<p>(Page 1 of 2)Java SE 8 and a final version of OpenJDK 8, with support for lambda expressions, are expected to be released on March 18, according to Oracle, which oversees the language and platform. The lambda support is the biggest functionality addition to Java since the inclusion of Generics in Java SE 5.</p><p>Georges Saab, vice president of software development at the Java Platform Group inside of Oracle, as well as the chairperson for the OpenJDK committee, said that Java 8 is all about expanding the power of developers.</p><p>"We've been trying to evolve Java in a way that brings more power and choice to Java developers while still feeling very natural," he said. "It makes it simpler to program, increases the power, and in conjunction with the Strings API, gives you a way to do a pipeline of things, so it's really clear. The boilerplate code is reduced. The intent of what you're trying to do is cleaner. It means it's more maintainable going forward."(Related: Project Nashorn: The bridge between Java and JavaScript)</p><p>That new Strings API is just one of many additional APIs inside of the Java language's core set of libraries and capabilities.</p><p><a href="http://www.sdtimes.com/JAVA_SE_8_AND_OPENJDK_8_LAND_MARCH_18/By_Alex_Handy/About_JAVA_and_OPENJDK_and_JAVA8_and_LAMBDAS/68778">Keep reading...</a></p>