Welcome to the Open Source JDK Portal
On November 13, 2006, Sun released portions of the JDK and its implementation of JavaHelp under the GPL v2 license! You can find more about this announcement and other open source Java news here – or you can jump right to the new OpenJDK Project and get started.
For information about why Sun is open-sourcing the JDK, details about the license choice and answers to other questions you may have, see the FAQ. You can also express your ideas and concerns on the forum.
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Back to the OpenJDK Community.
Innovation, GPL2, and the classpath exception —
Terrence Barr
(Nov 22, 2006)
IBM has been requesting an open source Java for years. Now that they have it, you'd think they'd be happy. They're not, and obviously you just can't please everyone. —
John O'Conner
(Nov 22, 2006)
Mark Reinhold: Behind the scenes
A quick glimpse at just some of what had to be done in order to open-source
two major components of a closed-source project.
- Mark Reinhold
(Nov 17, 2006)
OpenSourcing the Java Platform may re-energize language design —
Eduardo Pelegri-Llopart
(Nov 16, 2006)
Java was GPL'ed and can now be distributed on Linux, woohoo! But what's next for the opensource desktop? Netbeans i hope!? But for the consumer desktop, we need a new "free-binary" license, to enable repackaging and redistribution of binaries, eg. essential non-free video drivers and codecs, as well as opensource software like Netbeans. —
Evan Summers
(Nov 16, 2006)
The People Who Brought You FOSS Java
Open Source is all about reputations, so in light of today's great annoucement about Sun finally revealing its licensing choice for open source Java, I thought I'd take a few moments to highlight some of the people who have been working for years to push this effort slowly, relentlessly forward.
- Danese Cooper
(Nov 13, 2006)
I'm over the moon that Sun has stepped up to deliver open source Java. But why did it take so long? What events led up to this historic day? —
Calvin Austin
(Nov 15, 2006)
In Concerns about GPL-licensed Java goes into some well known issues with copying code from one project to another. The first concern, 1) When code is GPL, the license tends to infect things that arent intended to be GPL. is... —
David Herron
(Nov 15, 2006)
Green Field
Sun's Java GPL open source announcement marks a remarkable new chapter for many constituencies -- for developers at a global scale -- inspiring Brazilians, Indians, Chinese, Russians, Africans, Americans -- everyone, to freely build the products that best characterize local opportunity, leveraging the best global technology...
- Rich Green
(Nov 13, 2006)
No more "Java Trap" as Java goes open source?
"It'll be very good that the Java trap wont exist anymore. It'll be a thing of the past," said Richard Stallman... —
Bruce Boyes
Way to go, JT Harness
A brief background overview of the harness underlying jtreg: the JavaTest harness, which is now available as JT Harness.
- Jonathan Gibbons
(Nov 14, 2006)
Hallelujah! Java SE is now an open-source project, with the HotSpot VM and javac as its first sub-projects. This is great news for anyone interested in Java performance, as the world now has full-access to both the static (javac) and... —
Tom Ball
(Nov 13, 2006)
Let's celebrate Open Source Java! —
Felipe Gaucho
(Nov 13, 2006)
From No Charge To Free
I first became aware of Java in the fall of 1995
sometime after the
Netscape
announcement.
It was around the release of JDK 1.0 beta and
long before I joined Sun as I was working on a
paper
on Java security (published a year later).
- Andreas Sterbenz
(Nov 13, 2006)
Well, maybe "love" is too strong a word, but it's quite a coup to have him go on video praising Sun for their open sourcing of Java. —
David Van Couvering
(Nov 13, 2006)
David Dice: Open source Java - Crossing the Rubicon
At this point I should probably employ a pithy turn of phrase or draw a clever analogy between Sun's announcement of open source Java and some interesting historical event. But if you've read this far I'll spare you that pain. There are considerable high-level implications to Sun's actions, but those are well-covered elsewhere so I'll stick to local prognostication. Going forward the source will...
