Having left the unsupportable "Java is Dead" narratives in the rear view mirror, the important question facing Java today isn't how popular it is: Java remains quite popular. Both the qualitative and quantitative evidence suggests that while Java has likely peaked from an overall popularity perspective, it remains an immensely robust, respected platform for building technology for businesses and consumers alike.

Of greater concern for Java advocates, instead, should be how to ensure Java's continued growth, even in the face of an ever more competitive landscape. With even enterprise buyers sanctioning - tacitly or otherwise - the usage of runtimes like JavaScript, Python and Ruby the role of Java moving forward is an open question.

Just because Java's not going away doesn't mean it's getting ahead. What can Java learn, then, from newly emerging competitive platforms? What are the drivers and characteristics behind the growth of these platforms and what, if anything, can Java learn from that?

To address this, I'll present a series of lessons, backed by quantitative data, that Java may want to take away to guarantee its momentum moving forward.