Is Android Java?

While I was Googling to read about what other people have say about Android, I came across the blog of Simon Moris and his article about Android. He provides a very clear and simple explanation what Android is and goes on to ask “Is Android ‘Java’?”

It made me ask the same question. From a technical standpoint, I know that Java as a whole is a platform. The Java platform as it is known composes of three basic elements — Java as the programming language, the Java core libraries and the Java virtual machine.

Java has for quite a while existed in three “flavors” — J2ME (mobile java), J2SE (standard) and J2EE (enterprise).

There are other not so official “flavors” like the GNU Compiler for Java or GCJ which creates native executable code by compiling Java source code which essentially “do away” with the Virtual Machine.

From a technical standpoint Android implements the Java language, has a set of Java libraries and a Virtual Machine called Dalvik. Doesn’t it make Android ‘Java’?

But there’s also another factor to consider, the community factor (JCP for instance). The community process that sorts of define what the Java Platform is. At the end of the day, what probably each developer would ideally want is something that will combine the best of everything. Something that the industry as a whole can use to provide a solution for mobile applications.

Although I’m pretty excited about Android, it still has a long way to go compared to what J2ME has accomplished. A lot of work needs to be done. It’s success will depend entirely on the acceptance of the mobile community (which includes the developers, the handset maker and the network providers) as a whole and the commitment of Google to put in the resources needed to make it happen and I do think Google is very committed on Android.