I'm just now listening to episode #322. I would like to correct some erroneous statements that were made regarding Apache Harmony. I've been following the Harmony issue, first as a committer on another Apache project, now as an Apache member since it began. I'll loosely quote what you said, then respond to it:
Dick said (paraphrasing) "Harmony is trying to get a TCK license so they can have a compatible implementation of SE and the mobile space." This may or may not be correct depending on your meaning of "the mobile space" Your next statement sounds like you are referring specifically to Java ME. Apache is *not* trying to get a TCK license for Java ME, only Java SE. Apache wants a TCK license for their implementation of SE (Harmony) that has no field of use restrictions. Dick then said: "Field of use restriction specifically disallows mobile space." This is correct. Sun offered Apache a TCK license that included a field-of-use restriction that disallows the use of any implementation in the mobile space. That offer was not acceptable to Apache and Apache have been trying to get a TCK license without such restrictions. Carl then tried to clarify by saying (again, paraphrasing): "The Harmony project has produced JDK library that is TCK certified for the SE platform. You can call it Java." You then went on to clarify that this implementation includes only the Java libraries, not the VM. There are a couple of errors in this statement. * The Harmony project has produced a full Java SE stack, not just the libraries, but the VM as well. I believe Android is only using the libraries from Harmony, and not the VM, but I'm not exactly sure. * The Harmony project has never been TCK certified. Sun offered Apache a TCK license, which Apache rejected. When Joe said "the future of mobile Java is Android" I think he was spot on and I suspect that Oracle does not want to lose control of that -- or the licensing money that goes with it. I believe everything I've stated here is public record from Apache. Here are some links where you can verify what I've claimed: * http://harmony.apache.org/ - project details about Apache Harmony that clearly shows Harmony includes a VM as well as libraries. * http://apache.org/foundation/board/calendar.html - Apache board meeting minutes. These meetings include reports of Apache's interactions with the JCP. * http://apache.org/jcp/ - Apache's JCP page which includes the open letter, details, and updates about the dispute. Thanks for the podcast! I look forward to it every week. Greg -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
