Java 4,5,6.. What next???? Python.. Scala.. Erlang...

For a Java Fan it becomes a lot easier day by day  to lost in the overgrowing languages in the JVM world, that includes Groovy, Jython and a host of other languages with Groovy being the Flag bearer. However with the stagnancy of Java ( i m saying this because the next java version is slated to be released in Summer of 2012) and  with the introduction of other languages, it seems a good choice/time for a java developer to taste other languages. Some of the major languages that a java developer i think one should follow on is.

• PYTHON: It seems to be a great language by syntax and looks like a relative of 'C' language. The Current version of Python 2.7 is seems to be much popular than 3x version. Because of its ability to run on multiple platforms that includes (Linux, JVM, .Net) i think this should be the first choice of a developer. The emergence of Various Development Frameworks like WxPython, Django ( best for web app development) provide a strong reason to go for this language. In addition we also have to consider Google's Bet on python, ( Google really invest heavily on python with Guido Van Rassum on this board, ya the same person who created python). I think before trying out the same java feature ever and ever again, one should see the new angle python brought into development e.g. Virtual enviroment, Easy_install, Pip etc. The central repository pypi definitely helps the developer to get an understanding of all the libraries with their documentation a lot.
  Some important links are:
  http://zetcode.com/wxpython/
  http://www.searchforpython.com
  http://www.clemesha.org/blog/modern-python-hacker-tools-virtualenv-fabric-pip/
  http://www.catonmat.net/blog/learning-python-programming-language-through-video-lectures/
  http://code.google.com/edu/languages/google-python-class/
  http://agiliq.com/blog/2010/11/i-am-so-starving-same-web-app-in-various-python-we/
  http://sujitpal.blogspot.com/2010/08/python-web-application-with-spring.html
  
• ERLANG: Wanna go for a concurrent languages, that ERLANG seems to be extremely fit to the concurrent world. Developed by Ericssion in 1985 and open sourced in 2000 this language serves as a basis for one of biggest platforms on the world, that includes FACEBOOK CHAT and facebook page rendering things. The Syntax is seems to be an complex one, but with the time it turns out to do the thing in a much simpler way. It also plays a great part in the NoSql movement with CouchDB being created in it. So give ERLANG a try, if concurrency seems to exist anywhere near you.
  In addition this also support Web development, Nitrogen is the framework here, that one needs to look into.
• GROOVY: The ability to call itself Java++ and with the recent web development in GRAILS framework ( somewhat similiar to Rails framwork) will make this language an excellent choice for Java developers, since the language fundaments and syntax seems a lot similar to java. ( Relationship can be considered Java -> Groovy as C -> C++). since you can use all the java libraries can be used in GROOVY, so a java developer can find him/her on the best side of river & safe at home.
• SCALA: The mixture of OOP & FP ( functional programming) and its concurrent features makes this languages an excellent bread earning language of future. Since scala provide the concurrency in terms of "ACTORS" ( ya inherited from ERLANG)  and with web development frameworks like LIFT, SINATRA it can be termed as the replacement of java on to the JVM in the next coming years. Like Groovy you can use all existing java libraries, however the learning curve is little steep because of the complexity of the language. But as per my observation and as per the blogosphere world this language can fit extremely well in the Java world.
  Even as per a blog the Groovy developer says "if he knows that Scala exists and is about to come then he would never had developed Groovy". This statement itself says a lot about Scala.
  Some important links are:
  http://www.slideshare.net/mariogleichmann/scala-a-scalable-language
  http://macstrac.blogspot.com/2009/04/scala-as-long-term-replacement-for.html  

Personally out of above 4 i will mark the languages in this order Python -> Scala -> Erlang unless you have a special inclination or have a special requirement.

So go ahead, give it a try and find out to do the thing differently rather then repeating yourself each and every time. SO remember, remain DRY ( dont repeat yourself).

          If you want to know about the Good Books in any of the above, please write me in the comments section or mail me. Surely, will love to tell anyone.

        Sorry, for the Typos..