Bert Sutherland's managerial skills were put to the test during the development of Java, the biggest success in SunLabs' history. A research team first began looking into a universal device that would interact with household items such as thermostats, televisions and washing machines. When interactive TV seemed like it was about to take off, the group shifted gears and focused on that. But a high-profile trial fizzled, and the group faced an uncertain future.
In early 1994, Sutherland became acting director of the team, which refocused on the next hot thing, which just happened to be the Internet. "A lot of engineers doing the hard-core, money-making work said, 'You're wasting your time with these guys, they're just playing in a sandbox.' ''
But Sutherland, who says he chose the name Java over Silk, nurtured the group during a critical period in 1994 and 1995. In December 1995, Sun released Java code on the Internet and "a firestorm erupted.''
He adds slyly, "It only added $2 or $3 billion to the market cap of the company.''
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