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Java: One Step Closer To Open Source

Posted by Hemos on from the inching-its-way-forward dept.

Ritalin16 writes "Sun Microsystems on Monday intends to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Java programming language by sharing the proprietary source code for several key Java applications used by corporate customers. Sun officials believe that by making the source codes open to developers, they will spur more involvement and use of Java-based applications."

7 of 318 comments (clear)

  1. Too late Java is not cool anymore by FriedTurkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This doesn't really matter to Java detractors. IT types, usually not programmers, will bring up the same old tired clichés.

    Somewhere around the year 2000 Java became uncool especially with younger programmers. I guess because it became an institution taught in high schools everywhere. Maybe programmers feel Java is rammed down their throats so they champion less established languages even something by Microsoft.

    Java really is the best thing out there for a lot of things. Sun can give away everything and detractors will be like: "OK but what about your first born child?"

    1. Re:Too late Java is not cool anymore by Decaff · · Score: 5, Informative

      how the HELL do you expect an end user to run JavaApp123, when all they download is a .class file?

      Users almost never download class files. They download JAR files. JAR files can have a Main-Class property which means that with a JRE installed the user need only double-click the JAR to run it.

      Why in GODS NAME does Java NOT USE Native Widgets?

      Because native widgets can a wide range of capabilities on different platforms. The Java widgets are usually a superset of these capabilities, allowing a rich interface to be cross-platform.

      I mean, I can spot a Java application light years away.

      That is the developer's fault, not Java's. Java ships with the option to use widgets that have a very close match to the native OS widgets on platforms such as XP and MacOS/X (on the latter, they are indistinguishable). Sun is working to ensure that Java apps are completely visually compatible with Windows apps on the next version of Windows.

      It doesn't integrate cleanly in ANY regard.

      Yes it does. There is an API called JDIC (Java Desktop Integration Components) that allows very good integration with the GUI of a system, from using the 'systray' to opening native browsers and so on.

  2. And Again by AKAImBatman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Java: One Step Closer To Open Source

    *sigh* Sun is already as open as they're going to go with Java by releasing it under the Java Research License. Now Sun has never complained about or hawked Open Source JVMs, but neither have they been too keen on helping out projects who bite their hands. As a result, the project to watch is the Apache Harmony Project. Given that Apache maintains a close relationship with Sun, hasn't burned their bridges, and has a good track record for completing very complex software, there's a good chance that the Apache JVM will quickly exceed Kaffe and GCJ.

    --
    Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
  3. "Open Source" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If Sun really wanted to be helpful they could forget the application server and really forget the source, and just concentrate on making a less restrictive BINARY license for redistributors such as linux distributions. Java is being held back in the absence of something like Harmony, and that's just absolutely rediculous when the problem would be so easy to fix. Sun needs to come to terms with reality and realize that they need an installed base, not the other way around.

  4. What about your fiirst born? by RealProgrammer · · Score: 5, Funny

    They already did that*.

    --
    * Well, mostly.

    --
    sigs, as if you care.
  5. Re:Read the "fine" article, please by Eric+Giguere · · Score: 5, Informative

    The reason Sun is open sourcing their app server is because no one uses it!

    Sun's application server has actually been free to use (including production deployment) for quite some time now, so this further step of releasing the source code under a friendly license isn't that big a deal. Let's face it, basic application servers are pretty much commodities these days, making it hard for anyone to compete in that space. With at least three open source app server projects on the go (this one, JBoss, Geronimo) it's certainly a crowded market. It's certainly not the big deal that misleading headline makes it sound like.

    Eric
    J2ME stuff
  6. Re:Read the "fine" article, please by DAldredge · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The GPL isn't the only definition of Freedom or Free.