said. Scripting languages have been gaining popularity as mechanisms for building Web-based applications. Currently, Java developers must hand-code to use non-Java scripting languages. This headache goes away in Mustang, which will let developers more easily use languages such as Perl, PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), Python, JavaScript, and Ruby. The new framework in Mustang allows people to work with any scripting language and use Java objects, Curci said.Mustang also will make it easier to develop and publish Web services. Other themes suggested for Mustang have included compatibility and stability; diagnostics, monitoring, and management; ease of development; enterprise desktop and transparency. Software DevelopmentTechnology Industry