On 5/31/05, Robert Munn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hold on, now. Java is not exactly open source, is it? Don't they still call > it "Community Source" rather than open source? In other words, Java belongs > to Sun. You can't just go out and start offering your own Java, a la > Microsoft J++.
Ok, clarification is in order. I'm talking about open-source *Java tools* -- things like Tomcat, Eclipse, Lucene, Log4J, Ant, etc. And actually, Sun's Java *is* open source (the source comes bundled with it in a complete installation). You're confusing open source and licensing. Open source means, well, that the source is open (available). It doesn't mean that someone doesn't own the software. It doesn't mean it's free. It doesn't mean it doesn't have restrictions. It simply means the source is available. The Open Source Initiative (http://www.opensource.org/) manages and certifies/approves the various open source licenses, of which the BSD, Apache, and GPL licenses are the most common. Most arguments about whether a project is truly "open source" are really about the licensing model -- which is where Sun is with both Java and the new OpenSolaris project. Believe it or not, you can create your own Java. The Apache project is sponsoring Harmony (http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1814639,00.asp?kc=ewnws051105dtx1k0000599 or http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/15/2036234 for example) which is an open source J2SE implementation. This is similar to the Apache Geronimo project which is a J2EE server (like the open source JBoss). The reason for both of these projects is to have a Java implementation (J2SE and J2EE respectively) that is licensed using the Apache license instead of the Sun licenses (J2SE) or the various commercial licenses and the LGPL-licensed JBoss. > ><shameless_plug> > >I'll be talking about open source, especially Java, at CF-United. If > >you're attending, you might think about coming. > ></shameless_plug> > > Hey, I'll think we'll have to add a BOF on open source to CF-United as well :) -- John Paul Ashenfelter CTO/Transitionpoint (blog) http://www.ashenfelter.com (email) [EMAIL PROTECTED] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:208186 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
