Foojay Podcast #71: Celebrating 30 Years of Java with James Gosling
Java turned 30 on May 23, 2025, and few people can speak to that journey like the person who started it. We sat down with the creator of the language himself to trace the path from a tiny team building device controllers to a platform that runs a huge chunk of the world’s software. In this anniversary edition of the Foojay Podcast (episode #71), we talked with James Gosling about origins, regrets, surprises, and where Java goes next.
What we talked about
- How it all started about 35 years ago and the original goals of the project
- Java’s evolution from device controllers to server applications
- The Y2K moment and how it accelerated Java adoption
- James’s regrets about a few early decisions
- Why Java’s stability still matters today
- JavaFX as one of his favorite parts of the ecosystem
- The reality behind “Write Once, Run Anywhere”
- Garbage collectors and how they shaped the platform
- His take on Java-haters and the recent releases
- Appreciation for Kotlin, Scala, and Clojure on the JVM
- Advice for junior developers starting their careers
- Where Java is heading next
What stood out
James talks about Java with the calm of someone who has watched the language grow up. He still gets excited about JavaFX, defends garbage collection, and points to Kotlin, Scala, and Clojure as proof that the JVM remains a great place to build. The conversation also gives juniors a clear message. Pick problems you care about and keep learning.
See the Foojay Podcast #71 for all info, shownotes, links, etc.