JDJ caught up with Jason Hunter, Apache Software Foundation vice president, after JavaOne to discuss the major announcement regarding the controversial issue of open sourcing Java. Jason holds a seat on the JCP Executive Committee overseeing the Java platform.
JDJ asked readers to pose their questions to Jason, so you can hear it straight from the horse's mouth!
<alan>: What does this announcement mean?
<jason>: It heralds an agreement between Apache and Sun regarding open source implementations of Java standards. Among the items agreed upon:
There's an additional item in the agreement that will be of special importance to commercial implementers of Java specifications:
For details on the agreement, see Sun's Letter of Intent at http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/announce/LetterofIntent.html and Apache's press release at http://jakarta.apache.org/site/jspa-agreement.html.
Is Java finally open sourced?
[anonymous]
<jason>: That depends on what this question means. I believe it can mean three different things.
One: "Can there be an open source Java implementation?" The answer is yes, this agreement should ensure that when J2SE 1.5 is released it can have an independent, open source licensed implementation. Many Java specifications will have that ability right away.
Two: "Is the reference implementation for Java (the JDK) available as open source?" This agreement does not address that. Apache doesn't believe in telling Sun or anyone else what license their code must be under. What Apache believes is that if you don't like a code license, you must have the ability to code it yourself. The purpose of this agreement is to allow that.
Three: "Will Java be developed following the open source method?" Right now there's a formal process by which Java specifications are created within the Java Community Process (JCP). The JCP will probably remain as a formal specification-creating body, although Apache hopes it will become more open. The project I lead, JDOM, is JSR number 102, and with the JSR we're proving you can have open development on a Java specification even within the JCP. Now, the clear ability to have open source RIs and TCKs will help this JSR progress.
