Java’s Source Has Been Available for 10 years?
An Infoworld interview with Sun CTO James Gosling reveals that the Java Source Code is already available.
Sun Microsystems maintains a policy of requiring testing for Java compatibility and already offers a great deal of Java technology in an open source fashion, Gosling said in an interview this week to discuss next week’s JavaOne conference and other subjects. Gosling is CTO for the Java enterprise and developer group at Sun and is considered the father of Java …
Source code for Java already is available and has been for 10 years, he said. The current model for Java is close to an open source model, Gosling said.
This is probably because some Sun Java licensees have access to the source code already. This provides them limited access to the source code. This is definitely making the source available but not quite open source yet. I suppose groups like Blackdown had access to the codebase too. This can be considered similar to Microsoft’s moves to making the source code of Windows available to certain governments and major customers. This look-but-don’t- touch attitude to “open sourcing” won’t really cut it. Based on the article, it looks as if Sun is no where nearer in releasing control of its Java technology to open source powers.
May 14th, 2006 at 11:18 am
No, they ain’t the same.
Though I support FOSS initiatives, I’d rather want Java to be a controlled one. Mind the term used, “controlled”. Java isn’t just a language, it is a platform. Common users, not just licensees, have access to the Sun’s Java source. It is located at $JAVA_HOME. It is a file called src.zip. I used to gripe at this reality, but I, just like majority of the java world, accept the fact that Sun’s stewardship of Java, though evil in the eyes of FOSS zealots, is good. There’s more at stake than just Sun forfeiting they current Java biz model.
Yes, you can look at the code. Although you can’t touch it, you can take any altervive.
To support FOSS on the Java front, support GNU Classpath and/or Apache Harmony.
May 14th, 2006 at 11:36 am
Definitely, Microsoft Shared Source is definitely not open source.
Thanks for pointing out src.zip. I never really got the chance to look at that file. However, as you put it, this is still an example of “just look” concept of open source.
I don’t see Sun’s stewardship of Java bad in itself. But, wouldn’t it allow Java to grow faster if it were set free? Then maybe whole Java community can move together? Just my $0.02.
May 15th, 2006 at 12:43 am
I took a look at the src.zip in the JDK. I noticed that it appears to be the Java class library only. It would be nice if we could also get our hands on the Java VM source to enable the community to do some tweaking on the VM level. I know only a few people actually do that but then again only a few people write kernel software.
Maybe this is just the stuff Sun wants people to see. The rest are still maybe trade secrets that allow Sun to sell hardware and tools “optimized for Java”:-D
May 17th, 2006 at 12:55 am
[…] In my previous blog, I reported that Java source has been available for the longest time but under restrictive terms. Certain companies like Blackdown and other licencees already have access to the full source code. The src.zip file in the JDK already contains some of the code for the Java class library (with some key missing bits). But, this new attempt is interesting as it appears that Sun will make the whole thing available. Will Sun use the CDDL it used in OpenSolaris? […]