Oracle has been at the center of the Java storm since it acquired Sun Microsystems with the industry being concerned about the future roadmap for Java. However, Oracle is closing the year on a winning note as it was able to win support from Java Community Process (JCP) voters for its roadmap for Java 7 and Java 8.

Here is a chronology of events that have punctuated Oracle's handling of Java in the year 2010:

April 12, 2010 -- Father of Java James Gosling, Oracle's Chief Technology Officer, leaves Oracle.

August 13 -- Oracle sues Google claiming that Google's Android OS infringes seven patents related to Java. At the center of contention is Android's Dalvik virtual machine which uses a set of Project Harmony library - a clean room, open source implementation of Java from the Apache Software Foundation. Until now Apache has not received a Java Test Compatibility Kit (TCK) from Oracle, which qualifies Harmony as having met the official Java standard.

Aug. 16 -- Google terms Oracle's lawsuit an attack against open-source Java community.

Aug. 27 -- Google decides to forgo the JavaOne developer conference that it had attended since 2004.

Sept. 17 - Microsoft takes side with Oracle as Microsoft's Chief Financial Officer for its Mobile Communications Business Division, Tivanka Ellawala, tells a financial analysts' conference that the IP issues around Android does infringe on a bunch of patents referring to the IP case as a fact.

Sept. 21 - Oracle rolls out future roadmap for OpenJDK, accelerating the availability of Java SE with releases in 2011 and 2012.

Oct. 6 - Google responds to Oracle's lawsuit, denies patent-infringement charges and accuses Oracle and Sun of double standards regarding Java open-source stance.

Oct. 11 - IBM announces it will collaborate with Oracle to support the OpenJDK project, jettisoning support for Apache's Project Harmony.

Oct. 18 - Oracle tells a closed meeting of Java leaders in Bonn, Germany, that it will never give a license to Project Harmony which involves giving the Java Test Compatibility Kits (TCK) to Apache.

Oct. 21 - Apple deprecates Java on Mac OS X.

Oct. 25 - Key Java Community Process (JCP) member Doug Lea resigns JCP stating that JCP's role as a credible specification and standards body has eroded.

Oct. 28 - Oracle heats up its IP fight against Google's Android, says Google directly lifted Java code with up to one-third of Android API packages being derivatives of Java APIs.

Nov. 4 - Oracle-nominated company Hologic fails to gather support to gain a seat in the JCP committee overseeing Java Standard Edition (JEE) and Enterprise Edition (EE).

Nov. 9 - The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) threatens to leave JCP if Oracle does not issue the TCK and called other members to vote against the Java 7 roadmap which is crafted around Oracle's roadmap for Java.

Nov. 12 - Apple joins Oracle to support OpenJDK project.

Nov. 15 - Oracle calls ASF to reconsider its decision to encourage other members to vote against Java 7 roadmap.

Nov. 17 -- Oracle submits Java Specifications Request for Java 7 and 8 to JCP for approval.

Nov. 19 - Oracle announces July 28, 2011, as the date for the launch of Java Development Kit (JDK) 7.

Dec. 7 - Oracle wins 75 percent of votes supporting its roadmap for Java 7 and 8. Google and ASF vote against the roadmap.

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