Oracle and ARM are collaborating to make the Java Platform better for embedded systems.

The multi-year agreement will see the two companies work together to optimize the existing Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) for ARM 32-bit platforms, and to add Java SE support for ARMv8 64-bit platforms. The main drive of the work will be to improve throughput and efficient scalability for ARM-based multi-core systems.

The combination of an enhanced Java Virtual Machine (JVM), added support for 64-bit ARM technology, and other optimization of the Java SE product for the ARM architecture would increase the use of ARM technology in embedded systems such as industrial control, factory automation and single-board computers. ARM’s announcement about the partnership  says that additional areas for co-operation include improving boot-up performance, power savings and library optimization – all of which are essential for designs used in the enterprise and embedded markets.

ARM has been working with Oracle, and before them with Sun Microsystems, to ensure Java and ARM technologies work together since 1996 when JavaOS was ported to the ARM architecture.

In a blog post about the partnership, Lakshmi Mandyam, Director of Server Systems & Ecosystem, ARM said:

There are many reports that have cited the fact that most of the server workloads in the future will reside in the cloud. Many cloud players are looking to deploy Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings that will enable them to offer these applications and services tested to a framework that abstracts the underlying hardware and infrastructure. Many of these applications will be developed for platforms where Java is the main component of the middleware that enables these abstractions. With the continued optimization of Java for ARM, end users gain a choice and ability to break away from the shackles of legacy architectures.