Open Source Will Close the Book on Java
August 19, 2006I learned Java because it was free. I could download and install it, and write distributable software without spending a red cent. The marketing (“Write once, run anywhere”) didn’t speak to me. The promise of smart toasters didn’t speak to me. I simply didn’t have the resources to buy a C++ compiler. I mention these things in the interest of disclosure because I am apparently too feeble-minded to understand the open source concept. There’s a general concensus that open source is somehow a Good Thing, but no one I know can articulate why this is so.According to Wikipedia, open source software is “software whose source code is published and made available to the public, enabling anyone to copy, modify and redistribute the source code without paying royalties or fees.”
Now, why would I want to do that? I want to use a word processor, not rewrite one. If I find Word somehow inadequate, I use something else. If nothing else is available, I either tolerate the shortcomings of Word or write my own word processor. Believe me, the time it takes me to write a word processor is worth far more than money spent on Word. I have to make a value decision. Life’s full of tough choices, isn’t it?
I suppose the argument could be made that open source allows for and encourages the improvement of software but you’d have to show me proof. I don’t think Open Office is better than Microsoft Office. I don’t think Linux is better than Windows. I have never looked at the source code for Open Office or Linux but I’ve used them both. I might use one or the other for various reasons but, again, that’s a value decision I make.
Having said all that, I have nothing against open source. If a software company releases its source as part of its strategic business plan, more power to them and thanks for all the fish. Some of my best friends write open source software. But I suspect the rabid proponents of open source software are like back seat drivers–they want a free ride but want to tell you how to drive. They aren’t against control as long as they’re the ones who have it.
If there were no argument against open source, I’d shut up. But there are legitimate questions to which the open source crowd does not have answers (and therefore, choose to ignore). Foremost is the concern that Java’s platform independence will deteriorate. Sun’s ex-CEO Scott McNealy points out that Microsoft introduced “features into its own version of Java that wouldn’t work in non-Windows systems.” At work, I use IBM’s Rational Application Developer (RAD). I can’t use the new features of Java 5 because RAD uses an IBM version of Java that hasn’t yet been updated. These are the problems that will plague open source Java.
I say, be careful what you ask for. Leave it alone. If you don’t like the way it is, don’t use it. Do it yourself. But for crying out loud, quit your bitching. Java is already free. Don’t spoil it for the rest of us.
Update: Immediately after posting, I found this. I couldn’t agree more. Very few people are actually interested in Java’s source code.
OSS/FS has significant market share in many markets, is often the most reliable software, and in many cases has the best performance. OSS/FS scales, both in problem size and project size. OSS/FS software often has far better security, perhaps due to the possibility of worldwide review. Total cost of ownership for OSS/FS is often far less than proprietary software, especially as the number of platforms increases. These statements are not merely opinions; these effects can be shown quantitatively, using a wide variety of measures. This doesn’t even consider other issues that are hard to measure, such as freedom from control by a single source, freedom from licensing management (with its accompanying risk of audit and litigation), Organizations can transition to OSS/FS in part or in stages, which for many is a far more practical transition approach.
From: http://www.dwheeler.com/oss_fs_why.html
I can not agree with your arguments on the post title. I think that from your point of view nothing will change, you will use Java as you did before.
What I see as a good thing is that, a lot of smart people will have the chance to say what they have when Java source is in concern and there will be a lot more chances that core Java libraries will evolve into somethnig more usefull, faster and more robust. And also, I see this as a big appreciation of all the efforts that Open Sorce community made in the last few years.
I think you echo the sentiments of many developers. I feel pretty much the same way you do. I have yet to see a product that started out open source match a commercial application feature for feature. IDEs come close. Something else i’ve noticed over the years is how quickly communities break down when something more promising comes along.
Like anything else, what makes open source work is money. I think Sun will continue to pour money and resources into Java and it will continue to grow.
As far as forks go, the main vendor to worry about in terms of forking is MS and they no longer have interest in Java. I do worry about custimized JREs that lack certain features. They won’t technically be considered Java, but they will no doubt claim to run java byte code.
We’ll have to wait and see but I wouldn’t write Java off just yet.
I think you’re being a bit overly pessimistic. In the long run, this is probably a good thing. More thoughts here ( http://blogs.concedere.net:8080/blog/discipline/java/?permalink=Open-Source-Java-Is-a-Good-Thing-Or-the-End-of-the-World.html )
Open Source Java Is a Good Thing (Or the End of the World)
Java Bar and Grill has a very negative take on the recently announced plans to open source Java. Part of me agrees with him. I was one of the many who believed that there simply isn’t much to gain by open sourcing the JDK. The JDK is already effective…
Thank You