JavaData & JavaAcronym Anarchy: Java Evolutions

Acronym Anarchy: Java Evolutions

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Yes, this is the sequel to my previous article, Acronym Anarchy. In the previous article I contended that acronyms and abbreviations had gotten out of hand. In that article I presented a challenge. I provided a list of 100 acronyms and abbreviations being used by just one company—Microsoft. While this was listed was presented as an example of how the shortening of real words has gotten out of hand, it was also provided as a challenge for you to see how many you knew.

The list was not presented as a snub against Microsoft; rather it was against all the of those in the technology industry that are creating these “shortcut terms”. At the reqest of a number of people, I am providing a second list — A sequel to the first.

With Java being the other big development area, I thought it worth seeing how difficult it would be to come up with another 100 terms; however, this time everything will center on Java and Sun’s web site.

The results are in. The insanity is definitely within the Java community too! As such, I’m once again forced to say that words are not the enemy. Lower case is not bad. Multiple syllables can be used! The concept of “easily identifiable terms” has to be rekindled! Like a bad movie sequel, the evolution towards more and more abbreviations has to be stopped!

Before presenting the list, let me present a few statements that caught my attention. I offer these statements as proof as to why this madness has to stop. These abbreviations in these sentences do nothing but obfuscate the message being delivered:

  • “The PMO then closes the EG”
  • “At this point the PMO recommends you begin with the scheduling and planning of your RI and TCK.”
  • “JAINTM TCAP JSR is a proposed Java specification for the TCAP layer”.
  • “Because JAIN TCAP is based on ITU specifications, the API can be readily adopted in the European market.”

Are these abbreviations a secret code, do we need to send in three box tops to Sun to get the secret decoder ring, or — like a bad movie sequel — is it assumed that we are aleady acronym gurus and thus automatically know what it all means?

It is an overuse of abbreviations and acronyms. It is like a secret handshake. Often, you will need to find a decoder in order to understand what is being said.

Luck is with you today. I’ve provided help. If you are going to be working with Java or Sun, then the following table contains 100 acronyms for you. These are all acronyms related to Java and Java technologies. Like the list in my last article, I challenge you to see how many you can expand out. Once you’ve given this a try, check the following page of this article where you’ll find the list of each item expanded.

If you can get 75 of the 100, then you know your acronyms. Be aware though, while some are quite easy (J2EE), others are not! If you can get 90, then you are good. The question is, are you a Java Acronym Guru? Can you get all 100?

The list:

J2EE JAIN ORB JAD
J2SE JAIN (again) OTS JAF
J2ME SCE POA JOE
JDO JAX JSTL WSDP
JAXP JAXB JAXR AXP
JWSDP JAX-RPC AVK JAE
JSP SLEE JMS JSAPI
JSR JCC JSWDK BMP
JVM JCAT JSDK BMTD
JDK JTAPI CTS JAI
J2MEWTK JSLEE EAR JAM
EJB SIP MIDP JAP
SAAJ AWT JTA JSS
JCP CORBA JTS JCRE
TCK IDL RAR CDC
CTT IIOP JAB CLDC
TDK JAR XLL JSSE
JSPA JCK JSF CR
JRL JDBC JXTA EDR
SPL JFC JDP RDF
SISSL PR JTWI PFD
WMA RMI RI FAB
MMAPI JRE FR JNDI
SATSA JNI JES MR
OSS/J JIT SCSL MREL

As I mentioned, these are all related acronyms. They are all acronyms that are used on Sun’s web site. With the evolution of Java, it seems like there is a requirement to include even more acronyms. I wonder if Java is really an acronym as well; maybe it stantds for Justifying Another Vexing Acronym!

The following page contains the expanded acronyms and abbreviations in alphabetical order.

The following is the complete list in alphabetical order with each abbreviation expanded.

