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It was billed as a brawl, but turned out to be a low key chat that revealed one interesting piece of information: Not all computer geeks are open-source advocates. Normally, you can expect a rousing, positive response when open-source development is mentioned in a room full of programmers. But during the "Big Question" debate on the merits of open-sourcing Java, held at Sun Microsystems JavaOne Conference on Thursday, controlled source clearly appeared to be the development method of choice.
In case anyone hasn't noticed, Sun is in bad financial shape, has just made a $2B deal, (Errm, settlement, terms undisclosed) with Microsoft Corp, and there is every indication that Scott McNealy has lost control of his company. (Just read the last year's worth of Sun's public statements. Sun Microsystems is the very definition of "fragmentation" if you ask me.) Just how stable a custodian of Java does that make them? JCP or no, they could have a change of heart, reorganize their business strategies to better leverage their core competencies, or get bought out.
Frankly, if I had a big investment in the stability of Java as a platform (I don't), I'd be quaking in my boots right now.
Open Sourcing Java can only improve the stability of its long term prospects. Otherwise, expect that one way or another, it will quietly fade away, for reasons totally divorced from the technical.
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Frankly, if I had a big investment in the stability of Java as a platform (I don't), I'd be quaking in my boots right now.
Open Sourcing Java can only improve the stability of its long term prospects. Otherwise, expect that one way or another, it will quietly fade away, for reasons totally divorced from the technical.