The Day Sun Announced Jini

upFront.eZine #117 from 21 July, 1998 led with the headline, Sun Announces Jini.

Jini (pronounced "genie") was supposed to allow any computing device to connect to a network as easily as a plugging a phone into the wall outlet. 

Jini distributes computing power among devices connected to a peer-to-peer network sharing each other's resources. A lookup service keeps track of devices on the network. ...vendors working with Sun include Novell, Ericsson, Canon, Epson, Toshiba, Quantum, and Mitsubishi. 

In the newsletter, I wrote that "In my mind's eye, I see the wording of press releases that will flood my mailbox":

• "Bentley Systems to unveil MicroStation/Jini, Enterprise Edition, at AEC Systems '99 with the slogan, 'It takes a Jini.'"

• "Autodesk announces AutoCAD has always worked with Jini ever since Release 14 began shipping."

• "Microsoft ActiveJini is what our customers have been asking for, which is why we invented it."

• "Connect CalComp's Jini-powered plotters directly to Jini-powered digitizers for a dramatic improvement in CAD productivity."

• "Cyco International announces that AM WorkFlow will display, redline, and print Jini with the next release. With AM WorkFlow, now everyone has access to Jini, including managers."

• "JiniACIS, from Spatial Technologies, allows ACIS solid modeling objects to announce their presence to any Jini device on the network. Explains a spokesperson, 'JiniACIS will let you view and rotate a 3D model of your dinner before you press the Start button on the Jini-enabled microwave.'"

• "IDG Books ships Jini for Dummies book same week as Sun ships Jini. The book is sub-titled: 'A Reference for the Rest of Us! The Fun and Easy Way to Figure Out Jini. Your First Aid Kit for Using Jini with the Internet. What to Do When Bad Things Happen -- Explained in Plain Jini.'"

• "The White House expressed its intention to prohibit the export of Jini outside the United States, explaining that the technology could could be used by drug smugglers and terrorists."

• "Sun Microsystems sues Microsoft over alleged Jini trademark mis-use."

The Java-based Jini was for real, but died immediately after its announcement, despite the four years of development. (The headlines are parodies.)