Section 14.9. What to Do?


14.9. What to Do?

It is clear that Java and software livre work together. By combining these different approaches to freedom, we can have more freedom, not less. But many still feel that Java is not open source and try to leave Java out of this fundamental discussion, to the detriment of all.

There are many examples of initiatives to exclude Java as a development tool for FOSS projects, and even to exclude FOSS Java applications from FOSS events. I wonder how we can have a FOSS implementation of any standard if there's this kind of prejudice against standards that were not implemented as FOSS yet. Contrast this with the amount of effort put into providing drivers and even reverse engineering of proprietary patented software or protocols to establish links and integrate GNU/Linux and Windows, for instance. For the FOSS community, the effort to create a JVM provides a great integration strategy. The more code you write in Java today, the more you are able to run your applications in both Windows and GNU/Linux systems. Consider also the possibility of running your application on the recently announced open source Solaris OS, and you have more choice and more freedom. It's interesting, though, that for the most part, to run a GNU/Linux system you usually have a binary, but closed, standard underneath it: the Intel processor. Java is also a binary standard, although it normally sits on top of the OS. It is amazing that the FOSS community can't seem to see how allowing one and excluding the other is like throwing the baby out with the bath water.

The fact that many applicationslots of them under FOSS licensesare written in Java means that more effort should be spent on having a 100% FOSS Java runtime available. Many people are working to enable this, but the general prejudice is still strong in the FOSS community, making it strong in the other direction from the Java community. These prejudices need to stop, and leaders from both camps need to come at terms and realize there's much to be gained from the joint pursue of freedom.



Open Sources 2.0
Open Sources 2.0: The Continuing Evolution
ISBN: 0596008023
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 217

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