Beyond and Open Source Java
Ganesh Prasad has a brilliant article on Sun open-sourcing Java. This is what ESR's open letter should have been in the first place:
It is definitely in Sun's own interests to open up Java. This goes far beyond Open Source-ing the Java libraries, as we will see. Making the Java language and platform more affordable and friendly will make them more popular than their rivals (not Perl or Python, but C# and .NET).
But Sun has an indisputable right to exploit its creation for its own commercial gain. In fact, it would be illegal for Sun's management to sell out its shareholders by giving away the company's crown jewels.
Raymond recognises the problem, but poses it as an either-or choice. That implies a zero-sum way of looking at things. But it's not about ubiquity versus control at all. It's about ubiquity with commercial advantage.
As Open Source advocates, we know ways by which Sun can achieve both objectives.
We are not going to ask Sun to do something for Open Source (at least, not directly). We will show Sun how they can help themselves by making Java even more widespread than it is, and by harvesting it commercially. We will also show that if they continue to do nothing, they will pay a heavy price.
If, in the process of helping themselves, Sun proves to be a friend of Open Source, that's a bonus.
I think this is probably Java's only real hope of surviving .NET. I think I'd give Sun about a 40% chance of being smart enough to realize it.
posted Fri 27 Feb 2004 in /software/languages/java | link
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