Java is a new programming language publicly released by Sun Microsyste
ms in May of 1995 with hopes of revolutionizing the software industry.
The popular press has responded with numerous articles touting the la
nguage's benefits. Since many of the applications which Java is intend
ed To serve have real-time characteristics, we have recently undertake
n to develop a set of standard extensions to provide Java programmers
with the ability to describe the real-time requirements of their Java
applications. This brief report summarizes the issues that have influe
nced the design of Real-Time Java and provides an overview of its curr
ent embodiment.