Free and Open Source Java

I agree with RMS on his stand on Java (Free But Shackled - The Java Trap). Java is free alright but the libraries that come with the J2SE aren't. The license being enforced by Sun does not qualify J2SE as Free and Open Source Software.

Apache Harmony is a proposed free implementation of the Java programming language, starting with J2SE 5.0. It will be licensed under the Apache License, Version 2. Since its announcement in early May 2005, it has caused controversy amongst the Java community. There were mixed reactions from Java as well as open source communities. Some are ecstatic and optimistic. Some were outright pessimistic. But the beauty of this is that Sun, though not releasing its J2SE source base, is helping Apache Software Foundation through other means. It even involves necessary access to TCK (Technology Compatibility Kit) which a similar open source project (GNU Classpath) is not getting.

I know this will be long way to go (if not impossible). But the wait is worth it, I guess. By the time Harmony is finished with its binaries (compatible with JDK5 aka J2SE 1.5/5, aka Tiger), Sun Microsystems would have released a new J2SE spec.

But what if, we fork Java altogether? Nope, this is a far possibility. Remember Microsoft getting sued by Sun? Sun has really a firm hold on Java language as well as the Java platform. Without Java, Sun will burst like its 90's dot-com peers. For now, I'll have to contend myself with whatever FSF has to provide, that is, GCJ and Classpath and Sun's own in my workplace =)