Sun’s Java 1.4 has quietly gone end-of-life since 30 October; see Sun’s Java SE 1.4.2 page:

J2SE 1.4.2 is in its Java Technology End of Life (EOL) transition period. The EOL transition period began Dec, 11 2006 and will complete October 30th, 2008, when J2SE 1.4.2 will have reached its End of Service Life (EOSL).

This doesn’t mean that Sun doesn’t support Java 1.4 anymore - with Sun’s Java SE for Business you can get up to 15 years of support for older Java versions.

However, if you’re on a project that still uses Java 1.4 you should really upgrade to Java 6, if you have any say into which Java version is being used. Besides the new features added in Java 5 and 6, you’ll enjoy the performance enhancements and bug fixes.

If you’re a Java programmer and you still didn’t learn the new Java 5 features… then you’re in trouble.

The SCJP exam for Java 1.4 has been discontinued this month.

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