News

OSGi Alliance Issues New Core Spec

• By Kurt Mackie
• June 4, 2007

The group, which works to assure the interoperability of applications and services with systems based on its specs, has released OSGi Service Platform Release 4 Core Specification Version 4.1. The release includes "a framework for packaging Java applications as interdependent modules with dynamic lifecycle management," according to an announcement issued by the OSGi Alliance.

The new release is based on work conducted by the JSR 291 Expert Group. That work enabled JSR 291 -- a specification for a creating a dynamic component framework -- to become part of the Java Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition, according to the announcement.

The updated OSGi spec is expected to lead to general improvements in system performance through better construction of Java modules.

"Utilizing the well-known OSGi Service Platform Specification, JSR 291 provides a mature, proven technology for constructing Java modules and installing, uninstalling, and updating them without restarting the JVM [Java Virtual Machine] and disrupting service," explained Stan Moyer in an OSGi press release. Moyer is president of the OSGi Alliance and Telcordia Technologies' executive director.

The JSR 291 reference implementation and technology compatibility kit were also revised in accordance with recommendations by the JSR Expert Group and added to the core OSGi specification. The OSGi Alliance plans to offer the JSR 291 Technology Compatibility Kit for free to nonprofits.