You may have noticed a slight change in this month's editorial: namely, me. Don't be alarmed; it's all under control. Like many a good piece of software, the trick is never to assume that what you have will continue to be what you need. Reinvention is paramount to keep ahead in what can only be described as a lightning-paced industry.

Accordingly, your beloved JDJ is about to get a version increase. At the moment, we're going into version 1.1, with a view to a complete move to version 2.0 in three to four months' time.

JDJ, now in its sixth year of serving you, the Java developer, has grown from strength to strength in those years. We have followed the trends in this corner of the industry and reported them to you as best we could. Considering the speed at which Sun was churning out new versions of the API, it was a task that ensured we never had time to sit on any laurels. With reference to that, I'd like to give special thanks to the man who steered the ship so well through those waters and brought us to the point we are at today: our founding editor-in-chief, Sean Rhody. I inherit a great legacy.

As you know, Java has moved on significantly since its advent just over six years ago. The world is starting to get serious about this new kid on the block, noting its move into areas that traditionally have never been threatened by such a surge. I hope that, with your help, we can continue to bring you the information and news you require to assist you in shaping the industry in which we all work and operate.

Our readers are evolving. No longer are we exclusive to the Java development community; a new wave of people is pouring over this monthly digest of Java news, looking for ideas, looking for assistance, looking for direction. We want to be able to serve them - you - better. We are in this Java universe as a team, and to that end we have to work like a team to ensure that the success of Java is secured.

Sun Microsystems recently announced their new strategy, Sun ONE. (An interview regarding this announcement appears elsewhere in this issue.) Sun is striving for a more open and communicative industry. They want us to start using tools and standards that won't lock us in to a particular vendor. They recommend Java and XML, among other things. The very fact that you are already using Java to deploy your solutions is a bit like preaching to the choir. So hurrah to you, that has chosen the open route.

I am fortunate in the position that I hold with respect to n-ary. We are at the forefront in deploying server-side Java solutions to our client base. We can see what clients want, and, more important, get a firsthand reaction to their concerns and fears. These concerns are the ones we want to continue to address each month in JDJ. The magazine will be going through a number of transformations over the next few months to better address all the areas of Java, not just those at the server side.

I invite all of you to be part of that change. I want you to tell us what we can do better. I want you to feel part of this new version change. So help us help you by joining our mailing list - http://myjdj.sys-con.com/mailman/listinfo/myjdj - and by letting us know what you think. In addition to adding your name to the mailing list, please bookmark my e-mail address. And don't hesitate to e-mail me directly. I promise to get back to you. If I personally can't solve your problems or respond to your concerns, our excellent team here at SYS-CON Media will be able to assist you.

Next month I'll be introducing you to some old and new faces that will be helping us shape this version change to better serve you.