AVK = Java Application Verification Kit
AWT = Abstract Windows Toolkit
AXP = Java API for XML Processing
BMP = Bean Managed Persistence
BMTD = Bean-Managed Transaction Demarcation
CDC = Connected Device Configuration
CLDC= Connected, Limited Device Configuration
CMP = Container Managed Persistence
CMR = Container-Managed Relationships
CORBA = Common Object Request Broker Architecture
CR = Community Review
CTS = Compatibility Test Suite
CTT = Compatibility Test Tool
EAR = Enterprise Archive File
EDR = Early Draft Review
EJB = Enterprise Java Beans
FAB = Final Approval Ballot
FR = Final Release
IDL = Interface Definition Language
IIOP = Internet Inter-ORB Protocol
J2EE = Java 2, Enterprise Edition
J2ME = Java 2, Mobile Edition
J2MEWTK = J2ME Wireless Toolkit
J2SE = Java 2, Standard Edition
JAB = JSR Approval Ballot
JAD = Java Application Descriptor
JAE = Java Application Environment
JAF = Java Activation Framework
JAI = Java Advanced Imaging
JAIN = Java APIs for Integrated Networks
JAIN = Java for the (Advanced) Intelligent Network
JAM = Java Application Manager
JAP = Java Anon Proxy
JAR = Java Archive
JAX = Java API for XML
JAXB = Java Architecture for XML Binding
JAX-RPC = Java API for XML-Based RPC
JAXP = Java API for XML Processing
JAXR = Java API for Registries
JCAT = JAIN Coordination and Transactions
    (also referred to as the Java Coordination and Transaction)
JCC = Java Call Control
JCK = Java Compatibility Kit
JCP = Java Community Process
JCRE = Java Card Runtime Environment
JDBC = Java Database Connectivity
JDK = Java Development Kit
JDO = Java Data Objects
JDP = Java Decision Process
JES = Java Embedded Server
JFC = Java Foundation Classes
JIT = Just-in-time (as in JIT Compiler)
JNDI = Java Naming and Directory Interface
JNI = Java Native Interface
JMS = Java Message Service
JOE = Java Outline Editor
JRE = Java Runtime Environment
JRL = Java Research License
JSAPI = Java Speech API
JSDK = Java Servlet Development Kit
JSF = JavaServer Faces
JSLEE = JAIN Service Logic Execution Environment
JSP = Java Server Pages
JSPA = Java Specification Participation Agreement
JSR = Java Specification Request
JSS = Network Security Services for Java
JSSE = Java Secure Socket Extension
JSTL = JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library
JSWDK = JavaServer Web Development Kit
JTA = Java Transaction API
JTAPI = Java Telephony API
JTS = Java Transaction Service
JTWI = Java Technology for the Wireless Industry
JVM = Java Virtual Machine
JWSDP = Java Web Service Developer Pack
JXTA = Juxtapose, as in side-by-side
MIDP = Mobile Information Device Profile
MMAPI = Mobile Media API
MR = Maintenance Review
MREL = Maintenance Release
ORB = Object Request Broker
OSS/J = Operation Support System through Java
OTS = Object Transaction Service
PFD = Proposed Final Draft
POA = Portable Object Adapter
PR = Public Review
RAR = Resource Adapter Archive
RDF = Resource Description Framework
RI = Reference Implementation
RMI = Remote Method Invocation (JRMI = Java RMI)
SAAJ = SOAP with Attachments API for Java
SATSA = Security and Trust Services API for J2ME
SCE = Service Creation Environment
SCSL = Sun Community Source Licensing
SIP = Session Initiation Protocol
SISSL = Sun Industry Standard Source License
SLEE = Service Logic Execution Environments
SPL = Sun Public License
TCD = TCK Coverage Document = Technology Compatibility Kit Coverage Document
TCK = Technology Compatibility Kit
TDK = Test Development Kit
WMA = Wireless Messaging API
WSDP = Web Services Developer Pack
XLL = XML Link Language

– Bradley L. Jones

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