Slashdot Mirror
Sun To Upgrade Java Desktop System
An anonymous reader writes "The second version of Sun's Java Desktop System should be unveiled this week, according to this article. And as part of Sun's effort to entice programmers to its new software, the new JDS software will include the Java Studio and NetBeans developer tools." The JDS is their Linux desktop system.
So it looks to me like Sun is trying to pull a Microsoft and hope people use the bundled product even if it's inferior. But like I said, Java developers already know where to get Eclipse.
I opened a terminal:
*sigh* Can Sun do anything right?
Since Sun includes a Ton of GPL'd software on their CD, where are the sources? I can't find any download either on their site (tried "Java Desktop System" download site:sun.com and all I got was a lenghty FAQ) I'd like to try it, where do I get it from?
It also will come with the first version of Sun's Configuration Manager, which lets an administrator control the privileges and settings of different groups of desktop users.
I am confused.
Were sshd, bash and vi missing in the previous version!?!?
It's not too bad, basically SuSE as you've read before. My wheel mouse didn't work out of the box, and sound stuff didn't start automatically -- both of which would be really annoying to the common user.
The interface is gorgeous though, and sun studio isn't a bad alternative to eclipse. Why they include netbeans and studio is beyond me though, they're the same thing as far as I can tell. And I can't type "javac" directly from my home directory, which I'd imagine the average user would need to be able to do without changing anything
I'd like to see more of a sun supported community for JDS. I can't even find user forums or anything of the like to discuss the pitfalls I've found, etc. Hard to build a desktop user base if they are only going to marginally own up to it existing in the first place. I feel like I'm the only person in the world using it. Maybe it's just too early...
Sigh....
Agile Artisans
But it looks like with this new Java Desktop System, the proof is here. If Sun was able to port the entire Linux OS to run on the JRE, and Gnome too apparently... well, I'm impressed.
The only thing I wonder is why they went ahead and reimplemented yet another clone of Unix. It seems that with their pioneering Java software technology under the hood (after all, this is the language that introduced features like dynamic class loading, garbage collection and introspection to the world of computing) they could have pioneered a new modern, modular desktop OS.
What is holding JDS back isn't necessarily Linux but the fact that SUN has done nothing about dire shortage of third party software vendors for the desktop.
There are a HUGE number of companies out there who would jump ship in a minute for a JDS solution IF they could get their "mission critical" applications on JDS. I'm sorry, but if SUN want the customers, the customers require the software, no software, no customers, its just that simple.
Want to solve the problem? go to the vendors and ask, "how much to port this application natively to JDS", find out the price, and the cut the software vendor a cheque! Once you get a handful of vendors producing, more vendors will come on board volunteerily because they don't want to feel like they've missed out on the "next big thing".
Its about creating momentum, but unfortunately SUN just doesn't get it, and never has, and never will.