Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language that was created by James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton at Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle Corporation) in 1995. It is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world, particularly for developing enterprise applications, mobile apps, and games. Java is known for its simplicity, portability, and security features, which have made it a popular choice for developers across various industries. In this blog, we will take a closer look at the history and milestones of Java programming language.

History of Java:

The history of Java dates back to the early 1990s when James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton, who were working at Sun Microsystems at the time, began developing a programming language that could be used to create software for consumer electronics devices. They named this language “Oak,” after a tree outside their office window. However, they soon realized that the name was already taken, and they renamed the language “Java” after a type of coffee that was popular among the developers.

The first version of Java was released to the public in 1995, along with the slogan “Write once, run anywhere,” which highlighted the language’s ability to run on multiple platforms. This was a significant breakthrough in the world of programming, as it allowed developers to write code once and deploy it on different operating systems without any changes. Java quickly gained popularity among developers, and in 1996, Sun Microsystems released the first version of the Java Development Kit (JDK), which included a compiler, debugger, and other tools for developing Java applications.

Milestones of Java:

Since its release, Java has undergone several milestones that have contributed to its widespread adoption and success. Here are some of the major milestones in the history of Java:

1. Java 1.0: The first version of Java was released in 1995, which included the core features of the language, such as the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), class libraries, and the Java Development Kit (JDK).
2. Java 1.1: In 1997, Sun Microsystems released Java 1.1, which added new features, such as inner classes, JavaBeans, and JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) for database connectivity.
3. Java 2: In 1998, Sun Microsystems released Java 2, which included significant improvements and new features, such as the Swing GUI toolkit, the Collections framework, and the Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI).
4. Java 5: In 2004, Sun Microsystems released Java 5, which added new features, such as generics, annotations, autoboxing, and enhanced for loops.
5. Java 6: In 2006, Sun Microsystems released Java 6, which included new features, such as scripting support, JDBC 4.0, and the Java Compiler API.
6. Java 7: In 2011, Oracle Corporation released Java 7, which included new features, such as the try-with-resources statement, multi-catch exceptions, and the diamond operator.
7. Java 8: In 2014, Oracle Corporation released Java 8, which included new features, such as lambdas, streams, and the new date and time API.
8. Java 9: In 2017, Oracle Corporation released Java 9, which included new features, such as the Java Platform Module System (JPMS), JShell (an interactive Java REPL), and the Process API.
9. Java 10: In 2018, Oracle Corporation released Java 10, which included new features, such as local variable type inference, improved container awareness, and the introduction of the Application Class-Data Sharing (CDS

10. Java 11: In 2018, Oracle Corporation released Java 11, which included new features, such as the HTTP Client API, Flight Recorder, and the launch of the LTS (Long-Term Support) release cycle.
11. Java 12: In 2019, Oracle Corporation released Java 12, which included new features, such as switch expressions, new GC algorithms, and enhancements to the JVM.
12. Java 13: In 2019, Oracle Corporation released Java 13, which included new features, such as text blocks, improvements to the ZGC (Z Garbage Collector), and the introduction of the Switch Expressions (Preview) feature.
13. Java 14: In 2020, Oracle Corporation released Java 14, which included new features, such as pattern matching for instanceof, records (Preview), and text blocks (Preview).
14. Java 15: In 2020, Oracle Corporation released Java 15, which included new features, such as sealed classes (Preview), hidden classes, and the ZGC (Z Garbage Collector) as a production feature.
15. Java 16: In 2021, Oracle Corporation released Java 16, which included new features, such as records, pattern matching for instanceof, and the introduction of the Packaging Tool (jpackage).

Java has come a long way since its inception in 1995. Over the years, it has evolved and improved significantly, adding new features and capabilities that have made it a popular choice among developers worldwide. Today, Java is widely used for developing enterprise applications, mobile apps, games, and other software applications. As the language continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more exciting developments and advancements in the years to come.