Sun doesn't like Free Software [LWN.net]

Sun doesn't like Free Software

Posted Mar 11, 2005 17:45 UTC (Fri) by HalfMoon (guest, #3211)
In reply to: Why didn't Jikes take off? by jwharmanny
Parent article: IBM's latest gift to the community

First, you blame Sun for not supporting Linux. Then, you blame them for screwing Blackdown because they _did_ start supporting Linux. Whatever they do, it's always their fault, it seems.

You seem to be under a strange delusion that supporting Linux necessarily meant screwing Blackdown. Why is that?

The point here about Sun is that they have a problem with supporting community efforts that they don't control. A few examples that come quickly to mind:

The way they claimed/stole credit for the Blackdown work.
The whole Java "Community" Process (JCP) is another ... they've actively worked to suppress efforts that got started outside of that, to the extent of even denying they existed as part of the "will starting a new Java Spec Request cause problems".
Plus, the rules of JCP more or less preclude active participation following normal Free Software rules ... you can't disclose anything until it's too late to support effective counterproposals.
Let's not forget the whole "we'll submit Java to a Standards Organization", "erm, sorry, no we won't" bit.
... plenty more examples too.

It's at least disingenuous to pretend that Sun doesn't have major issues with the notion of not always being in the driver's seat. Even -- especially! -- when it's not the one doing the innovating.

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