Linux Will Sun Open Source Java?

[dipdude]

"According to eWEEK.com, there's an internal debate going on at Sun whether to open-source Java. (Insert typical response: "It's about time!") Company spokespersons have no official comment, as might be expected, but perhaps we could hear confirmation or denial as early as May 16, at the JavaOne conference. One commentator said, "Sun should endorse PHP and go one step forward and make sure the 'P' languages run great on the JVM [Java virtual machine] by open-sourcing Java." Would this move Java up the desirability scale in your eyes? Could this be a way to help improve what's lacking in Java?"

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1955448,00.asp
http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/01/2323251&from=rss

 

[shirish]

i think they'll. As they've opened up Solaris & Sun Sparc, then opening Java would be to their benefit as they could drive the standard forward, otherwise gcj (GNU Compiled Java) as well as Apache's implementation for Java will be knocking on their doors. Of course both are WIP but that's reason enough for the JCP people to sit up & smell the roses. If this does happen then one would see lots of development in the mobile space.

 

[dipdude]

Sun Microsystems has changed the licence of its Java technology to allow for better interoperability with open source operating products including Linux, the company revealed at the JavaOne conference.

The move will push adoption of the programming language on Linux systems because developers can now trust that such systems will be able to run a Java application, argued Simon Phipps, chief open source officer for Sun Microsystems.

The previous version of the licence banned software developers from shipping a Java Runtime Engine (JRE) or Java Development Kit (JDK) with operating systems. Instead it tied those tools to specific applications and prevented any other applications from accessing them.

The new licence allows developers to ship the code on any medium and through distribution mechanism, the company explained

Sun makes Java licence more Linux friendly - vnunet.com

Sun to open-source Java

Sun Microsystems Inc. at its JavaOne conference today announced that it would open-source Java but added that before it does so, company officials have to be certain the move won't lead to diverging paths in the code.

Update: Sun to open-source Java; no timetable set

 

[shirish]

This was a move expected. Open-sourcing of Java would leave to greater development to the language & the framework around it as well as lots of GNU/Linux, BSD & Open Solaris boxes floating around. Much more versatility/diversity than before.