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Weblog:   Sun and Open Sourcing, the debate continues...
Subject:   Just the Java J2ME,J2SE,J2EE Libraries
Date:   2004-02-19 01:55:02
From:   nzheretic
It would benefit the entire Java based industy, including the free software, open source and proprietary based vendors, to open license the core J2ME,J2SE,J2EE libaries and Java to bytecode compilers.


Java's primary strength, the ability to write code which is constantly portable across many vendors platforms, would be greatly enhanced if all of vendors were using the same core libaries.


To insure that the standard base core would not become polluted with incompatable forks, the source could be licensed with a clause requiring any incompatable changes or any additional classes or methords to be moved to and occupy only the vendors namespace. Another clause would require that the vendor version of Java bytecode compiler and any GUI IDE defaults to generating portable bytecode, without embedding any vendor specific references.


Contributions to the core standard would be required to licensed under the same open source license. The existing JCP standard body could decide what becomes part of the Open Java Core.


It should not be necessary to open source license Sun's JVMs. In the long run it could greatly benefit Sun to develop the JVM under a dual license as it doing with OpenOffice.org and selling StarOffice.
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  • Just the Java J2ME,J2SE,J2EE Libraries
    2004-02-20 11:58:21  jwenting [Reply | View]

    I have to strongly disagree here.

    It would seriously HARM the entire Java industry to have the core libraries open for everyone to change to their liking.
    It would create a plethora of incompatible versions running rampant around the world making it impossible to write applications for general distribution.

    Is your app compatible with java.util.Collection version 1.2.3.2.53.2.5.3.3a6 pre3 beta4?
  • Russell Miles photo Just the Java J2ME,J2SE,J2EE Libraries
    2004-02-19 03:20:03  Russell Miles | O'Reilly AuthorO'Reilly Blogger [Reply | View]

    Couldn't agree more. The OpenOffice.org model seems to work well for Sun so that seems a natural way to go to get things opened up. I get the feeling that that is Eric Raymonds point of view too, his argument appears to be that Sun are doing it right in other areas and that if they could just be consistent and do the same for Java then people would be happier.

    The question of loosening the proprietary strangehold on the Java brand as presented by Rick is another issue. This aspect is a harder sell to the Sun management but is interesting nonetheless.
Showing messages 1 through 2 of 2.