Popular Sun Java VP Moves On

Rich Green, the affable and outspoken VP for Java software and developer tools at Sun Microsystems, has resigned to join an unidentified startup.

Sun spokesmen say the resignation did not come as a result of the company's decision to settle its legal and technology-sharing differences with Microsoft. Green played a role in negotiating the deal, Sun sources indicated. "His new venue hasn't been named by the firm," one Sun insider says.

Green could not be reached for comment.

His departure occurs as new Sun president Jonathan Schwartz, former executive VP for software, moved John Loiacono, 43, into that post. Loiacono worked with Schwartz to build up Sun's leading-edge software packages, including Java Enterprise System and the Solaris operating system. Java Enterprise System includes Directory Server, Identity Server, Application Server, Web Server, and Portal Server--all the pieces needed to build a new Web service on Sun software. "John has the right energy and aggressiveness to take Sun's software to the next level," Schwartz said of Loiacono.

As Sun's chief Java spokesman and ambassador to the larger Java community, Green could have been one of Schwartz's possible successors, too. Green and Sun developer Tor Norbye unveiled Sun's rapid-application-development tool, originally known as Rave, at the JavaOne conference last June. Something went wrong and the server failed in the midst of the demonstration, causing Norbye to lose all his files. Green quipped that he was "catching the next plane to Siberia" as Norbye hurriedly reconstructed the app. Green coolly engaged in two minutes of small talk with an audience that filled an auditorium in the Moscone Convention Center as Norbye struggled to reach the point where he could push the Rave compile button again.

There was a long pause as the Rave prototype software attempted to pull together the reconstructed application, and Green nervily ended his chat, turned to the developer and said: "We're running out of runway here."

Seconds later, Green and Norbye had a working application. When the incident was referred to the next day, Green and Norbye drew a standing ovation for having delivered the most convincing demonstration of rapid application development at the conference. Sun unveiled the Rave tool last week as Sun Java Studio Creator.