Java 6u10: code your RIA in any language (Ruby, Scala, Python, Groovy)

In what can only be described as an excellent move on the part of Sun Microsystems, the new Java 6u10 update (whose sole aim is fixing up all the applet issues to make them a worthwhile competitor to Flex and Silverlight) has full support for all non-Java languages that can run on the JVM: Ruby, Scala, Jython/Python, Scala...even JavaFX :-)

This includes the ability to script all of them using JavaScript from the browser page itself:

http://www.mail-archive.com/jvm-languages@googlegroups.com/msg01073.html
https://jdk6.dev.java.net/plugin2/liveconnect/#NON_JAVA_LIVECONNECT

This is excellent news that should surely increase the chances of applets against Flex, which currently locks you into the Adobe-only ActionScript language (even though admittedly, it is a JavaScript derivative)

More info here:
http://blogs.sun.com/theplanetarium/entry/java_se_6u10_some_things

Forget JavaFX: PulpCore is the real Java RIA

Sometimes a little project out of nowhere comes along and delivers something that instantly grabs you and makes you say "this is it!".

Such was my experience when on the Swing links of the week I found a mention of PulpCore, a small framework that is an alternative to the whole JavaFX fiasco and delivers what we've wanted all along: fun, fast, great looking applets in pure Java (not some new questionable language being forced down your throat)!

http://www.interactivepulp.com/pulpcore/

Try these ones in particular:
http://www.interactivepulp.com/pulpcore/particles/
http://www.interactivepulp.com/pulpcore/sketch/ (Flash, eat your heart out on this one) :-)

The API seems very concise (the code for each of the applets is very short), yet the end results is light years ahead of any of the awkward ugly demos of JavaFX I've seen.

Maybe there is hope for applets to complete with Flash head on after all.