To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
I think you are a bit behind the times, because Java is already free software under the GPL v2
. The source code has been released in the OpenJDK (http://openjdk.java.net) project with some minor binary stubs for those things that cannot be opened up.
The IcedTea project (http://icedtea.classpath.org) attempts to create replacements for these binary stubs with unencumbered free replacements and stubs. It will take some time before it's complete.
.Net is just a fad that will eventually die out on free software platforms, as there is no reason to come anywhere near it unless you really only strive for Windows compatibility.
#1) Java class library source has been around for at LEAST 10 years, if not since it was first released
#2) The .NET VM is not going to be open, only the API. SUN is just making the move now to open their JVM.
#3) Java needs to watch out more on technical issues, like how .net is language agnostic, C# is java with a bunch of things fixed, and .NET GUI apps don't suck. MS doesnt need to open their JVM, all they need to do is port it to other platforms (or just get Novell to do it), and that is the final nail in the Java coffin.
The reason .net gui dont suck,
1. unlike Sun, Microsoft have a complete system with nice librairies. Microsoft need to keep its gui "modern" against competition (aqua, gtk, qt)
2. Sun is too political. SWT offer a far better alternative (wx in mono/.net/aqua/python), but because it is IBM's solution, Sun decide not to support it. Yet they fraud their developpers and supporter telling them that people really like swing and that it's fast.





Member since:
2005-07-13
java watch out!
this is amazing though. thanks MS! (10$ says they lost a bet and this was the part of the bargin they had to held up) haha