From once being the heart of Apple's own WebObjects (Apple's attempt to be serious about servers), Java's now getting shoved off the platform, at least for your typical end user.

AppleInsider | Apple deprecates its release of Java for Mac OS X:

Apple's submission guidelines specifically target Java and Rosetta (PowerPC legacy code) as being among the 'deprecated or optionally installed technologies' that approved apps must avoid. While developers can continue to release Java apps for Mac, or use Macs to build server-side projects in Java, it won't play any role in creating software for the Mac App Store.


These (this and my last post about no Flash plugin in Safari by default) are both iOS lessons making their way "back to the Mac". Jobs is closing all of his platforms, at least to the degree possible without compromising each platform's individual raison d'etres. Goodbye Flash, goodbye Java, goodbye 3rd party headaches. Apple sees OS X as a platform strong enough to stand on its own merits now. If the strong adoption and support of Safari on the web and with web systems shows anything, they're probably right.

The next (and maybe last?) crutch? Microsoft Office. Good luck with that one.