Open Source Java

[xxqq]

Sun Microsystem plan to release the source code of Java in the next 60 days. Does this mean in the future there will be new Java version optimized for Linux?
Is it possible to intergrate parts of Java source code with linux applications/tools?

From Cnet:
"Sun Microsystems is likely to use the Community Development and Distribution License to govern the forthcoming open source Java software project, chief executive Jonathan Schwartz said on Wednesday. "We're within 30 to 60 days of announcing the open sourcing of the core Java platform, using an OSI-approved licence — likely the same licence as we use for the Solaris operating system," Schwartz said during an Oracle OpenWorld speech in San Francisco."

[Juan Pablo]

I hope they don't release it under the same license as Solaris Express

[techieMoe]

Move along, nothing to see here. I'm pretty sure this has been covered in another thread before. The main point that makes me yawn at this announcement is that they plan to release it under the same "open-source" license the used for Solaris, which is the CDDL. The CDDL is technically "open-source" but it is not compatible with the GPL, therefore developers will still be beholden to Sun if they make anything under the new license.

[bigtomrodney]

True, that licence really kills me. I think however in this case it won't matter as much. Solaris licensed under it prevents us using anything in the linux kernel. I think (I could be wrong - IANAL) that we could build open source Java and run it in Linux without as much of a problem. As long as it is not running as a kernel module.

Then again all this stuff gives me a headache. I'm still not sure what the story with the nVidia driver is.

[techieMoe]

Well, I certainly didn't expect this. If this report can be confirmed, Sun may be using the GPL after all:

http://www.crn.com/sections/breaking...leId=193600331

Maybe the FSF will finally bless it now.

[bidi]

I read the same article just a few minutes ago! Interesting, but they really don't offer any evidence beside the Shwartz' statement saying the GPL is on the table. Heck, many licenses are on the table. In my opinion, they'll probably use the LGPL as opposed to a full blown GPL.

[techieMoe]

I read the same article just a few minutes ago! Interesting, but they really don't offer any evidence beside the Shwartz' statement saying the GPL is on the table. Heck, many licenses are on the table. In my opinion, they'll probably use the LGPL as opposed to a full blown GPL.

That's true; it's all still speculation at this point. However *any* variant of the GPL would be better than the CDDL from a Linux/BSD standpoint.

[Vergil83]

Well, I certainly didn't expect this. If this report can be confirmed, Sun may be using the GPL after all:

http://www.crn.com/sections/breaking...leId=193600331

Maybe the FSF will finally bless it now.

that is quite a shock! Especially since the CDDL was developed because it is not compatiable with the GPL.
http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel.../msg00552.html

[bigtomrodney]

I'm really hoping they really consider changing the licence on Solaris if this is a success. I think Solaris would actually attract some of the community developers if they did. It'd be good to see a flow of ideas and code between Solaris and Linux. I don't think there'd be any redundancy there, it'd be just like having many distros like we have now.

Anyway if this is true (and I really hope it is) this will be great news.

[burntfuse]

If they *did* release it under some version of the GPL, I'm sure a bunch of Linux hackers would work on it. Maybe we'd get a Linux-optimized version, like someone already said. I'd love to see that, the official JVM runs like crap on my 2.4.29 kernel.