Hi,
On Tue, Apr 06, 1999 at 11:51:58AM -0700, Wes Biggs wrote:
> There is some info in api/seralized-form.html which comes with Sun's JSDK
> 2.1.1 download bundle (the API docs online are 1.1-generated, but the ones in
> the download aren't -- go figure). Download from
> http://java.sun.com/products/servlet/2.1/index.html
>
> Don't know if this is what you need, but it's the closest you'll probably get
> to a spec.
Thanks. So that is where the mysterious 2.1.1 Servlet API comes from.
(We have been looking for that version for weeks.)
The online documentation is only version 2.1. But when I want to download
that bundle I have to agree to a license and I don't want to do that until
somebody convinces me that we can use it for development of the servlet
classes. (The reason the classes are not yet part of classpath were some
subtle legal problems that are finally solved.) The clauses that worry me
are:
3. Java Platform Interface. Licensee may not
modify the Java Platform
Interface (JPI, identified as classes
contained within the javax package or any
subpackages of the javax package), by
creating additional classes within the JPI or
otherwise causing the addition to or
modification of the classes in the JPI. In
the event that Licensee creates any
Java-related API and distribute such API to
others for applet or application development,
you must promptly publish broadly, an
accurate specification for such API for free
use by all developers of Java-based
software.
4. Restrictions. Software is confidential
copyrighted information of Sun and
title to all copies is retained by Sun
and/or its licensors. Licensee shall not
modify, decompile, disassemble, decrypt,
extract, or otherwise reverse engineer
Software. Software may not be leased,
assigned, or sublicensed, in whole or in
part. Software is not designed or intended
for use in on-line control of aircraft, air
traffic, aircraft navigation or aircraft
communications; or in the design,
construction, operation or maintenance of
any nuclear facility. Licensee warrants
that it will not use or redistribute the
Software for such purposes.
We really need the serialisation information to be fully compatible
and it would be nice to see what actually changed between 2.1 and 2.1.1,
but I don't trust those clauses. The license defines Software as:
Java Servlet Implementation Classes software and documentation ("Software").
So it seems that we cannot use the documentation included in the download
bundle and we have to wait until Sun makes this information public.
But I really hope somebody can proof me wrong.
> I'm running your JSDK snapshot without problem on my box here, RedHat 5.2,
> Blackdown 1.2pre1, Apache JServ 1.0b3. It's great to be able to take
> proprietary jars out of my classpath. Excellent work!
I still have to check it with Japhar or Kaffe so you can also get rid of
the Sun/Blackdown jdk.
Paul Siegman added code that actually checks the if-modified-since headers
and I have updated the documentation a little. We will make a new snapshot soon.
We will also send the legal papers to the FSF as soon as possible so it can
be officially included in classpath.
Cheers,
Mark
