Sun Announces Java Platform Standard Edition 6

Sun Announces Java Platform Standard Edition 6

Posted Dec 11, 2006 21:09 UTC (Mon) by sab39 (guest, #2185)
In reply to: Sun Announces Java Platform Standard Edition 6 by Tara_Li
Parent article: Sun Announces Java Platform Standard Edition 6

This version is still proprietary. GPL code has been released for parts of what will eventually become JDK7 (notably the compiler, the VM itself and some Micro edition stuff, and notably NOT the class libraries yet) already at http://openjdk.dev.java.net/. The remainder is expected around March 2007.

They have picked a license - they had to, having already released some of the code, of course - and it's GPL2, with the class libraries going to be under GPL2+"Classpath Exception" (which essentially results in something very similar to the LGPL but with some obscure differences in some embedded scenarios). They picked the license to match what the GNU Classpath project was using, which was a *fantastic* decision for the entire Free Java community (if you scroll down far enough you can probably still find the giddy reactions on http://planet.classpath.org).

I've heard rumors that once the freeing of the JDK7 code is complete, they'll consider going back and freeing JDK6 retroactively, but nothing concrete on that score just yet.

It makes sense that they wouldn't hold up their existing release schedule for the open sourcing to be complete - many of their customers don't care about free software and they're not going to be too thrilled to hear that they have to wait an extra 4 months for the new version while licensing issues get worked out.

And as I understand it they will indeed continue to release the same code under a proprietary license for the benefit of people who are afraid to touch GPL code.

---

(Log in to post comments)