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FSF, OpenOffice.org Team Reach Agreement on Java

Posted by timothy on from the detente dept.

Bruce Byfield points out his NewsForge (part of OSTG) article about something good coming out of the conflict over Java in OpenOffice.org. It begins "A dispute between the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and OpenOffice.org (OOo) over the increased use of Java in the upcoming version 2.0 release of OOo is over -- at least for now. The two groups have found a short-term solution, and are working together on ways to keep the dispute from happening again." The story provides a decent background on why it matters, and shows a surprisingly conciliatory attitude on both sides.

4 of 411 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Will this always happen. by ZephyrXero · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This stuff happens because you shouldn't build open/free software off proprietary software. If you want to use open software as a foundation or library for your proprietary software, that's fine...but you don't develop open source code with a closed source language. It defeats the purpose of it being open. Linus found out the hardway and I'm glad that Open Office will hopefully be having an easier time...

    --
    "A truly wise man realizes he knows nothing."
  2. It's not over until there's an open distro by Animats · · Score: 4, Interesting
    This controversy won't be over until there's an OpenOffice distribution avaialble that requires no proprietary code whatsoever.

    The reason this is so important is that if all the source is openly available, nobody can make it go away. It's essential to avoid "drug dealer marketing" - the first one is free, but then it's going to cost you. There have been too many products that started out "open", and then started to cost money once they had users locked in.

    The typical progression for psuedo-free software is

    • The product is free for download. A user community emerges.
    • A new version comes out, with modest restrictions and price, and the free version is deprecated.
    • The free version disappears.
    • The price goes up, and copy protection is added.
    • Market share declines.

    Examples are Intellicad, Sendmail, and QNX

  3. The FSF and Stallman is correct by codepunk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Lets just put a stop to the java zeolots right here and now...

    If you cannot package and distribute the application
    "with the JVM" it is not and never will be free.

    I happen to like java, but I sure would never use it in something I was gonna distribute.

    --


    Got Code?
  4. open source CPUs by Jecel+Assumpcao+Jr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    When are open-sourced based CPUs going to be available? Does anyone know of any available? I don't *feel* free with the current processor offerings available.

    Here you go. Check out the OpenRISC 1000 - I am guessing that it will be particularly interesting for you since the 1200 version has been used to demonstrate Linux. Of course the MIPS and Sparc clones can do so as well.

    Transmeta was the closest, since Linus worked for them way back when.

    Given that the native instruction set was top secret, I would say it was the least open source processor of all.