This talk will give a brief overview of the features of Java which make it well suited for use in High-Energy and Astro-physics, including recent enhancements such as the addition of parameterized types and advanced concurrency utilities, and its release as an open-source (GPL) product. I will discuss the current status of a number of Java based tools for High-Energy and Astro-physics including JAS (GUI based analysis tool), WIRED (event display), AIDA (analysis toolkit). I will give examples of their use for building web-based and GUI based applications citing examples from GLAST (recently renamed the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope) and linear-collider detector R&D. I will also discuss the methodologies employed in developing such toolkits, challenges involved in supporting them, and lessons that can be learned for the future.

This talk will give a brief overview of the features of Java which make it well suited for use in High-Energy and Astro-physics, including recent enhancements such as the addition of parameterized types and advanced concurrency utilities, and its release as an open-source (GPL) product. I will discuss the current status of a number of Java based tools for High-Energy and Astro-physics including JAS (GUI based analysis tool), WIRED (event display), AIDA (analysis toolkit). I will give examples of their use for building web-based and GUI based applications citing examples from GLAST (recently renamed the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope) and linear-collider detector R&D. I will also discuss the methodologies employed in developing such toolkits, challenges involved in supporting them, and lessons that can be learned for the future.