Write-once, run-anywhere dream fades as platforms grow

19.11.2009
Remember when Java was going to take over the world? The of writing an application once and then having it run on a multitude of different platforms was a compelling vision that would have a major impact on enterprise development and CS education.

Of course, that was before a host of new Web frameworks and mobile platforms appeared on the scene. Few hold out hope for the "write once, run anywhere" dream these days, and in fact, Stephen O'Grady of RedMonk the Tower of Babel situation is going to become even more pronounced in the coming year:

It's not hard to imagine what can go wrong for CIOs who back the wrong horse. Platforms and standards that fail to take hold eventually translate to additional development work, hiring and training headaches, software costs, and friction with customers and partners. Take the mobile apps space. Shops that made big bets on Windows Mobile and J2ME a few years ago have watched as a new generation of smartphones and mobile platforms have come onto the scene and .