Paul Fisher wrote:
> ``Sun demurs on making Java open source''
> <URL:http://www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/news/0,4153,1013904,00.html>
I'd like to say two things on this:
1). Sun is in a bad spot because they already charged all these companies
tens of millions in license fees for Java. If they freed the code, this
would really anger all their partners. "Once you start down the dark path,
forever will it dominate your destiny". Even if they wanted to open the
code, it would be difficult for them to do so.
2). I think you'll see more things like this as people try to get the
vaunted technical benefits of "open source" without buying into the
philosophy of "free software". I think more companies will try to maintain
control of the code base while attempting to leverage the internet community
as a free development staff. It remains to be seen how this will play out.
In the case of Sun, to date people have rejected their model.
Back to coding.
--
Aaron M. Renn ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.urbanophile.com/arenn/