- David Dice
(Nov 13, 2006)
Free, free, at last...JavaHelp is finally an open source project. —
Roger Brinkley
(Nov 13, 2006)
Okay, we're finally public with what we're doing. Maybe I'll find time to resume posting on my blog. Especially as we have some interesting Quality Team plans cooking in the background. Anyway I'm reading through the slashdot thread and it... —
David Herron
(Nov 13, 2006)
I have often said that I don't love Java because I'm at Sun. I'm at Sun because I love Java. I love Java so much that I wanted to work at a place where I can do the most good... —
Joshua Marinacci
(Nov 13, 2006)
One giant leap, two small steps
Sun is open-sourcing its entire Java stack—ME, SE, and EE—under the GNU General Public License, version2. You can get the source code for HotSpot and javac in the new OpenJDK project.
- Mark Reinhold
(Nov 13, 2006)
Java ME, SE and EE: Open Source, Open Source and, yes Open Source
We've been climbing this particular mountain for a number of years now (since I was a small
child, it seems). Many have been impatient for us to reach the top for a quite some time. Our bosses passed us the flag to plant at JavaOne. We finally took the hint and did a press event as the summit came into view in August. Given..
- Daniel Coward
(Nov 13, 2006)
The Compiler is Open Sourced
Starting tomorrow, the Java™ compiler, javac, is available under the GPLv2 from openjdk.dev.java.net/compiler.
- Peter von der Ahé
(Nov 13, 2006)
The Mobile & Embedded that is. Today Sun announces the beginning of new community that promises to be the one place for JavaME platform and application development —
Roger Brinkley
(Nov 13, 2006)
The launch of Java ME open source and the Jave Mobile & Embedded Community —
Terrence Barr
(Nov 13, 2006)
Opensource, Java, and everything else that is good about our industry, is on the ascendency. Mostly importantly, diversity is here to stay. Phew, i got worried there for a while. —
Evan Summers
(Nov 12, 2006)
I'm opening a small parenthesis in my thematic sequence of blog entries to talk about something I've just read on the Dr. Dobb's Portal. Looks like Sun is going to use GPL for the upcoming open source licensing of Java... —
Fabrizio Giudici
(Nov 08, 2006)
When will Java applications 'just work' out-of-the-box on the desktop? I have projects crying out to be written in Java, so why do I find myself considering other technologies? Is "Java" really a dirty word on the desktop? —
Simon Morris
(Nov 08, 2006)
Danny Coward: Java SE 6 Pops its Cork !
You can all uncross your fingers and toes, because Java SE 6 has passed through
its last stage before full release by passing its final approval ballot in the JCP
Executive Committee!
As a member of the EC I have been watching the voting over the last
couple of weeks since the ballot started. My fingernails now start above
the wrist. Here are all...
- Daniel Coward
(Nov 07, 2006)
The JavaOne call for papers launch is a "red letter" day for many in the developer community. And you can expect it very soon. Also a sneak preview of 2006 JavaOne Rock Stars. —
Annette Vernon
(Nov 03, 2006)
The deadline of the Jazoon 07 Call for Papers is coming. This promises to be one of the best Java events in Europe during 2007, and a great moment to promote your Open Source projects. Check it out. —
Felipe Gaucho
(Nov 02, 2006)
Stephen Walli: Open Source Software, Standards, and Java
In an article for Enterprise Open Source Magazine, Stephen Walli talks about the interrelationship between open source implementations and industry standards, and how Java and the JCP fit into this framework. He then looks at some of the challenges facing Sun in open sourcing its implementations of Java technology. Check out this insightful analysis of how the cogs of the IT industry mesh, and Java's role. — Stephen Walli
-
(Oct 21, 2006)
Opinion: Use an Eclipse-style Governance Model for Open Source Java
Eclipse Foundation Executive Director Mike Milinkovich has some ideas on how to establish governance for the open source JDK project in ways that he believes would foster broad involvement by open source developers and corporations. Check out his perspective in this interview conducted by InfoQ's Floyd Marinescu. Mark Reinhold: Source-code management for an open JDK
Mark discusses one of the most important and visible parts of the open source JDK project's community development infrastructure - the source code management system. The current system has worked well, but it seems clear that in an open and collaborative development environment, it won't suffice for the future. What to do? Tell us what you think! — Mark Reinhold
Bug tracking systems for use in open sourcing the JDK
David Herron explores the issues to consider in picking a bug tracking technology that can serve both Sun's established development processes and the new open source community's needs. Join the conversation! —
David Herron
Go back with me to the mid-90's and revisit the issues that we had with that closed-source code that we'd purchased...
