On Friday, July 13, 2012 11:36:46 AM UTC-7, fabrizio.giudici wrote: > > does your application claim compatibility with Java SE or need to put a > brand? I don't think so, > right?
See, that's the thing. I don't know for sure. It depends on Oracle's definitions of "compatibility" and "branding" in this context. Normally, "compatibility" just means that Thing A will work with Thing B. So, do I need to become an official "licensee" if I want to say that my Java program works just fine with Oracle's JRE or JVM? Or are they redefining "compatibility" to mean "works exactly the same"? It seems as if they are. But who can know until the lawyers come after them? Or is Oracle trying to create FUD about their own product so everyone will think they need to become a licensee? I mean, when we say that someone is "compatible" with their spouse, we do NOT mean that they are functionally identical. Not every couple are Jeff & Akbar. > There are specific, documented command line options for controlling the > Garbage Collector and e.g. picking an implementation. > OK, so I will worry about that when the time comes. > Here's the point, if you can test with OpenJDK and you're fine, it's the > best way to avoid any legal hassle. Though I have not been developing with Java, I have been in the computer and/or electronics industry for almost 30 years. It has always been the case that going with the lowest common denominator will allow the most compatibility. But it is rarely the case that that LCD has all the features or reliability that one needs or wants. I can also avoid legal hassle by going with C and using the GNU C compiler on a Linux machine and writing all my own libraries from scratch. But I don't want to program with C. Just as I am not too very interested in programming in a clone of a language which may or may not be reliable, stable, and completely compatible. The primary reason I am finally interested in programming again is because of JavaFX 2. I am primarily interested in UI and Swing just didn't seem flexible enough to me without jumping through a hell of a lot of hoops. So, if I am going to be developing in Java, pretty much at all, I will want Oracle's stable and more feature complete JavaFX over OpenJFX. > Target OpenJFX and make sure by means of a proper installer that you run > your code with the intended runtime. > Yes, but then I have to tell potential users of the program that my program may not work with the JRE they have installed even if it is the latest one, or even if it is a specific version of the "official" JRE. I will have to tell them that I will be installing a completely different JRE on their system, just to get my program to work. That could decrease the number of people who want to use the program. > As I said, go for the Open* stuff and you're fine. We're a lot of people > producing and distributing FLOSS things based on Java. > Actually, I know it is not that simple. There are still all the incompatible FLOSS licenses that may be assigned to various libraries that I may want to use. I know I will have that problem anyway, but I don't want to add to my troubles with GPL libraries in the JDK that I choose to use. So, in the end, you have told me how to avoid my question altogether by opening up yet other cans of worms. These are cans of worms that you are comfortable with, but that I would rather not deal with. Thanks for trying to help, but not every problem can be solved by just "going with open source." If anyone can answer my original questions, I would appreciate it. 1. Does one need to become a "licensee" to write regular Java programs? In other words, has Oracle redefined "compatibility" to mean "works identically to"? 2. Are there ways to avoid using the "commercial features" without throwing the baby, the water, and the whole darned bathtub out with the gold-plated rubber-ducky? -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Java Posse" group. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/javaposse/-/AeqDq7-lOTUJ. 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.
