There was an article in Linux Journal (I'm quite sure, but their site seems to be down now) about a year ago where the author rewrote at least part of RPM in Java.
BTW, in response to Tim Mooney's comment on a JVM in the Linux kernel (meant kiddingly, I thought), the Linux kernel used to have a feature whereby it would execute *.class files by mapping them automatically to a JVM. I came across this in the Linux Kernel Blackbook while reading it in Borders one day. It has since been removed from the kernel (not sure exactly when), but I thought it was interesting. Scott Stirling