—
John Reynolds
(Sep 02, 2006)
Alex Fletcher: What's New With GlassFish?
Before the initiative to open source the JDK, Project GlassFish has paved the way for an open source implementation of Java technology from Sun - in this case Java EE 5. Here's a note from Alex Fletcher at Entiva on what is going on with this sister project to deliver a compelling Java EE 5 application server implementation under an open source license. — Alex Fletcher Norman Richards: Why Open Source Java Matters
"It's funny to watch the debate about open source Java, because I don't think many of the commentators really understand what is important about open source Java." Norman Richards, aurhor and JBoss developer, has some ideas on why it is important - check out one open source developer's perspective. — Norman Richards Mark Reinhold: At sixes and sevens
Mark Reinhold explains why the JDK 7 workspace has opened up already, before Java SE 6 ships. "Now the world doesn't stop turning - and developers don't stop hacking - just because JDK 6 is in stabilization mode. Engineers both inside and outside of Sun are already working on fixes and features for JDK 7, so the question arises: Where should those changes go?" — Mark Reinhold Simon Phipps: Why Bother Open Sourcing Java?
Simon thinks that while the JDK may attract a core developer community of only a few hundred passionate contributors, the over 4 million developers that rely on Java technology will reap huge benefits from this effort. The most important reason why Sun is bothering to open source the JDK: "'I'm keen to ensure that the Java platform finally finds its place at the heart of the Free software movement, but to do that it needs to be released under Free license." — Simon Phipps Danny Coward: Open Source Java SE: Who Gives a Fig?
A week after the August 14 update, Danny Coward takes a look at industry reaction. "For me, the most interesting reactions have been those from Java developers." Danny notes that most developers don't care how Java is made, they just want it to work. — Danny Coward Neil Ward-Dutton: Sun's open-sourcing of Java: avoid the red herring
Neil Ward-Dutton of Macehiter Ward-Dutton observes that "to Sun, the open-source model is a means to an end: and in large part the "end" is about aligning Sun's remuneration with the business value that customers get from using its software - rather than making them pay for software up front, before they've had a chance to get the value from it." — Neil Ward-Dutton Alan Williamson: Open Source Java? - Why on earth would I want that?
Alan Williamson, Java Champion and architect for the BlueDragon Java EE CFML engine that helps power some of the largest websites on the planet, talks about open sourcing the JDK from the perspective of the "humble Java developer, the troops in the trenches churning out code daily." The concerns of these developers are very different from those of F/OSS developers and community leaders. See why in this illuminating blog entry. — Alan Williamson
Dalibor Topic: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not / Angst in Javaland
Dalibor Topic, lead developer on the Kaffe VM project, has some insightful comments on fear. Fear of forks, of licenses, of governance anarchy - and ideas on how to put those fears to rest. — Dalibor Topic Tom Tromey: Open Source Java
Tom Tromey, from the GNU/Classpath project says: "You've probably already read about Sun's continuing effort to open source Java. And, before I get too far into what I have to say - my preliminary reaction is that this is awesome." He's got a lot more to say than that, of course - and this blog goes into detail on his ideas for success. Mark Wielaard, leader of the GNU/Classpath project agrees with Tom's perspective as well. — Tom Tromey
Stephen Walli: Sun and Open Source Java versus the Microsoft .NET Efforts
Stephen Walli a well-known speaker and writer on open systems standards since 1991, compares and contrasts the Java technology ecosystem and its open, participative style, with the ecosystem surrounding Microsoft's .NET initiative. "So Sun has a huge opportunity to "do it right" with Java. They began the release of Java EE 5 with the GlassFish project, and continue the work in the context of a culture shift that has delivered OpenSolaris. Now time will tell if they can harness all their collective experience in open source software, standards, and the JCP to bring about a complete open source Java world." — Stephen Walli Dana Gardner: Ambiguity over open sourcing Java only serves Sun's detractors
