Simon Phipps, Sun’s chief open source strategist, has posted on his blog saying that open sourcing Java is “an ongoing process”, but it appears it is one that has started and now is gaining momentum.
In an informal breakfast in London, Phipps said that Java would be released under an Open Source Initiative (OSI) approved licence, and hasn’t ruled out using the GPL. This could mean widespread bundling and usage in Linux and other free software operating systems, because using an OSI licence will hopefully ensure that the Java licence will be compatible with the operating system licences.
What I think would be interesting as well is whether Microsoft take the opportunity to reassess their stance on bundling Java.
At the moment, the situation for Java in Windows isn’t good. Basically, Windows XP Gold (as in before any service packs) and early SP1, allowed Microsoft’s implementation of Java to be obtained through a free download built into Internet Explorer (if a Java applet was encountered, you were given an offer to download and install Java). However, just after the release of SP1, there was some legal issues between Sun and Microsoft. In fact, Microsoft had to release SP1a, which was exactly the same as SP1, just didn’t include the Microsoft Java download feature. Microsoft’s implementation was scrapped and subsequently it’s been necessary from SP1a and later to manually go and download Sun’s Java implementation, leaving many Java applets not running by default on the average computer.
With Java going open source, it might be possible, depending on licensing issues, to have Microsoft include Sun’s Java Virtual Machine (JVM) with Windows Vista. Of course, with no firm licence declared by Sun yet and Microsoft’s general stance towards open source software, it’s definitely not certain.
From Simon Phipps’ post:
“So today’s gathering is just one more step in an ongoing process. Sun’s Java EE implementation is now a thriving open source project and Sun announced at JavaOne that its Java SE implementation would be open source … today’s update includes an outline roadmap (code releases start at the end of this year and continue into next), a licensing indication (it will be an OSI-approved license) and the news that Sun’s Java ME code (CDC and CLDC) will also be open source around the end of the year. I know many of you want to know more and want us to go faster, but the truth is that it’s not ambiguity, it’s due care and attention and respect for the existing community working on Sun’s code. Expect a steady stream of news from now on, as well as an honest desire for dialogue.”
Java’s not ready yet, but this move shows undeniably that Sun are committed to getting a fully-open source Java out the door. It’s going to take time, though, and obviously Java is still tied up with various proprietary bits that Sun need to either rewrite or get permission to open them as well. I doubt an open source Java will make it bundled into Vista - although Sun say they might have some more Java stuff done by the end of the year, it’s going to be too late for Vista I think. Not to mention Microsoft’s stance and licensing issues on top of that.
Still, desktop and server Linux will most definitely benefit from this move, it’s just a case of waiting now. If you are a Java person, or just interested, Sun would like you to join the community.
[...] According to Simon Phipps, anyway. Read my full post here. [...]
If Java becomes available on WIndows, Mac, and Linux - that makes it pretty much a universal platform. Universal means you don’t need Windows. The realization that Java was more than spinny banner ads for the web browser, and a real platform threat, is exactly what caused them to attempt to co-op Java the last time, leading to the legal embroilment - and exactly why Microsoft would fight to the death *not* to include Open Source Java with Windows today. Never gonna happen.
You’re probably right. Why would Microsoft fight for Java as an interoperable platform anyway? With Vista they’ll want to be pushing the new .NET - .NET 3.0 or WinFX or whatever it’s called now, so I guess you’re right they won’t want built-in competition in the form of Java.
And the implementation of Java that was in XP originally was Microsoft’s JVM, not a Sun offering. It was generally considered to be rubbish and insecure compared to Sun’s JVM, and it essentially is dead technology now.