在Java历史上，詹姆斯•戈士林曾是举足轻重的人物。3月28日，他决定加盟谷歌公司（Google）。

    戈士林于去年4月份离开了太阳计算机系统公司（Sun）/甲骨文公司（Oracle），他曾在自己的网络日志上表示：“至于为何离开，我很难作答：即便我所言完全属实并且准确无误，结果也是弊大于利。多年来，我曾有幸与一些了不起的人共事，离开他们是个很困难的选择。”

    即将离任的谷歌首席执行官埃里克•施密特亦曾效力于Sun公司，并在Java刚刚诞生的早期岁月里，发挥过重要作用。

    但是对谷歌而言，不幸的是施密特对Java做出贡献，是在被Sun雇佣之时。因此这不会对眼下谷歌与甲骨文争夺Java专利的法律战产生什么影响。

    3月28日当天，戈士林在其网络日志上公布了加盟谷歌的消息。他表示：“我还不知晓自己将在谷歌担任什么工作。但我希望那是件比较重要的工作，能让我这个脾气乖戾的老人感到些活力。”

    也许，谷歌可以派他去负责Android业务。2009年，戈士林曾对eWeek表示，那块业务需要合适的领导人（尽管我可以想见，许多人会持不同意见）。

    而Android部门的现状是，他们确实缺少一名德高望重的领导人。因此，所有手机厂商都可以依己所愿，为所欲为，以致这块业务充满了随意性。结果既有可能是百花争艳的可喜局面，但也有可能是乱成一锅粥。我私下里猜测，由于已经来来回回折腾了几次，大概变成一团糟的可能性更大。

    戈士林也由此成为最新一名加盟谷歌的互联网技术名人，在他之前加盟的还包括：温顿•瑟夫、斯图•费尔德曼、彼得•诺维格、阿尔•斯派克特、尤迪•曼博以及埃里克•施密特。

    译者：大海

    Google (GOOG) has picked up a major player in the history of Java in James Gosling today.

    Gosling left Sun/Oracle (ORCL) in April, saying on his blog,

    "As to why I left, it's difficult to answer: Just about anything I could say that would be accurate and honest would do more harm than good. The hardest part is no longer being with all the great people I've had the privilege to work with over the years."

    Outgoing Google CEO Eric Schmidt also played a big role in the early days of Java at Sun.

    However, that work was while employed at Sun and, unfortunately for Google, makes little difference in the ongoing legal battle with Oracle over Java patents.

    The Google hiring announcement was also made today on his blog. Gosling said, "I don't know what I'll be working on. I expect it'll be a bit of everything, seasoned with a large dose of grumpy curmudgeon."

    Perhaps Android could use him as an "adult in charge". He told eWeek in 2009 that leadership was needed in that area (though I can think of a lot of people who'd disagree).

    And what's going on in the Android world is there's kind of no adult in charge. And all these handset manufacturers are doing whatever they damn well please. Which means that it's just going to be randomness. It could be let a thousand flowers bloom, but it also could be a dog's breakfast. And I guess having been around the track a few times, it feels like it's going to be more of a dog's breakfast.

    Gosling joins other Internet engineering luminaries on Google's payroll including Vint Cerf, Stu Feldman, Peter Norvig, Al Spector, Udi Manber, Tim Bray, and even Eric Schmidt.