Java Lifts Off At Delta.

Delta Airlines is confronting a dichotomy associated with Java: The code is portable and reusable, which can sharply reduce development time and cost, but it_s still not mature enough for systems that ensure passenger safety. Delta has made Java the platform for all new applications, with one notable exception. Any application that touches the aircraft -- including in-flight navigation, weather tracking, and communication -- must still be written in the older and more thoroughly tested C++. Even though Delta isn_t mandating Java for non-flight applications, the airline_s IT executives want to standardize on Java to provide a more consistent architecture for Delta_s internal and e-commerce websites. E-commerce apps on the company_s Skylinks website include travel booking and access to the airline_s frequent-flyer databases. Delta has migrated about 20 homegrown Skylinks applications to Java. Officials declined to go into further detail about the company_s applications, citing competitive considerations. They did say Delta will not rewrite existing applications such as payroll and other business-line systems unless they are being ported to the Web. Delta is a Java convert for several reasons: It_s portable, it_s easier to program with than C++, and it lets programmers develop applications more quickly. While Delta officials would not quantify the time savings, analysts estimate that a typical Web application can be written twice as quickly in Java as in C++. Java can also be run entirely from the server side, which means upgrades can take place centrally, without having to touch each client. "