JDK 1.4 and beyond

[Greg Lewis]

On Thu, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:57:11AM -0400, c.rued wrote:
> Here's a question (just curious):
> 
> As of now, if you want the source to a JDK, you have to wait until it's released.  Has there been any discussion of getting access to their source repository to get a head-start on development of future JDKs?

We have that access already, through the agreement with the FreeBSD
Foundation.

> Also, has there been any consideration of copying modifications necessary to compile on FreeBSD into Sun's source (that is, assuming it doesn't make compiling on other platforms impossible)?

Thats up to Sun.  The patches have generally been designed to keep the 
ability to compile on other platforms intact, so that shouldn't be a
problem.

> It seems to me that doing these two things would significantly decrease the amount of time necessary for a native JDK.  Any possibility of either/both of those things occurring?

One has occurred, the other is out of our hands.  However, you miss the
big kicker with your first question.  Is having access to the repository
a good thing?  Consider that Blackdown has this access.  The result is
a closed development effort, no source code patches can be released and
the binaries can only be released once they've been tested to be compliant.
Is this what we want for the BSD Java team too?  In your answer take into
account the NetBSD and OpenBSD team members who would then have no
incentive to participate since they have no binary release license.  So,
while we have the access, the real question is whether its a good idea
to use it.  Its a non-reversible decision too, since once you work with
the Sun source you're effectively "tainted" with respect to your ability
to release source patches under the SCSL.

-- 
Greg Lewis                          Email   : glewis at eyesbeyond.com
Eyes Beyond                         Web     : http://www.eyesbeyond.com
Information Technology              FreeBSD : glewis at FreeBSD.org