This discussion looks at the changes Java has undergone and is likely to undergo in the near future. Do these changes make Java ready for the future? Will Java continue to be a dominant force or will the emergence of scripting languages shift the balance?

Does Java have what it takes for developing Web 2+ applications? Will changing business needs force traditional Java software development to make way for a newer breed of rapid development languages, tools, frameworks and techniques?

The highlight of Day 2 of the 3rd IndicThreads.com Conference On Java were the discussions and code labs on building social networking software. The Google Developer Relations team consisting of Rajdeep Dua, Anash Oommen and Vijaya Machavolu showed how one could use OpenSocial API to build software that runs on top of popular social networks like Orkut and LinkedIn.