Java now GPL

[apathy maybe]

From Slashdot, http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?...52&from=RevLeft (http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/11/13/0724252&from=RevLeft)

I just noticed that Slashdot has posted that Sun (a big computer company) has released the source code for their implementation of the Java computer language (also their creation) as Free Software available under the GPL. This is good news for developers and for people who actually care about such things.

While there are other Free Software implementations, none of them are as fully featured as the Sun version.

[Zero]

Wow, thats sweet. I wouldn't expect a dieing company to release their software for free.

[Vargha Poralli]

This is great . RMS would be much happy. FSF has beeen persuading it for almost 5-6 years. maybe zero is correct even though his assumption is tooo early i think. ;)

any how java is a much powerful addition to Free/Libre/OpenSource Software with it powerful crossplatform integrity :D :D :D :D

[apathy maybe]

Yes, Java is a useful tool for cross platform development. And unlike other tools (such as Python), people don't mind downloading Java to use with a program because they have heard of it.

The fact that lots of people have Java skills (I was taught it at school and first year Uni), means that there are a good number of people who can contribute to Free Software.

[STI]

This definately sounds like good news. Who knows, maybe Zero's observation could turn out to be a trend - dying software companies just saying "fuck it" and releasing their stuff open-source (peh, there's probably another reason for it to keep an eye out for).

[Janus]

dying software companies just saying "fuck it" and releasing their stuff open-source
Novell wasn't going out of business and neither is Sun. They're trying to make their networks more valuable with more compatibility and potential customers.