In this ZDnet blog, Dana Gardner takes Sun to task on timing and differences in plans for bringing implementations of Java EE, Java SE, and Java ME to the open source world. Michael Cote: More on Open Sourcing Java
Redmonk analyst Michael Cote discusses his talk with Sun representatives on efforts to open source the JDK, and the importance of transparency. — Michael Cote Bob Brewin Interview: Q&A: Sun CTO updates progress on open-source Java effort
In this wide-ranging interview, Computerworld asks Bob Brewin, Sun's Software CTO to expand on Sun's plans to open source the JDK, its Java SE technology implementation. From Slashdot: Java to be Open Sourced in October
This fast moving discussion thread on Slashdot captures a wide range of opinion on the latest news. Simon Phipps: An Ongoing Process
Simon Phipps takes the occasion of Sun's open source Java platform update events to look back at some forgotten history that informs the process by which Sun is open sourcing the JDK. — Simon Phipps Mark Reinhold: Yes, we really are going to open-source the JDK
There was a small press event up in San Francisco this evening where Rich Green,
Laurie Tolson (my boss), and Alan Brenner talked about open-sourcing the JDK and also (surprise!) Sun's
implementations of the Java ME CLDC and CDC platforms.
Danny Coward: Open Source: Cutting the Java SE apron strings
Like any parent watching a child leave home for college, Sun appears to
have had mixed feelings about the imminent departure of Java SE from its closed source home. Conceived in vitro, from baby steps in a new playground,
through..
Geir Magnusson: Open Source Java
Geir Magnusson from the Apache Software Foundation's Project Harmony talks about the implications of Sun open sourcing the JDK in this blog entry. — Geir Magnusson Sun: Brew-It-Yourself Java?
What does the mainstream business press think of open sourcing the JDK? Here's what BusinessWeek had to say - do you agree? From SlashDot: Simon Phipps on the Process of Opening Java
Lots of ideas and opinions in this SlashDot thread, including some interesting perspectives on branding and compatibility. James Governor: Open Source Java Will Mean Developer Churn:Zero Sum Technocracy
Redmonk's James Governor thinks Sun needs to "break some eggheads' shells". Find out what he means. — James Governor's MonkChips Tom Marble: Java Libre Folksonomy
Whats a Folksonomy? Its a way to aggregate common threads on wide-spread sites. Not all discussion of open sourcing the JDK will happen on the JDK Community. Tag your posts, blogs, and comments with tags as suggested by Tom Marble, and your ideas will join the conversation wherever it happens. — Tom Marble —
Anthony Green: OSCON Java Libre Dinner
Anthony Green from the GNU Classpath and GCJ projects attended a dinner at OSCON in Portland, OR hosted by Sun, to introduce several leaders from the F/OSS communities to Sun's Java engineering team. Here's the straight scoop from Anthony on what happened! — Anthony Green Rich Green on Sun's Open Source Odyssey
How will Sun's plan to open source its entire software portfolio become a profitable reality? CNET's Martin LaMonica interviews Sun Software VP Rich Green to find out the answer.
Simon Phipps: Respecting the Developers
So why doesn't Sun just pick an OSI-approved license, apply it to the Java source code and be done with it? There are many reasons why "throwing it over the wall" isn't a good idea but perhaps the most important one is that this code comes complete with a community already. Wouldn't it be unfortunate, even dishonorable, to disrespect the community of engineers who have made the JDK the success it is today? — Simon Phipps
David Herron: Open source project beginnings
Many thoughts bubbled up from listening to FLOSS Weekly 11: Guido van Rossum ... so here's a couple. First, they discussed the major complaint against Python, a complaint that has kept me from learning the language lo these many years... —
David Herron
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