Java Gets New Garbage Collector, But Only If You Buy Support

An anonymous reader writes "The monetization of Java has begun. Sun released the Java 1.6.0_14 JDK and JRE today which include a cool new garbage collector called G1. There is just one catch. Even though it is included in the distribution, the release notes state 'Although G1 is available for use in this release, note that production use of G1 is only permitted where a Java support contract has been purchased.' So the Oracle touch is already taking effect. Will OpenJDK be doomed to a feature-castrated backwater while all the good stuff goes into the new Java SE for Business commercial version?"

Comments

Re:Forgive my ignorance WAS:re: Garbage collector?

[lgw]

And yet, it's true. In the kind of programming I do, memory leaks and the like are the bane of some shops existance, and you'll absolutely hear about it if you make a mistake. You run multiple and various leak detectors one code that's runs in an appliance, for example, because that's usually what limits your uptime. It is actually possible to be good at this, you know, if that's the focus of your career.

Have you ever seen a real hacker? I mean, a man who makes furniture with an axe? I did once - he made a table. Each leg was four whacks with an extremely sharp hatchet. The result was beautiful, and smoother than you can get with sandpaper. But the amazing thing? He still had all his fingers. Such things are possible, if you're really serious about safety and leaks. ;)