With Oracle’s appetite for acquisitions, Oracle OpenWorld has grown larger with every passing year. This year, on Sept. 19–24, the San Francisco conference will be even larger as Java developers join the Oracle fold. That’s right: Oracle OpenWorld now encompasses what used to be Sun’s annual JavaOne conference.

According to Teri Whitaker, an Oracle spokesperson, “Java technology continues to evolve, and at this year’s conference, attendees will be presented with compelling and immersive content that will help them learn how to leverage tools and resources to build compelling Java-enabled offerings and individualized services.”

There are essentially three distinct conferences under one roof: the main Oracle OpenWorld event, JavaOne, and Oracle Develop, said Whitaker. “Even though the two developer-oriented conferences are being run as separate events, we’re creating bridges to bring developers together,” she said.

Whitaker said that the JavaOne part is organized into tracks on Core Java Platforms; Desktop Java; Enterprise Service Architectures and the Cloud; Java EE Web Profile and Platform technologies; Java ME and Mobile; Java for Devices, Cards and TV; JavaFX and the rich user experience; and something new called the “the Java Frontier.”

According to Oracle, some of the traditionally less-serious aspects of JavaOne will also be making an appearance at the Develop conference, which covers Oracle’s other development tools. Whitaker said that “Developers attending either show can choose from hundreds of JavaOne and Oracle Develop sessions, build LEGO cities, snag some swag, and meet up with top Oracle and Java developers.”

No word, though, if Duke—the black-and-white Java triangle mascot with a huge red nose—will be making an appearance.

JavaOne speakers you should see
• Dan Allen, Red Hat: Creating Lightweight Applications with Nothing but Vanilla Java EE 6
• Adam Bien, unaffiliated: Java EE 6 Panel: What Do We Do Now?
• Stephen Chin, Inovis: Pro JavaFX: Developing Enterprise Applications
• Cliff Click, Azul Systems: Top 10 Causes for Java Issues in Production and What to Do When Things Go Wrong
• Brian Goetz, Oracle: Multiple Languages, One Virtual Machine
• Brad Miller, Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Java in the 2010 FIRST Robotic Competition
• Bill Pugh, Univ. of Maryland: Defective Java Code: Mistakes That Matter
• Cameron Purdy, Oracle: Lessons Learned from Java in the Internet Age and What It Means for the Cloud
• Doug Tidwell, IBM: Keeping Your Options Open, Even If the Cloud Is Not
• Hinkmond Wong, Oracle: Developing for Mobile Devices: Oracle Application Development Framework and Java

Develop sessions not to be missed
• Application-Aware Virtualization
• The Evolution of Oracle Coherence, from Local Caching to Distributed Computing
• Oracle GlassFish Server: Product Strategy and Roadmap
• RIAs and Web 2.0 Development Made Simple
• Excel Integration with Oracle Application Development Framework and Java
• Mastering Customization and Personalization in Oracle ADF and Oracle WebCenter
• Java for SOA Developers: A View into the Spring Component and Java Binding
• Emerging Patterns for Integration and Oracle Service Bus
• Developing and Testing Cross-Platform Applications with Oracle VM VirtualBox
• Building Oracle VM Templates with Oracle Enterprise Linux JeOS
• End-to-End Java: Decide When to Adopt Java in the Database and Best Practices
• Best Practices and Trade-offs for Efficient and Reliable Java Persistence
• Groovy session worth attending: The Script Bowl 2010: A Scripting Languages Shoot-out
• OpenJDK session worth attending: Project Lambda: To Multicore and Beyond
• Java EE 6 session worth attending: Complete Tools Coverage for the Java EE 6 Platform

This year’s headline acts
• Black Eyed Peas
• Don Henley
• Steve Miller Band
• Montgomery Gentry
• Berlin
• The English Beat