iTechNote

Sun President and CEO Jonathan Schwartz is set to announce the open sourcing of the core Java platform within 30 to 60 days. After months of discussion, it looks like the fears of open-sourcing core Java is finally overcome.

The past discussion about the issues of opening up core Java had always been it opens the doors for competitors to grab and change Java, resulting in the kernel forking and compatibility problems. The biggest benefit it may bring is to keep Java alive with community efforts given that Sun is not adequately promoting Java anymore.

One of the major hurdles of open sourcing Java is the approval of open source license. Sun may not have the rights to open source all the code given that there are codes licensed from third party. As a comparison, it took Sun five years in the case of OpenSolaris project to replace these codes with open source or rewritten codes. The initial components of Open Source Java will likely be the Java compiler and Hotspot.

The core platform encompasses the Standard Edition of Java (Java SE), and it will be offered under an OSI approved license. The source code for Sun’s implementation of Java SE is always included in the Java SE Development Kits (JDK) but Sun controls the APIs.

What is the meaning of open sourcing Java when there is Java Community Process (JCP)? JCP core activity is specifying standards so that Java communities can implement them. Companies or individuals participating in JCP can only influence the design and development of the APIs. By open sourcing Java, Sun effectively gives up the exclusive rights on how Java APIs evolve in the future.

Sun President and CEO Jonathan Schwartz is set to announce the open sourcing of the core Java platform within 30 to 60 days. After months of discussion, it looks like the fears of open-sourcing core Java is finally overcome.

The past discussion about the issues of opening up core Java had always been it opens the doors for competitors to grab and change Java, resulting in the kernel forking and compatibility problems. The biggest benefit it may bring is to keep Java alive with community efforts given that Sun is not adequately promoting Java anymore.

One of the major hurdles of open sourcing Java is the approval of open source license. Sun may not have the rights to open source all the code given that there are codes licensed from third party. As a comparison, it took Sun five years in the case of OpenSolaris project to replace these codes with open source or rewritten codes. The initial components of Open Source Java will likely be the Java compiler and Hotspot.

The core platform encompasses the Standard Edition of Java (Java SE), and it will be offered under an OSI approved license. The source code for Sun’s implementation of Java SE is always included in the Java SE Development Kits (JDK) but Sun controls the APIs.

What is the meaning of open sourcing Java when there is Java Community Process (JCP)? JCP core activity is specifying standards so that Java communities can implement them. Companies or individuals participating in JCP can only influence the design and development of the APIs. By open sourcing Java, Sun effectively gives up the exclusive rights on how Java APIs evolve in the future.