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LinuxDig.Com: FreeBSD Loses Sun Java License
Author: HumanX | Monday January 10, 2005
Currently in negations as reported by infoweek, FreeBSD is currently without a Java License. Sure FreeBSD will get its license back, but this has been a recurring fear within the Linux community.
Forget the why and the how because those questions are irrelevant, the question should be when it finally happened. The Linux community has been skeptical of Suns Java licensing schemes and I myself have even tried to justify Sun’s moves. The day has arrived that the Linux community has met face to face with the hammer of Sun’s Java licensing.
This is one of those events in which the offender (Sun) hopes never happens because once the flood gates have been opened it is difficult to hold back the water. The mere mention of a first or another event such as this could send developers scurrying for a new development platform and for good reason.
One question here is why when Sun releases the binary for free would there need be a license to bicker over. Why would a distro need concern itself with releasing competing software and fear loosing there Java license. This type of assault on the open source community is what causes such heated debates over Java.
Sun, just might be missing the boat. While they lock licensing, competing technologies are becoming available that make Java less attractive. Novell’s Mono which is an open source alternative to .Net, is a cross platform development system similar to Java which is gaining popularity everyday. Macromedia’s Flash; though proprietary, is showing promise in a number of key area’s where Java has a foothold while being more relaxed with its licensing requirements. The list does not end there, and if Sun does not do something to heal this bruise, the development community as a whole just might get a little TOO skeptical of Sun and its liscensing.
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