In response Sun released Java for Windows, got into a licensing deal with Microsoft, and advertised Java as the write once, run everywhere target of choice for developers.

Java goes back to the PC James Gosling, who helped create Sun Microsystems' Java software, is working to bring it back to its desktop computing roots.

UPDATED. The regularly scheduled quarterly security updates for Java on July 15 will not include updates for Windows XP, which is now formally unsupported by Oracle.

Adding to a growing portfolio of enterprise software it offers as hosted services, Microsoft plans to add Java to its Windows Azure cloud service.