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Open Source Java

As Sun resists the call from ESR and IBM to open source Sun's implementation of Java, another Java implementation may already have been installed on your hard drive.

If you use a recent version of Linux such as Fedora Core 2, or Cygwin, you may already have installed the GNU GCJ compiler, and the GNU Classpath class library.

Although not as complete as the Sun JDK, the GCJ/Classpath combination can compile Java bytecodes to native executables, and can already run many open source Java applications, including Eclipse and Ant. I wrote about it for OCI's Java News Brief in January 2003.

So Sun or no Sun, Open Source Java is here and now. Sure, it's not as complete as we would like, but it is useful already and has the potential to do more. And it comes with my Linux distribution.

I mentioned 29 days ago that I was ready to switch sides from Sun to ESR/IBM. My wish as a user of Java technology is very simple: Make is so that the Sun JDK can be bundled in the Fedora Core CDs (or other Linux distributions). While I'm waiting, I'll be using GNU GCJ, and (very reluctantly) SWT.

I understand there's going to be a panel discussion about "a new community and development model". I sure hope someone would address the issues raised in Tom Tromey's blog.

Responses[8] RSS feed for responses to this blog entry
Posted by Weiqi Gao on June 29, 2004 9:41:30 PM CDT #


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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Dmitri Colebatch on June 29, 2004 10:04:49 PM CDT #
Is this really such a big issue? From reading your post it would seem that all you want is for Java to be bundled with RH? Whats the big deal about installing it yourself?
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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Kumar Mettu on June 29, 2004 10:08:10 PM CDT #
Anyone who can use GCJ in its current form can install sun's version of J2SE. So whats big deal if RH is not shipped with JDK?
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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Weiqi Gao on June 29, 2004 11:30:27 PM CDT #

It's a big deal because it affects the ubiquity of Java. The more systems Java is on by default, the more valuable Java itself becomes. It also simplifies the delivery of Java based systems on Linux.

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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Mike Norman on June 30, 2004 8:55:20 AM CDT #
I for one would like to see Sun at least remove the indemnity clause for re-distribution of the JRE/JDK. I'm the past-president of our local JUG and we wanted to create a custom KNOPPIX Linux+Java 'try-&-buy' CD: L-A-M-J: Linux, Apache (Jakarta Tomcat), Mysql, Java. However, Appendix 'A', section (vi) says "you agree to defend and indemnify Sun and its licensors from and against any damages, costs, liabilities, settlement amounts and/or expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with any claim, lawsuit or action by any third party that arises or results from the use or distribution of any and all Programs and/or Software." Luckily, one our JUG members is a lawyer and told us what this meant. I, or any other person on the JUG executive could be sued within an inch of our lives. So much for building the community ...
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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Jeff on June 30, 2004 10:09:37 AM CDT #
Any business that wants Java on linux is going to install it. The only thing an open source linux will do is make some of the slashdot crowd a little happier. It won't make the whole slashdot crowd happier because Java is slow and it's not as pure as some obscure language that only 5 people have heard of. That's not the market that Sun wants. Sun needs to market to board rooms, not cubicals. Open source just isn't that important in board rooms.
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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Jeff on June 30, 2004 10:11:08 AM CDT #
Sorry I wasn't as clear as I should be. I'm not saying Java is slow or bad, I'm saying that the slashdot kiddies feel that because of an applet they ran back in 1996.
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Re: Open Source Java

Comment from charles on July 5, 2004 4:50:25 PM CDT #
Let see :
- The sources are available for J2SE/J2RE
- Weekly builds of J2SE 5.0 are available
- Complete bug database exists
- JCP community evolves java.
- Geronimo effort is part of JCP
- JBoss has now joined JCP
- JCP is allowing open source JSRs
- Java Open Source projects thrive
- GCJ, a nice effort, but it is not Java

For fun take a read of my response : http://cld.blog-city.com/read/492917.htm
The bottom line is that the JCP and Sun are working hard on making the open source community happy (the JCP adding provisions for open source JSRs and Sun donating more open source code than every entity except Berkeley).

Cheers.
Reply

Re: Open Source Java

Comment from Weiqi Gao on July 5, 2004 11:22:31 PM CDT #

- The sources are available for J2SE/J2RE: but not under an open source license.

- Weekly builds of J2SE 5.0 are available: but nobody can make good use of it.

- Complete bug database exists: but it takes six months for Sun to even acknowledge a bug report.

- JCP community evolves java: but only big players gets to join the JCP.

- Geronimo effort is part of JCP: but it doesn't address Tiemann/ESR's concerns.

- JBoss has now joined JCP: but will they get certified?

- JCP is allowing open source JSRs: show me one open source implementation of a JSR.

- Java Open Source projects thrive: but they are not making big plays in the open source world.

- GCJ, a nice effort, but it is not Java: but it's pretty close, more close than people realize.

In short, everything looks good for people who are already on board with Sun on Java. And the noise comes from people who are not on board with Sun on Java.

Sun ignores them at its own peril.

There is always more good people not working for you.


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