Some more news on the Novell-Microsoft deal (I’m starting to suspect the free publicity is all what this deal was for, but anyway). Sun boss Jonathan Schwartz has joined in criticism of the Microsoft-Novell deal, saying it is bad for the open source movement. Following Samba’s criticism early this week, Schwartz said profoundly disagreed with the idea that open source software is unsafe without the ‘no use’ arrangements agreed between Microsoft and Novell.
By admitting that one of the strongest motivations to select the GPL was the announcement made last week by Novell and Microsoft, suggesting that free and open source software wasn’t safe unless a royalty was being paid. As an executive from one of those companies said, “free has to have a price.”
That’s nonsense.
I guess the MS-Novell deal was an important motivating factor in Sun’s decision to GPL Java after all. In any case, I am glad they made the decision, since gave the community a FUD-free alternative to Mono.
I guess the MS-Novell deal was an important motivating factor in Sun’s decision to GPL Java after all. In any case, I am glad they made the decision, since gave the community a FUD-free alternative to Mono.
Am I the only coder here who doesn’t see Mono and Java as similar things? Mozilla’s Tamarin also features a JIT compiler and I don’t consider it “an alternative” to Mono nor Java.
Tamarin doesn’t include a huge cross platform, multi purpose framework.
Both Mono and Java do, and it what makes most of their value, not the fact that they run on a JIT or even in a VM for that matter.
Am I the only coder here who doesn’t see Mono and Java as similar things
There are many similarities between .Net and Java. C# is inspired by Java and inherits many of Java’s features (eg. interface). .Net is a managed platform, similar to Java. There are many analogues in their APIs as well: ASP.Net serves a similar role as JSP, ADO.Net serves a similar role as JDBC etc.
Mozilla’s Tamarin also features a JIT compiler and I don’t consider it “an alternative” to Mono nor Java.
Tamarin is just a JIT VM. It doesn’t contain any APIs. It is comparable to Parrot.
C# can be considered Java language’s closest relative. So, you are wrong. Converting a mono application to Java is not a big deal (And vice versa). Only problems would be the Gnome-Os dependent parts i assume. Oh, also Sun’s Java virtual machine is faster, more stable and more portable then mono.
Edited 2006-11-17 20:16
The question is: why? Publicity and goodwill from the FOSS community? Possibly.
Or maybe because they want to release OpenSolaris under a GPL license? It would certainly make sense, because when Solaris is released under a GPL compatible license, they can start integrating Linux drivers into OpenSolaris. And the last thing they could use is IP claims.
With any luck .NET will be tomorrows VB.
With any luck .NET will be tomorrows VB.
You mean it will become the language of choice for business programming?
“In business programming, Visual Basic has one of the largest user bases. According to some sources,[citation needed] as of 2003, 52% of software developers used Visual Basic, making it the most popular programming language at that time.”
I think you are right!
If Sun will GPL solaris then they will come out smelling like a rose! and I will smell like I usually smell but I will be using solaris while I smell!
…I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it was something on the order of $400 million publicity…
Open source unsafe? No-way. Open source is inherently more safe than closed source software by definition of ‘open’. ‘Open’ allows prevention of malware, ‘Open’ prevents forced upgrades to users. ‘Open’ prevents a company from discontinuing a niche but necessary product.
It’s not about security. Microsoft has already played with the idea that open source software was unsafe for the clients because of the legal aspects, possible suits about IP, warranty, and has, IIRC, recommended to avoid OSS. Nothing to do with malware, spyware…
Very simplistic, I know.
Sun is fully embracing open standards, open source, open collaboration, for the betterment of it’s hardware, services, and support businesses. Sun is discovering that being the good community member is great for business. It increases the size of the ecosystem that provides their sales opportunities. As Jonathan Schwartz has said a number of times, “a rising tide lifts all boats”.
MS is clinging to an outdated proprietary, closed source, draconian licensing, big brother, win through FUD and mafia style intimidation, customer lock-in, monopoly business model. They do this so long as it helps them maintain the Windows and Office monopolies.
Usually, I look at the big corporations as amoral and gray in terms of their image. They are there to make money and cater to their investors, and will do whatever drives them to those ends.
However, when looking at Sun and Microsoft, we have a crystal clear division between good (Sun) and evil (Microsoft).
I know where I want my IT budget to go, as well as my consumer spending. (hint, it’s not MS 😉 )
Sun has known for many, many years that being a good member of the Free and Open Source commmunities is good for business. Sun has just not made very much noise about it, preferring to let deeds speak rather than words.
What the Free and Open Source communities have not done is refuse to recognise the value of Sun’s contribution until last week when Java was released under the GPLv2.
I think that Wall St is now starting to observe that there are amazingly good reasons for designing, engineering, releasing and using both Free Software and Open Source Software.
With Wall St on board, that makes the distinction between Free and Open (and standards-compliant!) on the one hand, and the Closed and Restrictive on the other, much more stark. Even Joe Random CxO can see the difference now.
From a commercial perspective, this will not just help Sun, but also IBM, HP, RedHat and even Oracle. I reckon Novell is going to get hammered by business and that they will not last much longer.
Sun has known for many, many years that being a good member of the Free and Open Source commmunities is good for business. Sun has just not made very much noise about it, preferring to let deeds speak rather than words.
Note to self: Open Source Community = Linux community
Linus hates Solaris
Sun was called a lot of names for licensing SCO’s IP, Making a deal with MS on Java, Competing with Linux, Caling GPL a pacman like IP busting licensing – how how easily everything is forgiven by the linux faithful
Edited 2006-11-20 18:01