BANGALORE, INDIA: In recent years, Google search trends show that searches for the word "Java" are declining slightly, and searches for scripting language names, like JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Python, ...

The next version of Java, code-named Mustang, is expected to feature Web 2.0 functionality in the form of expanded support for scripting languages. Mustang is due in a beta release later this month.

How will scripting affect the runtime performance, robustness, and maintainability of your Java applications? Find out what else you need to know about scripting in this second half of the JavaWorld ...

What follows is a barometer of scripting languages — JavaScript, ActionScript, Perl, Python, Ruby, Scala, R, PHP, and Java — with our best-guess forecast of which languages are rising and falling in ...

Web 2.0 and expanded support for scripting languages are expected to be key themes of the planned Mustang version of Java, which is due in a beta release later this month. Officially known as Java ...