Will Sun's Java Go Open Source?

Ritalin16 writes "CNet report that Sun Microsystems wants to send Java closer to the open-source world, yet keep it safe from harm. "Project Peabody" adds two licenses that make it easier for outsiders to see the code. But Sun stops short of embracing open-source. Sun's licensing practices for Java are closely watched. Proponents of making Java open-source argue that a different license and development process will help accelerate usage of Java, which faces ongoing competition from Web open-source scripting tools, such as PHP, and Microsoft's .Net line of tools."

Comments

Wrong rival

[m50d]

I don't think it's GCJ they're worried about, it's Mono. Mono does the write once run anywhere thing, has better (native) look and feel, and is open source. I think Sun has been surprised by the speed of Mono development, which they now realise they could have harnessed for Java if they were willing to open it up. Sun is in real danger here, because if Mono continues to develop at the same pace it will leave Java far behind.