Java's baby steps toward open source

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Proprietary open source

Good point from the article:

Given the fact that it predictably forks, enterprises using Linux have no illusions about switching distributions. As proven by Red Hat's at-will repricing from free to fee for its distribution of Linux and the number of companies that instantly subscribed, it puts the vendor in charge of both your IT and your bottom line instead of you. Any reproduction of that phenomenon in the Java ecosystem may ultimately produce the same effect.

Lock-in is the way software companies make money. Companies want to make money. Companies will therefore try to assure lock-in.

The companies that do not require lock-in, like IBM, sell something else, namely hardware and services. They like the idea of having a purpose for Java and ordering up in-house staff and out-house volunteers producing as quickly as possible. This community process is pointless.

Write-once is a great idea, but there's no money in it.

Poor Sun.
Java makes money for them, but part of the reason is the open source beast. They have to encourage free help and widespread use, but not surrender their most dependable source of income.
Or maybe they will, and become just a software house with weird pricing for non-standard software.

At any rate, looks like one way or another there will be Java.Net. Microsoft Java, as opposed to Red Hat Java or IBM Java.
Choose any flavor except Neapolitan (a mix of flavors).

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 07/29/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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