Why is Sun open sourcing its Java implementations now?
The Java platform is 12+ years in the making. When it was first released it was a radical departure for commercial software, including full source code under a novel license. Sun and the Java ecosystem have been extremely successful at establishing and growing a very large and dynamic market in this time. The Java platform retained its own licensing model even as the open-source model proliferated, because the Java licensing model successfully created a large and open market with many compatible choices. We now see an opportunity to encourage even more possibilities for adoption in places the Java platform hasn't gone before, where Free licensing and open-source development approaches are a prerequisite for consideration.
At the same time, the Free software and open-source communities are now saying that compatibility is a given for any Java implementation. And there is a new spirit of innovation with Web 2.0, SOA and collaboration/participation technologies, and the Java platform is the perfect foundation platform on which to innovate - and open-source can help accelerate this innovation.
What influenced this decision?
Key Free software and open-source communities have stated that they believe that only Java technology implementation that are completely compatible with the specification can succeed in the market. These communities, which provide thought leadership for the open-source Java world, are now focused on delivering only compatible implementations. In addition, Sun has gained experience in community development with the Project GlassFish open-source implementation of Java EE, with OpenSolaris, with OpenOffice.org and NetBeans, and with the JDK Community on java.net. This experience makes us confident that when we open-source Sun's Java implementations, the platform will benefit, and we can better balance the needs of community with those of customers, end users, and licensees.
Overall, we feel that caution is appropriate for a technology that affects the lives and livelihoods of tens of millions of people around the world. After much reflection we feel now is the perfect time to take the next step with the Java platform.
Why is this good for Java SE developers?
Because volume wins. Open sourcing Sun's Java SE implementation will lower barriers to adoption in markets where open-source software leads. As new markets adopt Java technology, developers will discover new opportunities. More applications. Innovations that leverage the industrial strength foundation of Java to deliver valuable new products and services. And developers will be able to directly influence the future of the JDK implementation, participating with their peers in an open community. Taking Java where it hasn't been before, and helping to ensure that Java technology remains a central unifying standard for the Internet.
How does this benefit Java SE customers and users?
Your investment is safe, with multiple independent implementations of Java SE, and the reference implementation from Sun available under an open-source license. An open-source JDK provides peace of mind, plain and simple:
* You can adopt Sun's Java technologies with full confidence. Java SE will be freely available - subject to the market forces that drive competition, reduce price and speed innovation.
* Whether you value Free and open-source software for philosophical or economic reasons, want more flexibility, appreciate the quality that transparency brings, or want to know you have ultimate control over your investment, you can adopt the JDK knowing that you'll gain these advantages.
* With the rock-solid, high performance JDK implementation from Sun under the same open-source license used by GNU/Linux distributions, you can expect Java technology to find its way onto new platforms, be leveraged for new applications and infrastructure, and be the foundation of tomorrow's most exciting new products and web technologies.
Your investment in Java technology will become even more valuable as open-source speeds innovation, spreads adoption, and carries the platform to places it couldn't previously go.
What markets do you believe this initiative will open up for the JDK?
Several markets are likely to find the JDK to be more suitable for use once it is under an open-source license:
* Government, educational, and research markets where open-source software is either mandated, or highly desired.
* Enterprises that mandate open-source infrastructure to retain maximum flexibility and drive competitive procurement.
* Enterprises and organizations that have selected OS distributions based on GNU/Linux and OpenSolaris as preferred OSs for deployment.
In order to gain the benefits of commercial support, and predictability, these customers may choose to use Sun's commercial distribution of the JDK or JRE in conjunction with a support contract. However, they might not consider the commercial product if the open-source version were not available.
What impact will this move have on the adoption of the Java SE platform?
The Java platform has been very widely adopted already - it is one of the most important and widely used components of modern web-based infrastructure. But there remain un-tapped or under-served markets. In particular, Java technology is not always included in open-source web infrastructure stacks that are commonly distributed and deployed alongside and included with GNU/Linux distributions. Those that do include Java technology often do not include an up-to-date, compatible runtime and development environment. We continue to work with the GNU/Linux distributions to get the JDK included as part of the free software repositories commonly included with these open-source operating system distros. Once the JDK is easily obtained and installed with these platforms, we expect to see more widespread adoption of Java technology especially outside of North America and Western Europe, as well as in cutting edge web infrastructure deployments worldwide. Since the GPL is a very widely used open-source license (in fact it's the same license used by GNU/Linux), distributing the JDK under the GPL with GNU/Linux distributions should be a good match, making it easier to adopt by those looking for open-source alternatives.
What are your goals in open sourcing Sun's Java ME implementations?
To remain the number one mobile application development platform*, Java ME needs to grow and evolve. This means engaged developers, accelerated innovation, and a more consistent implementation across devices.
Who benefits from open sourcing Java ME?
Everyone in the Java ME ecosystem benefits from open sourcing Java ME. Benefits include:
* simplified evaluations,
* transparent development,
* opportunities to directly influence the future of the platform
By open sourcing these implementations, handset manufacturers can leverage the common code base to reduce their development costs. The result will be less variation across devices P in other words, Write Once, Run Anywhere taken to the next level.
Both application developers and operators will benefit from the accelerated innovation, enabling developers to continue to create compelling applications and services, which in turn help drive revenue. Operators and handset manufacturers will benefit from lower porting, testing and maintenance costs.
What does Sun mean by "compatibility?"
Compatibility for a Java technology means the implementation of that technology meets the associated compatibility requirements of its Technology Compatibility Kit or TCK. For Java SE this means passing the TCK tests and other requirements defined in the Java SE TCK, known as the JCK.
Do you think anyone will fork the JDK?
We expect great new ideas and valuable research to come from adaptations (i.e, forks) of the platform. Sun encourages compatible forks where the code is ported to additional hardware and software platforms. Such ports extend the breadth of Java SE to places currently not supported by any vendor. Broad distribution of incompatible forks is potentially a danger since such forks could damage the "Write Once, Run Anywhere" compatibility value of the Java platform.
So, what about compatibility? How will Java technology remain "Write Once, Run Anywhere" since Sun's Java platform implementations are open sourced?
The Java technology compatibility promise is so central to the value of the platform that it has been the single most important influence in driving the detailed planning and decisions for this initiative. Sun is making a number of key decisions and commitments to the community that we believe will help foster compatibility:
* License: GPL makes proprietary forks less likely, as all changes must be published.
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* Branding: the Java trademark and logos are for compatible implementations only.
* TCKs: Sun will make TCKs available to OpenJDK-based implementations for testing compatibility.
* JCP: the JCP's role as the governing body for Java standards and evolution is not changed by this move.
Community Development: Sun's experience in building strong communities means developers will likely find the governance and infrastructure to their liking.
In addition to the specific steps that we're taking to help foster compatibility, we are convinced that the market will demand compatible implementations, and that incompatible ones won't gain traction. With the billions of dollars of Java applications in the installed base, the community has recognized that a Java implementation that doesn't run the installed base of code won't get very far. That is why both the GNU/Classpath and Apache Harmony projects have stated unequivocally that they're working to build fully compatible implementations of Java SE.
We have experience in the Java EE world to back this up: there are four compatible, open-source Java EE implementations in the market including Sun's GlassFish Application Server, and no incompatible variants have achieved any market penetration. We expect the same dynamic to happen with both Java SE and Java ME platforms.