How to get HEP in Java ?

Ok — so the question is — given where particle physics is now - how do we get them in?


My contribution to the Java discussion on the Gordon Watts blog:

Short answer:
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Write useful applications.
Examples from Atlas: Atlantis, Tag Collector, AMI,…
Examples from HEP: FreeHEP, jHepWortk,…

 

Longer answer:
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Write useful applications + convince bosses to allow non-Root/non-C++ components. There is a big problem with CERN IT management: they have chosen to choose one framework/language and to boycot anything else.
The first choice was LHC++/Objy/IrisExplorer, the second is Root. The second choice is clearly better, but the main problem persist: bureaucratic
monopolisation. Any project capable of disturbing Root/C++ monopoly is illegal in CERN. There are many concrete examples: people are asked to remove their code from LCG repository because it is in Java, proposed presentations and tutorials are refused for the same reason.
Java is not the only victim, non-Root C++ projects suffer as well.

Many choices made by LCG (Atlas incl.) have been made just to lock us in the “chosen” technology: Root C++ dialect.At the beginning of LCG, there were some some (shy) attempts to make real modular architecture with abstract interfaces. Several RTAGs went in that direction. All that has been canceled. Java RTAG (yes, it was scheduled) was renamed to “future languages” RTAG and silently canceled later. Etc,etc