7.4.1. JDOM as a JSR
First and foremost, JDOM is now an official JSR, which is a
Java Specification Request. In other words, it is going through the
formal standardization process, sponsored by Sun and governed by the
JCP (the Java Community Process). You
can read all about the JSR and JCP processes at
http://java.sun.com/aboutJava/communityprocess/.
As for JDOM, it is now officially JSR-102 and can be found online at
Sun's web site, located at http://java.sun.com/aboutJava/communityprocess/jsr/jsr_102_jdom.html.
Once JDOM moves through the JCP, probably in late 2001, several
things will happen. First, it will receive a much more elevated
status in terms of standards; although the JCP and Sun aren't
perfect, they do offer a lot of credence. The JCP has support and
members within IBM, BEA, Compaq, HP, Apache, and more. Additionally,
it will become very easy to move JDOM into other Java standards. For
example, there is interest from Sun in making JDOM part of the next
version of JAXP, either 1.2 or 2.0 (I talk more about JAXP in Chapter 9, "JAXP"). Finally, future versions of the JDK are
slated to have XML as part of their core; in years to come, JDOM may
be in every download of Java.