Azul Systems (Azul), a Java runtime solutions provider announced Thursday Zulu Embedded with expanded support for multiple 32 and 64-bit embedded processors. Zulu Embedded, Azul’s fully open source Java Virtual Machine (JVM) based on OpenJDK, now includes support for ARM, Intel, PowerPC and MIPS processors.
Zulu Embedded brings a variety of choices to product teams and manufacturers who integrate Java for their embedded and IoT-centric designs. Java is used virtually everywhere in the embedded world, ranging from manufacturing and logistics to security, networking, wireless, mobile and many other embedded applications.
With this announcement, Azul is highlighting its full embedded Java SE roadmap, which spans a variety of processor architectures and operating systems, offers high performance through optimized JIT compilation, supports various form factors and compact profiles, and provides a pure open source, standards-compliant solution for embedded Java.
Fully-supported Zulu Embedded builds of OpenJDK for 32-bit ARM are now available immediately, with builds supporting 32-bit PowerPC processors to be delivered in the third quarter of this year, while the 64-bit ARM v8 support will become available in the first quarter of next year. Azul is also working with Cavium on Zulu Embedded support for 64-bit versions of the MIPS processor architecture. Zulu Embedded has supported both 32 and 64-bit x86 processors since its initial launch in early 2015.
“Today’s announcement of the immediate availability of Zulu Embedded with support for 32-bit ARM processors and our extended embedded roadmap highlight Azul’s role as the industry’s leading provider of multi-platform, open source Java solutions,” said Scott Sellers, Azul Systems president and CEO. “The embedded and IoT markets are exploding with new products and devices, and Zulu Embedded provides the industry’s only open source, standards compliant solution for Java for these markets. By offering a wide range of processor and operating system support, and delivering customized builds to meet specific embedded requirements, Zulu Embedded is quickly become the de facto standard for developing and commercializing Java-based solutions in the embedded, maker and IoT markets.”
“Highly efficient 32-bit ARM processors power a diverse range of embedded applications in automotive, TV, gateways, payment systems, and more,” said Dominic Pajak, Marketing Director, Embedded Segments, ARM. “OpenJDK-based products like Zulu Embedded greatly enhance the Java development experience and add to the wide choices in the ARM ecosystem.”
“Azul’s Java expertise is well recognized in the industry, and the commitment to bring Zulu JVM to 64-bit ARMv8 and MIPS architectures will accelerate the efficiency and optimization of Java for Cavium customers,” said Larry Wikelius, Vice President Software Ecosystem and Solutions, Cavium. “Java based applications continue to be critical to our OCTEON and ThunderX installed base and Zulu will provide the commercial options that many end users require. Azul is a welcome addition to Cavium’s thriving software ecosystem partner community.”
“Java is a key enabling technology for the Internet of Things,” said Christian Renaud, Research Director, Internet of Things, 451 Research. “Many IoT applications demand real-time performance, and Zulu Embedded’s new support of 32-bit ARM architecture enables a number of opportunities and new applications in smart grid, healthcare, transportation, and many other applications.”
“Canonical and Azul are working together to ensure that Java developers building IoT solutions for Ubuntu Core can easily package their applications as snaps and incorporate Zulu Embedded using the new snapcraft tooling,” said Maarten Ectors, VP of IoT at Canonical.
“The Eclipse Foundation’s Internet of Things Working Group has a number of Java-based open source IoT projects that will benefit from running on Zulu Embedded for 32-bit ARM processors. Zulu Embedded will be an important open source option for Java developers building IoT solutions,” said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of Eclipse Foundation.
